Self-Identity

The play Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare is beautifully scripted challenging the meaning of love and gender identity. Both themes of the story are still prevalent today, with society adjusting to various gender identities all the while refreshing demonstrations of love. Loyola held an event on November 3rd called International Fest where students could go to engage and diversify themselves with a number of different cultures.

As mentioned throughout Twelth Night Shakespeare emphases on the theme of identity. Many characters throughout the play are subject to caprice. A notable example of this is when Viola disguises herself a man in order avoid having to mourn her brother in addition to getting closer to Duke Orsino. Under disguise her new name becomes Cesario and she pretends to be a male servant. Changing her identity and subsequently life as she knew it, Cesario (Viola) gains a position as one of the Dukes hands. Ironically Olivia develops feelings for Cesario, who is tasked with relaying the Dukes love for her. I can only imagine the awe and controversy Shakespeare must have endured following the release of this play. His characters break the societal norms of the time through their development of feelings despite actually being the same sex. These controversies are still being mended in today’s society and I cannot imagine the backlash received within the Shakespearean culture.

I attended the international festival with my roommate and fellow SGA members. At the on-campus event, we enjoyed many booths and activities, one of my friends even used his tickets on what he claims to have been “a magical” massage. With this weeks reading, I believe the International fest contrasts Shakespeare’s idea of fluctuating identity with the goal of I fest to diversify while staying true to your culture or nationality. This can be seen in the energy and words of the students hosting I Fest along with the numerous tables and supply of authentic cultural food in hopes of letting others gain a better understanding of their culture.

The central point of both the reading and event is still seen regularly in today’s society. As we continue to change societal norms the way we view self-identity is paralleled. I think the topic of self-identity is growing to be a conversation even greater than human understanding, in the sense of who draws the line as to what humans can identify as. With the conversation still continuing I hope one day there is a fair and transparent level of self-identity.