The genre of Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare is comedy and it follows the typical structure of a play because it has an introduction, rising action, climax and falling action and follows this structure. The introduction includes a setting, conflict and introduction to characters; the rising action has clear instances which lead directly to the climax, and the climax is a moment of heightened intensity, realization and it is a turning point. Finally, the falling action comes as a direct result of the climax. In this play, there are many points of rising action, and the inciting incident of this play occurs when Viola dresses up as a boy so that she can work for Duke Orsino. This is clearly rising action because it leads to many moments of confusion in the play: My master loves her dearly;

And I (poor monster) fond as much on him;

And she (mistaken) seems to dote on me.

What will become of this? (2.2.33-36)

This confusion can be seen clearly in this quote as Viola is recognizing how much trouble she has caused with her disguise. The rising action continues with Antonio saving Sebastian because it causes even more confusion for many characters and leads directly to the climax. The final moment of rising action takes place when Antonio gets arrested and it leads to the beginning of the climax.

The climax in Twelfth Night begins with Viola realizing that her brother is alive. Shortly after this realization, she is faced with her brother. While there is still some confusion, “One face, one voice, one habit, and two persons-------“(5.1 216-217), this is the moment where the confusion is solved, “…I should my tears let fall upon your cheek/And say, ‘Thrice welcome, drowned Viola!’ ” (5.1.240-241). This is certainly the climax since Sebastian and Viola have found the other to be alive, creating a moment of heightened emotion and intensity; it is the moment where the Duke realizes he cannot marry Olivia and will instead marry Viola, creating a moment of realization; and finally, it is the moment where all of the confusion is solved and the problems are resolved. The moment of falling action takes place in Act five, scene one where the Duke acknowledges that he will, as a result of understanding that Cesario is in fact Viola, marry Viola, Cesario, come— For so you shall be while you are a man But when in other habits you are seen Orsino’s mistress and his fancy’s queen. (5.1.387-390)

This is the falling action because it occurs as a direct result of the climax and ties everything back together again. Shakespeare’s play Twelfth Night was well written and followed the typical

structure of a comedy play. The instances of rising action, the climax and the falling

action were clearly indicated throughout the play, making this an easy play to follow.