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Twelfth Night: Q & A
When was Twelfth Night first performed? First published? Twelfth Night was performed on February 2, 1602 in the Middle Temple, one of the four law schools in London collectively known as the Inns of Court. Together with this known performance date and references in the play to real events occurring between 1599 and 1602, we can assume that the play was composed between 1599 and late 1601 (or possibly finished in January, 1602). Twelfth Night was originally published in the First Folio (1623), and the Folio text seems to have been derived from an authentic and complete Shakespeare promptbook. For more information on the folios and promptbooks, please see my article Shakespeare in Print. Why is Twelfth Night titled as such? Twelfth Night is the night of Epiphany, January 6, or, the twelfth night after Christmas. This holiday signaled the end of Christmas merry-making and, more importantly, commemorated the Magi. It is likely that Shakespeare wrote the play to celebrate this occasion and thus gave it this specific title. There are critics who connect the holiday and thus the title to characters in the play, like Sebastian and Viola, who could represent Christ's dual nature. But these connections are dubious.
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