Why is Twelfth Night called a comedy?

Answer 1

Twelfth Night is one of only two Shakespearean plays which has an alternate title, which is "What You Will". (The other play, incidentally, is Henry VIII, also known as "All is True") However, there was another play written at about the same time called What You Will. Some people have speculated that Shakespeare's play was originally only called What You Will and was given the second title to avoid confusion. Some authors have tried to connect the events of the play with the "Lord of Misrule" celebrations of Twelfth Night, but Shakespeare's Illyria is a stable and stratified society, and the subplot vilifies and punishes someone (Malvolio) who tries to act above his station, the exact opposite of what happened during the rule of the Lord of Misrule. There is no mention in the text of the play of Twelfth Night celebrations. It is also possible that the play was first performed on January 6, as the court regularly commissioned actors to perform over the Christmas season. The first known performance of the play was February 2, 1602, but it might well have been performed earlier. All in all, the title is a bit of a mystery.

Answer 2

Because it's the twelfth night after Christmas. The feast of the Epiphany, January 6. always a night for a big party. There would be a cake - in France there still is - and in the cake, a bean, Whoever got the bean in his slice became King for the night, in honour of the Three kings. There might also be entertainment. Shakespeare wrote a play for the occasion.

Answer 3

The play was written by Shakespeare as a Christmas present as such to the queen of the time. It was then performed to her and a packed audience on the twelfth day of Christmas in the evening, hence the name twelfth night. Alas, if we only knew such details, but we do not. It has indeed been speculated that the play may have been played at court on January 6, 1601: the Lord Chamberlain's Men did play at court that day, and the play was written around then. One of the guests was an Italian called Orsini and Orsino may have named in compliment to him. The records do not show the name of the play they performed, so it is a guess what it might have been. Details such as the notion that there was a "packed audience" is fanciful, and Shakespeare certainly did not write the play as a present to the Queen or anyone. His company kept the rights to it thank you very much.

The whole theory that Twelfth Night was performed on this occasion is outlined in Leslie Hotson's 1954 book, "The First Night of Twelfth Night."

However the first documented performance of the play took place a year later, on February 2, 1602, when it was performed for a group of law students.

Answer 4

Because at the end the couples get married and nobody dies. Although Malvolio is treated rather badly, at least he's better off than Shylock in Merchant of Venice and that is called a comedy too.

Answer 5

It is believed that Shakespeare may have written the play as a 'Twelfth Night entertainment' for the Christmas season; i.e. the twelfth day of Christmas.

Answer 6

It was his prerogative to name it, as he wrote it.

Answer 7

Because the 12th night play took 12 nights to make the whole play!

Answer 8

It was written as a Twelfth Night's Entertainment

the full name of the play is Twelfth Night or What You Will

Answer 9

i believe it was because that was the twelfth night after Christmas

Answer 10

Shakespeare's comedy plays are know as "Farces".