describe cross-dressing and its rationale in the play in the twelfth night?

Answer 1

well, cross-dressing means that a man would dress like a woman and vice versa. in Twelfth night cross-dressing is very important because it's the main reason of the mayhem that comes from the love triangle, you can say that it's a theme in itself. also cross-dressing lends comic elements to the play and also it's a very important aspect of dramatic irony. Some critics go even to explain that cross-dressing express homo-eroticism in Twelfth night, and actually you can see this when Duke Orsino comment on Viola's (disguised as a young man to him) beauty.

I hope you find this kinda of useful.

Answer 2

Viola cross-dresses in order to hide. She's all alone in a strange land, so in order to ensure her own safety, she disguises herself as a man, Cesario, and becomes a servant of the Duke.

I don't remember Malvolia cross-dressing, but he did wear crossed garters thinking it would impress Olivia. It did not, but it's a funny scene.

Answer 3

Men dressed fancy in those days so where would the "cross" part of it come in? Or are you talking about actors playing the womens' parts? That's a performance, whereas modern-day cross-dressers want it to be part of their daily life.

Answer 4

Viola "cross-dresses' for security reasons. Does Malvolio do the same?

Check here:

http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/twelfthnight/canalysis.html