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TWELFTH NIGHT - LITERATURE NOTES
ABOUT THE AUTHOR (William Shakespeare)
See Introduction to Shakespeare
SUMMARY
This play is a love story that is split between two sets of lovers; Viola and Duke Orsino, and Olivia and Sebastian. The play focuses on the separation of the twins - Viola and Sebastian - by way of a ship wreck, and their attempts at making a life in the city of Illyria. Viola decides to don the disguise of a male eunuch and work for Duke Orsino, while Sebastian - with the aid of his friend Antonio - decides to also seek his fortune in the city of Illyria. A case of mistaken identity then occurs, which fosters a love relationship between Sebastian and Olivia, unbeknownst to Viola. Meanwhile, at Duke Orsino's court, Viola (otherwise known as Cesario) is directed, by Duke Orsino, to woo Olivia in his place. During the process of wooing Olivia, Viola (Cesario) falls in love with Duke Orsino, and Orsino himself feels a puzzling attraction to his young androgynous servant, but maintains his interest in Olivia. While this love triangle is occurring, Sir Toby Belch, Maria, Sir Andrew Aguecheeck, and Feste play a joke on Malvolio. They pen a letter, in Olivia's handwriting, in order to give him the false impression that Olivia loves him. This letter instructs him to behave in odd ways. The result is that Olivia believes Malvolio to be mad, and he is subsequently locked in a room and tortured by the plotters. The play ends in the marriages between Olivia and Sebastian, Viola and Duke Orsino, and surprisingly, Maria and Sir Toby Belch. Malvolio is released from the room and storms off.
SETTING
CONVENTIONS OF A SHAKESPEAREAN COMEDY
See Introduction to Shakespeare
CHARACTERS
Viola (Cesario)
SUMMARY
Act 1
Scene 1
The scene opens with Duke Orsino expressing his feelings about love. Valentine then explains that Olivia, Duke Orsino's love interest, has spurned the company of men, for seven years, in order to mourn the death of her father.
Scene 2
Viola is stranded on the shores of Olivia and a sea captain gives her information about the duke and Olivia, he also reports seeing Sebastian hanging on to a mast on the sea. Viola then decides to don the disguise of a male eunuch and become a servant in Duke Orsino's home. She asks the sea captain to keep this plan a secret and introduce her, in disguise, to the duke.
Scene 3
Sir Toby and Maria discuss Andrew Aguecheek's wooing of Olivia. They discuss his character, to which Toby has only good to say, and Maria has only bad. Sir Andrew then enters and the audience realizes that Maria's opinions were more accurate than Sir Toby's. Sir Andrew is doubtful of his abilities to woo Olivia, but, upon the encouragement of Sir Toby, he decides to stay for another month and continue to woo Olivia.
Scene 4
Valentine comments on the fact that Cesario (Viola) is highly favoured by Duke Orsino. The duke then enters and requests that Cesario (Viola) woo Olivia for him, in exchange for wealth and freedom. It is during this discussion that Cesario (Olivia) realizes that she is in love with Duke Orsino.
Scene 4
Maria rebukes Feste for his absence, then Olivia enters. She asks them to take away the fool, but the fool, Feste, reacts by calling Olivia the fool. He then successfully proves that Olivia is indeed the fool. Malvolio interrupts and reports that a persistent young man is at the gate. Olivia goes to see the young man, Cesario, and has an entertaining discussion with him. When he leaves, she realizes that she is in love with Cesario (Viola), and sends Malvolio to find him and deliver a message to him, as well as a ring that he had left behind.
Act 2
Scene 1
Antonio and Sebastian have a conversation. Sebastian believes that Viola has drowned and is very sad. He decides to go to Count Orsino's court and Antonio decides to follow him.
Scene 2
Malvolio catches up with Cesario (Viola) and returns the ring. He also gives Cesario (Viola) the message that she rejects Duke Orsino and that Cesario (Viola) should return to her to report that the duke has accepted her rejection. Cesario (Viola) denies leaving a ring with Olivia and comes to the realization that Olivia has fallen in love with him (her).
Scene 3
Toby and Andrew have fun with Feste by making him perform for them. Malvolio then enters and chastises them for being drunk in Olivia's house. Toby does not like this and Maria devises a scheme to make Malvolio look foolish. They decide to plant a letter that allows Malvolio to believe that Olivia loves him. This will feed his self importance.
Scene 4
Orsino wants to hear Feste sing a particular love song
Contributor: Leisa Samuels-Thomas
[Editor] Story Donno, Elizabeth. The New Cambridge Shakespeare: Twelfth Night. (Cambridge, New York) Cambridge University Press, 2003.
http://archive.org/details/twelfth_night_0906_librivox
See Introduction to Shakespeare
SUMMARY
This play is a love story that is split between two sets of lovers; Viola and Duke Orsino, and Olivia and Sebastian. The play focuses on the separation of the twins - Viola and Sebastian - by way of a ship wreck, and their attempts at making a life in the city of Illyria. Viola decides to don the disguise of a male eunuch and work for Duke Orsino, while Sebastian - with the aid of his friend Antonio - decides to also seek his fortune in the city of Illyria. A case of mistaken identity then occurs, which fosters a love relationship between Sebastian and Olivia, unbeknownst to Viola. Meanwhile, at Duke Orsino's court, Viola (otherwise known as Cesario) is directed, by Duke Orsino, to woo Olivia in his place. During the process of wooing Olivia, Viola (Cesario) falls in love with Duke Orsino, and Orsino himself feels a puzzling attraction to his young androgynous servant, but maintains his interest in Olivia. While this love triangle is occurring, Sir Toby Belch, Maria, Sir Andrew Aguecheeck, and Feste play a joke on Malvolio. They pen a letter, in Olivia's handwriting, in order to give him the false impression that Olivia loves him. This letter instructs him to behave in odd ways. The result is that Olivia believes Malvolio to be mad, and he is subsequently locked in a room and tortured by the plotters. The play ends in the marriages between Olivia and Sebastian, Viola and Duke Orsino, and surprisingly, Maria and Sir Toby Belch. Malvolio is released from the room and storms off.
SETTING
- The play is set in Illyria
- The scenes fluctuate between Olivia's house and Orsino's house
- While others occur along the seaside of Illyria
CONVENTIONS OF A SHAKESPEAREAN COMEDY
See Introduction to Shakespeare
CHARACTERS
Viola (Cesario)
- A gentlewoman who gets stranded along the shores of Illyria as a result of a ship wreck.
- She is aided by a captain, who gives her information about Duke Orsino and Olivia.
- She decides to disguise herself as a eunuch and work for Duke Olivia.
- She ends up falling in love with the duke.
- She is very brave to take control of her life in the way that she does.
- Sebastian's twin sister.
- She marries Duke Orsino by the end of the play.
- Viola's twin brother.
- A gentleman who gets stranded along the shores of Illyria as a result of a ship wreck.
- He is aided by his friend Antonio.
- He falls in love with Olivia and eventually marries her.
- He is the Duke of Illyria.
- He believes himself to be in love with Olivia, but seems to more in love with being in love.
- He is attracted to his androgynous servant.
- He ends up marrying Olivia by the end of the play.
- An Illyrian noble woman
- She has spurned the company of men for seven years, in order to mourn the death of her father and brother.
- She falls in love with Cesario (Viola) upon their first meeting.
- She ends up marrying Sebastian.
- He is the head servant in Olivia's house.
- He does not have a good impression of Toby, due to his drinking, and Feste, due to his fun loving nature.
- He has a haughty attitude towards the servants in Olivia's household.
- He is tricked by Maria, Feste, Sir Toby Belch and Andrew Aguecheek.
- He is believed to be mad, by Olivia, after he follows the instructions in the letter.
- He storms off, by the end of the play, when someone remembered that he was still locked in the room.
- He is a jester, or fool, in Olivia's household.
- Despite being a jester/fool, Feste appears to be very witty and clever.
- He assists the plotters by donning the disguise of Sir Topas, and assisting in the torture (NOT physical) of Malvolio.
- She is Olivia's maid.
- She is very witty and clever.
- She harbours a dislike for Malvolio.
- She pens the letter that they use to fool Malvolio.
- She marries Sir Toby Belch by the end of the play.
- Olivia's uncle.
- He is often drunk.
- He conspires with Maria, Feste and Sir Andrew to play a joke on Malvolio.
- He marries Maria.
- He represents disorder and fun in the play.
- A friend of Sir Toby Belch
- He is one of the conspirator's in the plot against Malvolio.
- He was brought, by Sir Toby Belch, to woo Olivia.
- He is, in fact, the real fool in the play, not Feste.
- He is Sebastian's friend.
SUMMARY
Act 1
Scene 1
The scene opens with Duke Orsino expressing his feelings about love. Valentine then explains that Olivia, Duke Orsino's love interest, has spurned the company of men, for seven years, in order to mourn the death of her father.
Scene 2
Viola is stranded on the shores of Olivia and a sea captain gives her information about the duke and Olivia, he also reports seeing Sebastian hanging on to a mast on the sea. Viola then decides to don the disguise of a male eunuch and become a servant in Duke Orsino's home. She asks the sea captain to keep this plan a secret and introduce her, in disguise, to the duke.
Scene 3
Sir Toby and Maria discuss Andrew Aguecheek's wooing of Olivia. They discuss his character, to which Toby has only good to say, and Maria has only bad. Sir Andrew then enters and the audience realizes that Maria's opinions were more accurate than Sir Toby's. Sir Andrew is doubtful of his abilities to woo Olivia, but, upon the encouragement of Sir Toby, he decides to stay for another month and continue to woo Olivia.
Scene 4
Valentine comments on the fact that Cesario (Viola) is highly favoured by Duke Orsino. The duke then enters and requests that Cesario (Viola) woo Olivia for him, in exchange for wealth and freedom. It is during this discussion that Cesario (Olivia) realizes that she is in love with Duke Orsino.
Scene 4
Maria rebukes Feste for his absence, then Olivia enters. She asks them to take away the fool, but the fool, Feste, reacts by calling Olivia the fool. He then successfully proves that Olivia is indeed the fool. Malvolio interrupts and reports that a persistent young man is at the gate. Olivia goes to see the young man, Cesario, and has an entertaining discussion with him. When he leaves, she realizes that she is in love with Cesario (Viola), and sends Malvolio to find him and deliver a message to him, as well as a ring that he had left behind.
Act 2
Scene 1
Antonio and Sebastian have a conversation. Sebastian believes that Viola has drowned and is very sad. He decides to go to Count Orsino's court and Antonio decides to follow him.
Scene 2
Malvolio catches up with Cesario (Viola) and returns the ring. He also gives Cesario (Viola) the message that she rejects Duke Orsino and that Cesario (Viola) should return to her to report that the duke has accepted her rejection. Cesario (Viola) denies leaving a ring with Olivia and comes to the realization that Olivia has fallen in love with him (her).
Scene 3
Toby and Andrew have fun with Feste by making him perform for them. Malvolio then enters and chastises them for being drunk in Olivia's house. Toby does not like this and Maria devises a scheme to make Malvolio look foolish. They decide to plant a letter that allows Malvolio to believe that Olivia loves him. This will feed his self importance.
Scene 4
Orsino wants to hear Feste sing a particular love song
Contributor: Leisa Samuels-Thomas
[Editor] Story Donno, Elizabeth. The New Cambridge Shakespeare: Twelfth Night. (Cambridge, New York) Cambridge University Press, 2003.
http://archive.org/details/twelfth_night_0906_librivox
