This article contains spoilers!
“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” Shakespeare’s iconic line is echoed in Andy Fickman’s coming-of-age film She’s the Man, a modern adaptation of his 17th century play Twelfth Night. The play’s complex themes of identity, disguise, and love all serve as inspiration for Fickman’s modern rendition.
Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night centers on twins Viola and Sebastian, who are separated in a devastating shipwreck. After having been rescued but losing contact with her brother, Viola disguises herself as a man in order to offer herself more freedom and protection in an unfamiliar land. At a time where noblewomen such as herself had very limited independence, she believed the wisest choice she could make would be to give the illusion of power by transforming into “Cesario.” This front she puts on also allows her to provide for herself. She gets a job under Duke Orsino, who rescued her from the shipwreck and is the man Viola comes to fall in love with. Duke Orsino, however, is in love with the beautiful Countess Olivia. Ironically enough, Countess Olivia falls in love with Viola upon meeting her, believing she is a man. Olivia is impressed by “Cesario,” Viola’s male front, because of the profound emotional depth that he displays whereas her other suitors have always lacked.
Andy Fickman’s She’s the Man follows the same set of characters in a contemporary teenage setting. While this version centers around an intense soccer rivalry, the story’s love triangle remains the same. Here, Viola specifically pretends to be her brother in order to play on his team and hopefully win the national championship, something that her mother disapproves of due to its “un-ladylike” nature. Olivia falls for Viola’s part as “Sebastian” for his unique sensitivity and open-mindedness. Unbeknownst to her that this “man” is actually a woman, Olivia is drawn to his feminine side.
Both works’ core plots revolve around a female protagonist disguising herself as a man in order to achieve their respective goals. Viola in Twelfth Night does so in an attempt to protect herself from danger on an unfamiliar land, as well as to find more job opportunities. However, in She’s the Man, Viola transforms herself into her older brother in the hopes of playing on his soccer team and proving her worth as an athlete, regardless of gender. Both the film and the play emphasize the countless advantages that this male front offers for these women.
Additionally, smaller aspects of the story are seen in both the original and updated versions. The coast of Illyria, where Shakespeare’s Viola is rescued after the shipwreck, is also the name of the high school that the film version takes place in. She’s the Man also gives a nod to Malvolio, a tarantula named after a character whose subplot was omitted from the film rendition.
Above all else, in both versions of the story Olivia is drawn to Viola’s ability to understand her as a woman. Their heartfelt, authentic conversations are what leave Countess Olivia and Olivia Lennox so enamored by Cesario and Sebastian, respectively. Each story showcases how much value this understanding holds in a relationship, as well as the advantages that a male appearance offers to women in society. This clever analysis on gender roles and love was as relevant in the 17th century as it is in the 21st.
