Twelfth Night: Act 4 Analysis

4.1.5-9: In these lines, we see the complications that are presented as a result of Viola's disguise. The Fool confuses Sebastian as Cesario and taunts Sebastian when he insists that he has no idea what the Fool is talking about. The Fool says, "No, I do not know you, nor I am not sent to you by my lady, to bid you come speak with her, nor your name is not Master Cesario, nor this is not my nose neither. Nothing that is so is so." The last line is dramatically ironic because we, the audience, know that nothing is indeed, what it really is (Sebastian is actually not Cesario). But the Fool, not knowing, uses verbal irony to mock Sebastian by saying "…nor this is not my nose neither. Nothing that is so is so."

4.1.63-66: In these lines, Sebastian is confused by Olivia's actions towards him. He thinks that it is too good to be true and that he might be in a dream. However, he hopes that she will continue to "love him." He says, "If it thus be a dream, still let me sleep."

4.2.15-17: In these lines, the Fool pretends to be a Priest who will reprimand Malvolio. Before seeing Malvolio, the Fool and Toby exchange words. The Fool says to Toby, "That is, is," so I, being Master Parson, and Master Parson; For what is "that" but "that" and "is" but "is?" This is a form of situational irony in the sense that the Fool tells Toby that he is Master Parson because whatever is, is; when in fact the Fool is not really Master Parson.

4.3.38-46: In these lines, the Fool is disguised as a Priest and scolds Malvolio for being ignorant. He says to Malvolio, "Why, it [the prison] hath bay windows transparent as barricades, and the clerestories toward the south-north are as lustrous as ebony; and yet complainest of thou obstruction?" The Fool's words are a form of verbal irony because he does not really mean that the bay windows