Is Twelfth Night a Christmas - Epiphany season play?
Some would say only by title [1] and only in a secular sense for having Sir Toby Belch as a “Lord of Misrule,” a secular Christmas tradition [2]. There’s no baby Jesus, no shepherds, no angels, no Magi.
But consider:
Viola and Sebastian come from far away, like the Magi.
They are shipwrecked, like St. Paul, saved from water, or like the inhabitants of Noah’s ark (which Sir Toby mentions) after storms and flood. The scripture readings for both St. Paul’s shipwreck and Noah’s ark were read every year in English churches during the Christmas season [3].
The twins are refugees in enemy land, like the Holy Family in Bethlehem under Herod the Great [4].
“Wise men/man” is spoken six times in the play by various characters [5].
The use of Sir Toby Belch as “Lord of Misrule,” and the downfall of the proud and Puritanical Malvolio, echo what the Virgin Mary says in reply to the angel Gabriel on being told she has conceived a son:
Mary says that God
“hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree.
He hath filled the hungry with good things, and sent away the rich empty.” [6]
Sir Toby, Maria, and Festse are exalted, empowered, or lifted up, and Malvolio is removed from his high seat, humiliated in a mock-exorcism, perhaps a parody of a prisoner interrogation.
The Christmas story about a carpenter’s son – and son of God – overturns the normal order of things. This boy Jesus will grow up and teach people to love enemies [7]; in the play, Viola and Sebastian, enemy refugees in Illyria, come to love and marry the countess Olivia and Duke Orsino.
So even without baby Jesus, shepherds, or angels, the play works in association with Christmas, the twelve days, and Epiphany, because of its rich thematic connections. It feels as if it fits with the season.
INDEX for posts in this series on the TWELVE DAYS of CHRISTMAS in Shakespeare’s time (and possible influences on the plays):
https://pauladrianfried.blogspot.com/2024/12/twelve-days-of-christmas-in-churches-of.html
NOTES: All references to Shakespeare plays are to the Folger Shakespeare Library online versions: https://shakespeare.folger.edu
[1] The title refers to “Twelfth Night,” in the twelve days of Christmas, and the night before the church’s Feast of the Epiphany, celebrating the story of the Magi coming from distant lands to adore the young boy, Jesus.
[2] Sometimes the Lord of Misrule would be appointed, as when Henry VIII or his nobles would appoint one, from among servants or lower classes, to pretend they were king for twelve days. There was a similar tradition of choosing a temporary boy bishop. In Germany, a Lord of Misrule would be chosen at random when one would find a coin in one’s piece of cake. James Frazer claimed the practice could be traced back to Roman Saturnalia celebrations, a contested claim.
[3] As scheduled in the Elizabethan Book of Common Prayer, 1959. For these two scripture segments regarding Paul’s shipwreck and Noah’s ark, these were repeated later in the year when some people may have been too occupied with seasonal work to attend church and hear the readings, but it’s more likely people who were at all pius may have attended church over the 12 days of Christmas an heard them at that time - and therefore may have had associations between Paul’s shipwreck, Noah, and the Christmas season.
[4] Matthew 2.
[5] A few samples:
FESTE: Those wits that think they have thee do very
oft prove fools, and I that am sure I lack thee may
pass for a wise man. For what says Quinapalus?
“Better a witty Fool than a foolish wit.” (1.5.31-34)
FESTE: (Sings) … Journeys end in lovers meeting,
Every wise man's son doth know. (2.3.44-45)
VIOLA: This fellow is wise enough to play the fool;
And to do that well craves a kind of wit:
He must observe their mood on whom he jests,
The quality of persons, and the time,
And, like the haggard, cheque at every feather
That comes before his eye. This is a practise
As full of labour as a wise man's art
For folly that he wisely shows is fit;
But wise men, folly-fall'n, quite taint their wit. (3.1.61-69)
[6] See Luke 1:46-55, especially 51-53.
[7] See Matthew 5:43-48 / 1599 Geneva Bible:
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies: bless them that curse you: do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which hurt you, and persecute you,
45 That ye may be the children of your father that is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to arise on the evil and the good, and sendeth rain on the just and unjust.
46 For if ye love them, which love you, what reward shall you have? Do not the Publicans even the same?
47 And if ye be friendly to your brethren only, what singular thing do ye? do not even the Publicans likewise?
48 Ye shall therefore be perfect, as your Father which is in heaven, is perfect.
IMAGE: Students from Small Isles Primary School on the island of Jura, in their 25-minute film submission to the Coram Shakespeare School’s International Film Festival (Image: Maker), in which they enact Twelfth Night. Fair use, via Herald Scotland:
https://www.heraldscotland.com/resources/images/18996913.jpg?type=mds-article-962
For an article on this story, see
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24872858.island-pupils-shakespeare-movie-thrills-film-festival-jury/
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Disclaimer: If and when I quote or paraphrase bible passages or mention religion in many of my blog posts, I do not intend to promote any religion over another, nor am I attempting to promote religious belief in general; only to explore how the Bible and religion influenced Shakespeare, his plays, and his age.
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