Twelfth Night: The Role of Feste

Feste is a professional fool who belongs to Olivia, a rich Countess. He is very intelligent and witty. Even though he belongs to Olivia, he also entertains Orsino, Duke of Illyria. Everyone in the play clearly respects him and they generally do not treat him as a fool. They talk to him seriously, ask him for advice and join him in pranks. His realistic speeches are comical and light-hearted, but most of the time he …

…outside though a very prudent person on the inside who is considerate and loyal. He understands the people around him very well and knows the way they think and try’s to help them in his own way. Finally, Feste is no more a fool other than his professional status than the people around him are and he is the only character who can restore a feeling of unity to twelfth night at its ending.