How does Shakespeare make use of comic conventions in Twelfth Night?

Comic conventions are utilised in a number of ways typical of Shakespearean comedies in Twelfth Night. The most obvious traditional Shakespearean conventions all appear in Twelfth Night, these include marriage as a central focus and concluding scene, festivities, music and disguise. The characters all partake in various plots which have humorous consequences and much of the comedy in the play derives from mistaken identity as well as the more obvious comedic witticisms. The characters themselves provide comedy through their personalities, Malvolio through his façade of puritanism, Olivia and Orsino through their fickle personalities, Feste through his role as witty fool and Sir Toby and Sir Andrew through their idiotic drunken behaviour. 

Answered by Miriam B. English tutor

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