Disguise in drama mostly portrays the theme of

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks which theme is most often portrayed when a character uses a disguise in a play.

Step 2: Explain the concept Disguise is a dramatic device in which a character hides their real identity by changing their appearance, clothing, or name. Its main effect is that other characters (and sometimes the audience) misjudge who the person really is. This leads to confusion, humour, irony, or plot twists.

Examples you may know:

• Twelfth Night (Shakespeare): Viola disguises herself as Cesario, and Olivia falls in love with "him". This causes mistaken identity.
• As You Like It: Rosalind disguises herself as Ganymede.
• The Merchant of Venice: Portia and Nerissa disguise themselves as a lawyer and a clerk.

Step 3: Evaluate the options

• A. Known identity: If an identity is known, there is no need for disguise. Wrong.
• B. Plain identity: This means an obvious identity, which is the opposite of disguise. Wrong.
• C. Unknown identity: This is close, because a disguised person's identity is hidden. But the theme in drama is the confusion that results, not merely that someone is unknown. It is less precise.
• D. Mistaken identity: Disguise leads other characters to take someone for who they are not. This is the established dramatic theme. Correct.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is D. mistaken identity.

Step 5: Exam tip Link the device to its theme: disguise → mistaken identity. In literature questions, when two options look similar, choose the one that is a recognised literary term. "Mistaken identity" is a standard term, while "unknown identity" is not.