Why is Twelfth Night a tragedy?

Answer 1

Twelfth Night's main plot ends happily but there are many characters for whom it does not end well. Sir Andrew Aguecheek finally discovers that Sir Toby thinks of him as a "gull" and that he has wasted his time and money in his pursuit of Olivia. Malvolio is horribly tortured although not maimed and is made a laughingstock in the eyes of everyone, a crushing blow to his vain and proud nature.

Answer 2

It is not usually considered to be a tragedy, because at the end nobody dies, and a bunch of people get married (Olivia and Sebastian, Orsino and Viola, Sir Toby and Maria). The ending is a bit sad for Malvolio, who has been fooled and exposed and is not happy about it. It is a bit sad for Sir Andrew, who has to face the reality that he also has been fooled and has wasted his money in entertaining Sir Toby and wishing to marry Olivia. But these fools have had their comeuppance and it is possible that they will be improved by the experience, if not likely. That is not a tragic end, which would have seen everyone dead in a heap on the floor with only Antonio the sea captain and Feste to survey the wreckage.

Answer 3

Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare's brightest and most cheerful comedies. You could not mistake it for a tragedy.

Answer 4

No, it was a comedy.