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Definition of Motif
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of related symbols, help develop the central themes of a book... read full definition
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of related symbols, help develop the... read full definition
A motif is an element or idea that recurs throughout a work of literature. Motifs, which are often collections of... read full definition
Key Examples in Twelfth Night
Act 1, scene 1
Explanation and Analysis—Lovesickness:
Most physicians of Shakespeare's time were strong believers in humoral theory, which posited that the human body contained four vital fluids or "humors," and that an imbalance of these humors was the cause of all physical and mental ailments.
In Twelfth Night, both love and grief are compared to illness and associated with an imbalance of the humors. In Act 1, Scene 1, Orsino locates love in the stomach and associates an excess of it with feelings of nausea:
Orsino: If music be the food of love, play on.
Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken and so die.
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—The Sea:
The ocean is a constant presence for the coastal nation of Illyria in Twelfth Night, and while it is often characterized as a cruel and insatiable force, it also represents the inconstancy of human emotion.
At multiple points throughout the play, Orsino compares his love to the sea. In Act 1, Scene 1, he characterizes the spirit of love as an all-consuming entity with endless capacity:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Orsino: O spirit of love, how quick and fresh art thou,
That, notwithstanding thy capacity
Receiveth as the sea
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Sovereign Thrones:
While a modern person would consider the brain to be the origin of all thoughts and feelings, people in Shakespeare's England located an individual's personality and emotions in their organs. In Twelfth Night, internal organs are a motif used to emphasize the emotions and character traits of different characters.
In Act 1, Scene 1, Orsino fantasizes that Olivia will one day love him unconditionally:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Orsino: [W]hen liver, brain, and heart,
These sovereign thrones, are all supplied, and filled
Her sweet perfections with one self king!
Related Themes:
Act 1, scene 2
Explanation and Analysis—Chance:
Many events in Twelfth Night come about as a result of luck and pure coincidence. Through the motif of chance, Shakespeare comments on the general unpredictability of life and the lack of control that human beings have over their own fates.
In Act 1, Scene 2, Viola and the ship captain mention chance as they discuss the shipwreck and Sebastian's assumed death:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Captain: It is perchance that you yourself were saved.
Viola: O, my poor brother! And so perchance may he be.
Act 1, scene 3
Explanation and Analysis—Lovesickness:
Most physicians of Shakespeare's time were strong believers in humoral theory, which posited that the human body contained four vital fluids or "humors," and that an imbalance of these humors was the cause of all physical and mental ailments.
In Twelfth Night, both love and grief are compared to illness and associated with an imbalance of the humors. In Act 1, Scene 1, Orsino locates love in the stomach and associates an excess of it with feelings of nausea:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Orsino: If music be the food of love, play on.
Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken and so die.
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Astrology:
In the Elizabethan era, people strongly believed that the motion of heavenly bodies could influence human fate and behavior. The characters in Twelfth Night also subscribe to this belief—in Act 3, Scene 4, for example, Olivia characterizes Malvolio's bizarre behavior as "midsummer madness," i.e. insanity brought on by the midsummer moon. Throughout the play, several other characters make references to stars and planets, and this motif underscores the idea that human personality and destiny are both predetermined.
Unlock with LitCharts A+
Related Themes:
Act 1, scene 4
Explanation and Analysis—Astrology:
In the Elizabethan era, people strongly believed that the motion of heavenly bodies could influence human fate and behavior. The characters in Twelfth Night also subscribe to this belief—in Act 3, Scene 4, for example, Olivia characterizes Malvolio's bizarre behavior as "midsummer madness," i.e. insanity brought on by the midsummer moon. Throughout the play, several other characters make references to stars and planets, and this motif underscores the idea that human personality and destiny are both predetermined.
Unlock with LitCharts A+
Related Themes:
Act 1, scene 5
Explanation and Analysis—Lovesickness:
Most physicians of Shakespeare's time were strong believers in humoral theory, which posited that the human body contained four vital fluids or "humors," and that an imbalance of these humors was the cause of all physical and mental ailments.
In Twelfth Night, both love and grief are compared to illness and associated with an imbalance of the humors. In Act 1, Scene 1, Orsino locates love in the stomach and associates an excess of it with feelings of nausea:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Orsino: If music be the food of love, play on.
Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken and so die.
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Trees and Flowers:
Throughout Twelfth Night, several different characters make use of natural imagery. The twin motifs of trees and flowers are used at different points throughout the play to symbolize beauty, love, and death.
In Act 2, Scene 4, Orsino introduces flowers as a symbol of inconstant love:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Orsino: For women are as roses, whose fair flower,
Being once displayed, doth fall that very hour.
Related Themes:
Act 2, scene 1
Explanation and Analysis—Astrology:
In the Elizabethan era, people strongly believed that the motion of heavenly bodies could influence human fate and behavior. The characters in Twelfth Night also subscribe to this belief—in Act 3, Scene 4, for example, Olivia characterizes Malvolio's bizarre behavior as "midsummer madness," i.e. insanity brought on by the midsummer moon. Throughout the play, several other characters make references to stars and planets, and this motif underscores the idea that human personality and destiny are both predetermined.
Unlock with LitCharts A+
Related Themes:
Act 2, scene 2
Explanation and Analysis—Letters and Tokens:
Over the course of Twelfth Night, numerous characters exchange letters and tokens. As the play progresses, this motif comes to represent the mutable nature of gender and class.
Unlock with LitCharts A+
Related Themes:
Act 2, scene 4
Explanation and Analysis—The Sea:
The ocean is a constant presence for the coastal nation of Illyria in Twelfth Night, and while it is often characterized as a cruel and insatiable force, it also represents the inconstancy of human emotion.
At multiple points throughout the play, Orsino compares his love to the sea. In Act 1, Scene 1, he characterizes the spirit of love as an all-consuming entity with endless capacity:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Orsino: O spirit of love, how quick and fresh art thou,
That, notwithstanding thy capacity
Receiveth as the sea
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Costumes:
Twelfth Night is a play filled with costumes and disguises. In addition to creating endless moments of humor and mistaken identity, clothing acts as a motif that represents the fluidity of human identity and emotion.
Unlock with LitCharts A+
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Trees and Flowers:
Throughout Twelfth Night, several different characters make use of natural imagery. The twin motifs of trees and flowers are used at different points throughout the play to symbolize beauty, love, and death.
In Act 2, Scene 4, Orsino introduces flowers as a symbol of inconstant love:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Orsino: For women are as roses, whose fair flower,
Being once displayed, doth fall that very hour.
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Sovereign Thrones:
While a modern person would consider the brain to be the origin of all thoughts and feelings, people in Shakespeare's England located an individual's personality and emotions in their organs. In Twelfth Night, internal organs are a motif used to emphasize the emotions and character traits of different characters.
In Act 1, Scene 1, Orsino fantasizes that Olivia will one day love him unconditionally:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Orsino: [W]hen liver, brain, and heart,
These sovereign thrones, are all supplied, and filled
Her sweet perfections with one self king!
Related Themes:
Act 3, scene 1
Explanation and Analysis—Costumes:
Twelfth Night is a play filled with costumes and disguises. In addition to creating endless moments of humor and mistaken identity, clothing acts as a motif that represents the fluidity of human identity and emotion.
Unlock with LitCharts A+
Related Themes:
Act 3, scene 2
Explanation and Analysis—Sovereign Thrones:
While a modern person would consider the brain to be the origin of all thoughts and feelings, people in Shakespeare's England located an individual's personality and emotions in their organs. In Twelfth Night, internal organs are a motif used to emphasize the emotions and character traits of different characters.
In Act 1, Scene 1, Orsino fantasizes that Olivia will one day love him unconditionally:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Orsino: [W]hen liver, brain, and heart,
These sovereign thrones, are all supplied, and filled
Her sweet perfections with one self king!
Related Themes:
Act 3, scene 4
Explanation and Analysis—The Sea:
The ocean is a constant presence for the coastal nation of Illyria in Twelfth Night, and while it is often characterized as a cruel and insatiable force, it also represents the inconstancy of human emotion.
At multiple points throughout the play, Orsino compares his love to the sea. In Act 1, Scene 1, he characterizes the spirit of love as an all-consuming entity with endless capacity:
Unlock with LitCharts A+Orsino: O spirit of love, how quick and fresh art thou,
That, notwithstanding thy capacity
Receiveth as the sea
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Letters and Tokens:
Over the course of Twelfth Night, numerous characters exchange letters and tokens. As the play progresses, this motif comes to represent the mutable nature of gender and class.
Unlock with LitCharts A+
Related Themes:
Act 5, scene 1
Explanation and Analysis—Costumes:
Twelfth Night is a play filled with costumes and disguises. In addition to creating endless moments of humor and mistaken identity, clothing acts as a motif that represents the fluidity of human identity and emotion.
Unlock with LitCharts A+
Related Themes:
Explanation and Analysis—Letters and Tokens:
Over the course of Twelfth Night, numerous characters exchange letters and tokens. As the play progresses, this motif comes to represent the mutable nature of gender and class.
Unlock with LitCharts A+
Related Themes:
