Don't Judge A Book By It's Cover

1) What thematic strand have you located?
disguise...conceal...veil...hide...taffeta...beard...trick

2) Where is the data you retrieved found? What is happening in context when Shakespeare employs this particular theme or image?
The data is found in various sections all throughout the play. Whenever disguises or concealments are mentioned, it is explaining how the person is disguising themselves and why. For instance, in earlier parts of the play, the establishing of the plot occurs in Viola's disguising herself as Cesario. Not much later, Olivia hides beneath her veil. As the play continues, the things being hidden/disguised become more conceptual than tangible (more towards hiding emotions and true feelings than hiding physical appearances, although that is still occurring).

3) How does the data you retrieved support your first thoughts on Shakespeare's obsessive use of a particular image? What can you argue about Shakespeare's figuration?
Many words in the strand were found multiple times throughout the play, which makes sense since the entire show is basically laid on the groundwork of Viola's disguise as Cesario. There would be no foundation for the rest of the play without this central deception. The figurations seem to be used to highlight the fact that things aren't what they seem and that appearances can be deceptive. The audience and Shakespeare have more knowledge than the characters (with Feste being the exception) in regard to who's who. It's almost as though a larger joke is being played by Shakespeare on the rest of the characters (in disguising so many people/emotions/motives). Interestingly, Shakespeare never uses the word "identity", even though it could be related to disguises (hiding one's true identity). I'm not sure why this is yet, but I'm working on it =)