History Theatre / TwelfthNight

* SeenminglyProfoundFool: Feste, who uses intricate discourse to convince Olivia that she's a fool by illustrating her folly in mourning for her brother whose soul is in heaven.

* ArtifactTitle: The play is only called ''Twelfth Night'' because it was first performed on Twelfth Night. This is probably why its EitherOrTitle is "or, What You Will," meaning "or whatever you want." The play really doesn't have a proper name, so you can call it what you want.
* ArtisticLicenseGeography: Downplayed. Illyria is what balkanized into modern day Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia. However, the play is set during summertime, so, if we accept the title as indicative, it should be in the Southern Hemisphere[[note]]In the Northern Hemisphere, Twelfth Night would be a winter holiday, not a summer holiday[[/note]]. Admittedly, there's no confirmation that the events of the play are happening during the Twelfth Night festivities, which are only referenced in the title and briefly in a song by Sir Toby; the play's only called that because it was ''literally'' first performed on Twelfth Night.

* NonIndicativeName: Twelfth Night does not factor into the plot. The name comes from the play itself being written as entertainment on Twelfth Night.

* ArtisticLicenseGeography: Downplayed. Illyria is what balkanized into modern day Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia. However, the play is set during summertime, so, if we accept the title as indicative, it should be in the Southern Hemisphere[[note]]In the Northern Hemisphere, Twelfth Night would be a winter holiday, not a summer holiday[[/note]]. Admittedly, there's no confirmation that the events of the play are happening during the Twelfth Night festivities, which are only referenced in the title and briefly in a song by Sir Toby; the play's only called that because it was ''literally'' performed on Twelfth Night.

** Since the next day starts at midnight, any time after midnight (e.g., 12:05 A.M.) would be considered part of the morrow, which means that any time after midnight would be considered part of the next day, which starts at midnight.

[[caption-width-right:350: Why, this is very midsummer madness!]]

* ArtisticLicenseGeography: Downplayed. Illyria is what balkanized into modern day Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia. However, the play is set during summertime, so, if we accept the title as indicative, it should be in the Southern Hemisphere[[note]]In the Northern Hemisphere, Twelfth Night would be a winter holiday, not a summer holiday[[/note]]. Admittedly, there's no confirmation that the events of the play are happening during the Twelfth Night festivities, which are only referenced in the title and briefly in a song by Sir Toby.

* NoPeriodsPeriod: Averted, if only in a minor way. Olivia dismisses "Cesario" by snapping, "'Tis not [that time of moon with me][AllPeriodsArePMS] to make one in so skipping a dialogue." Cue Olivia's handmaid Maria trying to usher Cesario out: "Will you set sail sir? Here lies your way!"

* NoPeriodsPeriod: Averted, if only in a minor way. Olivia dismisses "Cesario" by snapping, "'Tis not that time of moon with me to make one in so skipping a dialogue." Cue Olivia's handmaid Maria trying to usher Cesario out: "Will you set sail sir? Here lies your way!"

* ArtifactTitle: The play is only called ''Twelfth Night'' because it was first performed on Twelfth Night. This is probably why it's EitherOrTitle, "or, What You Will," meaning "or whatever you want." The play really doesn't have a proper name, so you can call it what you want.

** Depending on your interpretation, this is permanent for Antonio.

* ArtifactTitle: The play is only called ''Twelfth Night'' because it was first performed on Twelfth Night. This is probably why it's EitherOrTitle, "or, As You Like It," meaning "or whatever you want." The play really doesn't have a proper name, so you can call it what you want.

* ArtifactTitle: ''Twelfth Night'' refers to its first performance.

* IncrediblyLamePun: They're all over the place, along with some not-so-lame puns as well.
-->'''Viola''' (asking Feste if he makes a living playing music): Dost though live by thy tabor?\\
'''Feste''': No, sir, I live by the church.\\
'''Viola''': Art thou a churchman?\\
'''Feste''': [[LiteralistSnarking No such matter, sir. I do live by the church, for I do live at my house, and my house doth stand by the church.]]

** The 2017 Emma Rice Globe staging, meanwhile, is full of song but while the whole cast join in with choruses, Viola never has any kind of solo. It is instead Orsinio, Maria and most of all Feste (played here as bass-baritone drag act Le Gateau Chocolat in a sparkly kaftan) who lead the singing.
** Viola sings quite well in the 2018 American musical adaptation by Shaina Taub, where she was originally played by Nikki M. James (known for playing Nabalungi in ''Theatre/TheBookOfMormon''), and has a solo to herself, "Viola's Soliloquy."

* LovingAShadow: Orsino for Olivia. He even says as much - he says he doesn't care about her fabulous inheritance and wealth, but for her beauty, without a hint of self-consciousness. Well done, dude.
** In the 1996 movie, Orsino seemed to imply that what made him fall in love with Olivia was her dedication to upholding her vow of not loving a man for seven years after. He loves her because he admires her dedication towards NOT loving anyone out of love for her father and brother, and so decided to woo her while she's still mourning. YMMV, but this made him seem very stupid since the whole reason he "loves" her is because she's refusing to love anyone!
** Possibly lampshaded when Maria refers to Malvolio "practicing behavior to his own shadow".

* NoAntagonist:
** Malvolio, Olivia's well-meaning steward that tries to preserve order in her household, who comes across as a wet blanket killjoy when he strongly objects to the caterwauling of Toby, Andrew, and Feste, soon follows the letter's instructions (written by Maria, unbeknownst to Malvolio) in the hopes of wooing Olivia, and Olivia eventually has him released from the darkened room.
** Sir Andrew Aguecheek, who witnessed Cesario's denial of Antonio's friendship, brawls with Sebastian when he mistakes him for Cesario, is depicted as more of a hopeless suitor that tries to woo Olivia by attempting to display some fighting skills, while Sir Toby has been mooching from his salary.

* TitleDrop:
--> '''Olivia''': Go you, Malvolio: if it be a suit from the count, I am sick, or not at home; ''what you will'', to dismiss it.

* IHaveThisFriend: An interesting variant, in that Viola says a bunch of things that are literally true, but meant to be taken this way:
-->'''Viola''': My father had a daughter loved a man,\\
As it might be, perhaps, were I a woman,\\
I should your lordship.

* HeterosexualLifePartners: Antonio and Sebastian, although not necessarily heterosexual on Antonio's part, depending on the presentation.
** At the end of the play, Antonio mentions:
--->'''Antonio''': Today, my lord, and for three months before, No interim, not a minute’s vacancy, Both day and night did we keep company.
** Make of that [[TitleDrop what you will]].

-->My father had a daughter loved a man,\\

* JerkassWoobie: Malvolio spends typically most of the play as a HateSink, is imprisoned, gaslighted, and publicly shamed for the crime of being a joyless wannabe.

* TwinThreesomeFantasy: Olivia's cry of "wonderful!" when "Cesario" and Sebastian ''finally'' appear onstage together.[[note]]Archaically the word literally means to inspire wonder, but it wouldn't be Shakespeare without a double meaning...[[/note]]

* SuspiciouslyAproposMusic: Feste sings a lot about the passing of time and the complexity of romantic love. No prizes for guessing whether those are notable motifs in the play as a whole…

* HourglassPlot: Antonio saved Sebastian's life after a horrific storm, when they were both mired in a strange country. Antonio grew very close to Sebastian, and even got into a duel in Sebastian's defense. When Antonio was placed under arrest by Orsino, his old rival, he expected that Sebastian would help him out — only for Sebastian to act like he's never met Antonio before. Fortunately, that wasn't actually Sebastian.

* BittersweetEnding: Feste's melancholic ending song aside, most everyone got a happy ending, except for Antonio, Sir Andrew Aguecheek and Malvolio.

* YouFailGeographyForever: Downplayed. Illyria is what balkanized into modern day Croatia, Slovenia and Bosnia. However, the play is set during summertime, so, if we accept the title as indicative, it should be in the Southern Hemisphere[[note]]In the Northern Hemisphere, Twelfth Night would be a winter holiday, not a summer holiday[[/note]]. Admittedly, there's no confirmation that the events of the play are happening during the Twelfth Night festivities, which are only referenced in the title and briefly in a song by Sir Toby.