Falling into the category of Young Adult Literature, this latest adaptation of Shakespeare’s comedy, TWELFTH KNIGHT appeals to its target audience in a way that is reminiscent of films like ‘Ten Things I Hate about You’ or ‘She’s The Man’ which made Shakespeare’s themes and characters relatable to a modern audience. The novel is a fast-paced read but beneath that lies a more nuanced exploration of teen life in today’s world.
Set in a ‘painfully homogenous’ neighbourhood in San Francisco, our strong-willed protagonist Viola Reyes, a self-assured teenager who is labelled as a ‘bitch’ because she is unapologetic for her aspirations. But beneath her feisty veneer, her vulnerability is exposed as she feels the weight of being regularly dismissed and alienated for her unwillingness to compromise for the sake of other people such as her nemesis Jack Orsino, a popular footballer who has recently elected President of the Student Body but doesn’t take his responsibility seriously. As Vice president, Vi must constantly battle to ensure that tasks are done properly, earning the ire of those around her because of her high expectations. Even her best friend Antonia doesn’t seem to understand why she gets so frustrated by the casual sexism that neither of them can escape, which adds to the sting.
That’s why Vi loves the world of online gaming where she can escape from the stresses of her real world where under her masculine alter-ego, she is unencumbered by the sexism that remains a barrier in modern life. ‘When I’m Cesario, I’m trusted. Admired even. I’m still me, but without the harassment in the chart or attempts to mansplain the things I care about. They don’t have to know who I am.’
When the charming Jack is injured, he alleviates his boredom by playing the multiplayer online role-playing game Twelfth Knight, befriending Cesario. This sets the virtual stage for a classic rom-com where Vi concealing her real identity slowly sees that there is more to Jack than his ‘jock’ persona and the adversaries bond online line, eventually leading to a closerrelationship in the real world. Their developing relationshipoffers an intelligent exploration of issues like sexism, identity and family relationships. The premise may be a little nerdy, but it’s written in a way that makes the world of online gaming accessible to the uninitiated. It’s quite dialogue driven at times, particularly with the conversations that take place online. Structurally, the dual perspectives, with first person narration switching between Vi and Jack allows a more complex consideration of the ideas explored, with characterisation that goes beyond typical tropes to offer a more dynamic representation of the trials and tribulations that a modern teenage reader can connect with.
TWELFTH KNIGHT is an easy, feel-good coming of age story which bubbles along at a good pace, while some serious issues simmer beneath. A little angsty at times, but overall, it’s a novel that teenagers will enjoy – with or without prior knowledge of Shakespeare’s play.
