In Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night, there are several instances of dramatic irony, which is a literary device that occurs when the audience knows something that the characters in the story do not. This creates a sense of tension and anticipation for the audience as they wait for the characters to discover what they do not know. Two examples of dramatic irony in Twelfth Night are as follows:
Viola's Disguise: The play opens with the shipwreck of Viola and her twin brother Sebastian. Viola believes her brother to be dead and disguises herself as a man to protect herself in a foreign land. However, the audience knows that Sebastian is alive and well, having been rescued by Antonio, a sea captain. This creates dramatic irony as the audience watches Viola's interactions with Olivia, Orsino, and even Sebastian himself, who mistakes her for a man. The audience knows that Viola is not who she appears to be, but the other characters do not.
Malvolio's Letter: Another example of dramatic irony occurs when Malvolio finds a letter that he believes is from Olivia, expressing her love for him. However, the audience knows that the letter is a fake, written by Maria and her co-conspirators to trick Malvolio into acting foolishly. This creates a sense of tension and anticipation as the audience watches Malvolio's actions, knowing that he is being deceived but unable to warn him. The audience is left to wonder how Malvolio will react when he finally discovers the truth.
In both of these examples, dramatic irony creates a sense of tension and anticipation for the audience as they watch the characters interact with each other, unaware of what the audience already knows. This helps to engage the audience and keep them invested in the story as they wait for the characters to discover what they do not know. Ultimately, the use of dramatic irony in Twelfth Night adds depth and complexity to the play, making it a compelling and entertaining work of literature.