Twelfth Night—Act Summaries
Act I
Orsino, The Duke of Illyria, reveals his great love for the rich Countess Olivia, who has decided
to veil herself for seven years to honor her recently deceased brother's memory. Because this
impresses Orsino so much, he decides to continue his pursuit of Olivia even though she is in
mourning.
Viola is introduced to us as a survivor of a shipwreck. Her brother was lost at sea but may not
be dead. Viola learns from the Sea Captain of their doomed ship that they are now in Illyria,
which is ruled by Orsino. The Sea Captain explains to Viola that The Duke of Illyria is pursuing
the fair Olivia, a woman who like Viola has lost a brother.
Identifying with Olivia's grief, Viola wishes to serve Olivia but when she learns this will be
impossible, Viola instead has the Sea Captain disguise her as a boy so she can serve Orsino, The
Duke of Illyria.
Sir Toby, Olivia's cousin is introduced. We quickly discover that he drinks a great deal, keeps
late hours and is generally rowdy by nature. Maria, Lady Olivia's maid makes this clear to us in
her unsuccessful attempts to keep Sir Toby quiet. Maria also reveals Olivia's annoyance that Sir
Toby has encouraged Sir Andrew Aguecheek to court her.
Sir Andrew Aguecheek is now introduced, quickly revealing himself to be rich but rather
unintelligent. Sir Toby has manipulated Sir Andrew into pursuing Olivia so Sir Toby can continue
benefiting from Sir Andrew's great wealth.
Realizing Olivia will not accept his courtship, Sir Andrew makes preparations to leave, but Sir
Toby convinces Sir Andrew to stay a month longer, no doubt so Sir Toby can use Sir Andrew and
his great wealth further.
Viola has successfully disguised herself as a man named Cesario. Her disguise has been so good
that she is now a favorite with Orsino. Orsino truly believes that Viola is Cesrio. As such, Orsino
entrusts Cesario (Viola) to express his love for Olivia. Cesario, (Viola) deeply divided by her own
love for Orsino, nonetheless dutifully represents Orsino.
Olivia's maid is angry with Feste, Olivia's Clown. Feste redeems himself with Lady Olivia by
telling her she should not mourn her brother since he is in a better place, namely heaven. Olivia
is pleased, but Olivia's uptight steward, Malvolio is not, regarding Feste as old and lacking in
wit.
Olivia gives us an insight into Malvolio's character by saying that he suffers from self-love or is
arrogant and vain.
Cesario (Viola) petitions Lady Olivia, eventually gaining her audience. Olivia is quite taken by
Cesario but tells him, she cannot return Orsino's affections for her.
Olivia would, however, like to see Cesario (Viola) again, asking him to come back to report to
her how Orsino took the news.
Intrigued by Cesario, Olivia sends Malvolio after him to give back a ring Cesario left behind as an
excuse to express her affection for him.
Act II
Sebastian, the twin brother Viola feared dead at sea, has also survived the shipwreck. Like
Viola, he mourns the loss of his sibling, believing Viola to be dead.
Antonio, the man who saved Sebastian's life is touched by Sebastian's loss and decides to
follow Sebastian to the Duke of Orsino's court even though he has many enemies there.
Sebastian nobly tries to talk Antonio out of this, but Antonio is eventually accepted by
Sebastian to travel with him to the Duke's court.
Malvolio catches up with Cesario (Viola), rudely returning Cesario's ring to him. Cesario is
confused, he left no such ring at Lady Olivia's house. Malvolio also conveys Olivia's desire that
Cesario return to confirm that Orsino has accepted the fact that she does not love him.
Cesario now realizes that the ring is a ploy by Olivia to express her affections for him. Realizing
she has charmed Olivia, Cesario remarks that Olivia would do better chasing a dream than a
man who really is a woman (Viola) in disguise. Cesario is distressed by this mess and hopes time
will undo this tangled web.
Late at night, Sir Toby, Sir Andrew and later Feste the Clown are enjoying some late night
drinking and singing. This gets Maria's attention who warns all three men to quiet down before
Malvolio notices.
The three men ignore Maria. Malvolio arrives, warning the men that he will speak to Olivia
about this noise. The three men ignore him as they did Maria and now Malvolio threatens to
make Maria look disrespectful in Olivia's eyes if she does not get the men to be quiet.
Maria, resenting Malvolio's heavy-handed arrogance hatches a plan to write a letter, which will
convince Malvolio that Olivia loves him. This news interests all three men because all three
dislike Malvolio and now are all enthusiastic accomplices in his downfall. Sir Toby, Sir Andrew
and Feste will hide near where Malvolio will discover the letter so they can all enjoy what in
their eyes is Malvolio's rightly deserved humiliation.
Orsino notices that Cesario (Viola) is in love. Cesario describes this person in terms that
precisely describe Orsino but Orsino does not realize this. Cesario warns the Duke that Lady
Olivia may not love him but Orsino refuses to even accept such a possibility.
Cesario (Viola) remarks on the unreliability of men in relationships. Cesario starts to reveal "his"
own past but quickly becomes vague when Orsino becomes too curious.
Orsino sends Cesario once more to Lady Olivia with a large jewel as a token of his love for her.
Maria tells Fabian, Sir Toby and Sir Andrew, all of whom hate Malvolio, that she has penned the
letter that will convince Malvolio that Lady Olivia loves him.
Malvolio, meanwhile having not yet found the letter, starts entertaining the idea that Olivia
could love him and that he could marry her.
Malvolio picks up Maria's counterfeit letter with its instructions that Malvolio be rude to
kinsmen like Sir Toby. It also suggests that he wear yellow stockings and be cross-gartered to
win Olivia's love.
Maria explains to Sir Toby and company, that Lady Olivia hates yellow stockings and crossgartered fashion and so Malvolio will be humiliated before Lady Olivia.
Act III
Cesario has another private meeting with Lady Olivia on Duke Orsino's behalf.
Sir Toby and Sir Andrew meet Cesario (Viola) and Sir Toby learns from Cesario that he will soon
speak with Lady Olivia. In private, Lady Olivia admits to Cesario that she used the ring she sent
after him to lure him back to her.
Cesario (Viola) tries to put Olivia off him but she is smitten, ignoring all Cesario's attempts to
diminish her enthusiasm for "him.”
Knowing Lady Olivia will never love him, Sir Andrew prepares to head for home. The sight of
Olivia showing more affection to a youth like Cesario than him was the last straw.
Fabian and Sir Toby don't deny the affectionate display but argue Olivia did it to spur Sir
Andrew to court her and regain her respect. Sir Toby and Fabian manipulate Sir Andrew into
writing a challenge to Cesario even though they know a fight between two cowards-Cesario and
Sir Andrew-is unlikely.
Maria enters, telling Sir Toby and Fabian to watch the spectacle that is Malvolio wearing yellow
stockings and being cross-gartered.
Sebastian has now reluctantly accepted Antonio as his companion in the streets of Illyria.
Antonio explains that his crime in Illyria was theft. While others from his city have repaid the
debt, he has not, and so he is still wanted in Illyria. Sebastian decides to look around, but
Antonio fearful of his enemies, decides to head for lodging at an inn called The Elephant.
Antonio gives Sebastian his wallet and directions to this lodging and the two part their separate
ways.
Olivia makes plans to once more to pursue Cesario (Viola). Olivia sees Malvolio with yellow
stockings and cross-gartered and considers him mad since he continues to smile no matter
what the situation and makes crude interpretations of Olivia's words.
Malvolio makes his famous "Some are born great” speech.
Learning that Cesario has returned, Lady Olivia has Malvolio put into the care of her servants
since she thinks Malvolio has gone mad.
Sir Toby, Maria, and Fabian plot to have Malvolio placed in a dark room, so they can have some
fun with him. Sir Andrew arrives with his completed letter challenging Cesario. Sir Toby decides
to verbally scare Cesario and Sir Andrew about their opponents instead of sending the letter.
Alone with Cesario again, Lady Olivia gets nowhere with Cesario because he does not return her
love. Olivia refuses to give up. Sir Toby scares both Sir Andrew and Cesario into drawing their
weapons on each other.
Antonio arrives, pledging to fight Sir Andrew on Cesario's (Viola's) behalf because he thinks
Cesario is Sebastian since Viola, disguised as a man now, looks like her twin brother Sebastian.
The fight is stopped, but Officers recognize and capture Antonio. Antonio asks Cesario (Viola)
for his purse back, but Cesario, not recognizing Antonio, doesn’t do it.
Antonio thinks Sebastian has betrayed him, not realizing he has asked Cesario (Viola) for his
purse, not Sebastian.
Act IV
Confusion reigns as Sebastian is now mistaken for Cesario when Feste insists Sebastian sent for
him and Sebastian is certain he did not (Cesario obviously did).
Sir Andrew finds Sebastian and thinking it is Cesario from the earlier "fight" that did not
happen, hits Sebastian. Sebastian unlike Cesario is not afraid to return the favor and a fight is
only stopped by Sir Toby's intervention. Sir Andrew decides to have Sebastian punished by the
law of Illyria despite the fact that he started the fight.
Sir Toby and Sebastian are just about to fight when Olivia screams for her uncle, Sir Toby to
stop. Olivia now scolds Sir Toby, hoping Sebastian, whom she thinks is Cesario (Viola), will
forgive her uncle and not be displeased with her.
Sebastian, amazed that this beautiful woman he does not know loves him, replies to Olivia that
he will be ruled by her and the two set off to marry immediately.
In Olivia's house, Malvolio in a darkened room is teased mercilessly by Feste who tries
unsuccessfully to convince Malvolio that he is mad.
Sir Toby, fearing that his fight with Cesario (actually Sebastian) has put him on thin ice with
Olivia, wants Feste's teasing of Malvolio to stop. Feste has other ideas but eventually lets
Malvolio write a letter to Olivia proclaiming his sanity.
Sebastian can barely believe his luck, a beautiful woman (Olivia) loves him and has given him a
pearl. Sebastian briefly wonders if he is dreaming before he marries Olivia in a private chapel.
Olivia explains that their now secret marriage will be revealed later.
Act V
In the final scene, chaos ensues as the identical appearing Cesario (Viola) and Sebastian are
each blamed for the other's actions. First Feste blames Sebastian for beckoning him, not
realizing it was Cesario who called for him.
Cesario spots Antonio the man who saved him from fighting Sir Andrew but was taken prisoner
by Orsino's officers in Act III. Antonio again asks Cesario for his wallet back thinking he is
Sebastian. Cesario (Viola), who does not know Antonio, does not and so Antonio curses him for
his betrayal, not realizing he is talking to Cesario not Sebastian.
We learn that Antonio is an enemy of Illyria and especially of Orsino for plundering his ships as
a pirate in the past.
Now a prisoner, Antonio baffles Orsino by telling him that he and Cesario (Viola) have been
together night and day for three weeks when Antonio really means Sebastian. Orsino cannot
believe this; Cesario has been with him for three weeks.
Olivia arrives and we see that Orsino still loves her. The feeling is not mutual... Olivia scolds
Cesario (Viola) for neglecting her, revealing that "he" is her husband.
Cesario (Viola) amazed by this, pleads "his" innocence to Orsino who "he" truly loves and
Orsino thinking his servant betrayed him by taking Olivia for himself, prepares to punish
Cesario.
Olivia meanwhile despairs that her husband Cesario, who really is Sebastian, would leave
willingly with Orsino to be punished rather than be with his wife and she too claims betrayal by
Cesario (Viola).
Sebastian arrives, apologizing for attacking Sir Toby and Sir Andrew. Orsino seeing both Cesario
and Sebastian together is amazed that he sees two copies of the same man. Olivia too is
amazed.
Sebastian and Cesario compare notes on how they arrived in Illyria each claiming that their
sibling had drowned.
Eventually they realize that since they knew the same father they are indeed brother and sister,
Cesario revealing "his" real identity as the woman named Viola.
Malvolio storms in and the cruel prank against him is revealed by Fabian who confesses.
Orsino calls Olivia his sister, and Orsino takes Viola for his mistress, and we presume later his
wife, with Feste ending the play in song.
Twelfth Night—Characters
Viola - A young woman of aristocratic birth, and the play’s protagonist. Washed up on the shore
of Illyria when her ship is wrecked in a storm, Viola decides to make her own way in the world.
She disguises herself as a young man, calling herself "Cesario," and becomes a page to Duke
Orsino. She ends up falling in love with Orsino—even as Olivia, the woman Orsino is courting,
falls in love with Cesario. Thus, Viola finds that her clever disguise has entrapped her: she
cannot tell Orsino that she loves him, and she cannot tell Olivia why she, as Cesario, cannot
love her. Her poignant plight is the central conflict in the play.
Orsino - A powerful nobleman in the country of Illyria. Orsino is lovesick for the beautiful Lady
Olivia, but becomes more and more fond of his handsome new page boy, Cesario, who is
actually a woman—Viola. Orsino is a character through which we see the absurdity of love: a
supreme egotist, Orsino mopes around complaining how heartsick he is over Olivia, when it is
clear that he is chiefly in love with the idea of being in love and enjoys making a spectacle of
himself.
Olivia - A wealthy, beautiful, and noble Illyrian lady. Olivia is courted by Orsino and Sir Andrew
Aguecheek, but to each of them she insists that she is in mourning for her brother, who has
recently died, and will not marry for seven years. She and Orsino are similar characters in that
each seems to enjoy wallowing in his or her own misery. Viola’s arrival in the masculine guise of
Cesario enables Olivia to break free of her self-pitying sadness. Olivia seems to have no
difficulty transferring her affections from one love interest to the next, however, suggesting
that her romantic feelings—like most emotions in the play—do not run deep.
Sebastian - Viola’s lost twin brother. When he arrives in Illyria, traveling with Antonio, his close
friend and protector, Sebastian discovers that many people think that they know him.
Furthermore, the beautiful Lady Olivia, whom he has never met, wants to marry him. Sebastian
is not as well rounded a character as his sister. He seems to exist to take on the role that Viola
fills while disguised as Cesario—namely, the mate for Olivia.
Malvolio - The straitlaced steward—or head servant—in the household of Lady Olivia. Malvolio
is very efficient but also very self-righteous, and he has a poor opinion of drinking, singing, and
fun. His superior attitude earns him the hatred of Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and Maria, who play a
cruel trick on him, making him believe that Olivia is in love with him. In his fantasies about
marrying his mistress, he reveals a powerful ambition to rise above his social class.
Feste - The clown, or fool, of Olivia’s household, Feste moves between Olivia’s and Orsino’s
homes. He earns his living by making pointed jokes, singing old songs, being generally witty, and
offering good advice cloaked under a layer of foolishness. In spite of being a professional fool,
Feste often seems the wisest character in the play.
Sir Toby - Olivia’s uncle. Olivia lets Sir Toby Belch live with her, but she does not approve of his
rowdy behavior, practical jokes, heavy drinking, late-night carousing, or friends (specifically the
idiotic Sir Andrew). Sir Toby also earns the anger of Malvolio. But Sir Toby has an ally, and
eventually a mate, in Olivia’s sharp-witted waiting-gentlewoman, Maria. Together they bring
about the triumph of chaotic spirit, which Sir Toby embodies, and the ruin of the controlling,
self-righteous Malvolio.
Maria - Olivia’s clever, daring young waiting-gentlewoman. Maria is remarkably similar to her
antagonist, Malvolio, who harbors aspirations of rising in the world through marriage. But
Maria succeeds where Malvolio fails—perhaps because she is a woman, but, more likely,
because she is more in tune than Malvolio with the anarchic, topsy-turvy spirit that animates
the play.
Sir Andrew Aguecheek - A friend of Sir Toby’s. Sir Andrew Aguecheek attempts to court Olivia,
but he doesn’t stand a chance. He thinks that he is witty, brave, young, and good at languages
and dancing, but he is actually an idiot.
Antonio - A man who rescues Sebastian after his shipwreck. Antonio has become very fond of
Sebastian, caring for him, accompanying him to Illyria, and furnishing him with money.
Twelfth Night—Act I Comprehension &
Analysis Questions
Act I, Scene 1
With whom is the Duke in love?
In what kinds of poetry does the Duke express his love?
Is it entirely true that the Duke is “in love with love”?
What type of metaphor does the Duke use when he addresses the “spirit of
love”?
What is the subtitle of the play?
Toward what does the title Twelfth Night orient the reader?
What recreation does Curio ask the Duke about?
What is “Twelfth Night”?
Act I, Scene 2
Where do we first meet Viola?
What happened to Viola’s brother?
What kind of nature does Viola have?
What device does Viola use to get into the Duke’s service?
Is it clear what Viola wants to achieve in the Duke’s service?
Act I, Scene 3
Do we meet Olivia in this scene?
What is Sir Andrew’s relationship to Sir Toby?
What did Maria hear about Sir Andrew’s purpose for being in the house?
Who brings in a note of competition to the scene?
Does Sir Andrew seem an appropriate suitor for Olivia?
Act I, Scene 4
What is Viola’s male name?
What task does the Duke assign Cesario?
For whom does Cesario feel love for?
What is the community of Illyria doing about the Duke’s love?
How does the Duke respond to Cesario’s doubts that Olivia is too “abandoned to
her sorrow” to listen to his suit?
Does the Duke change?
What does Orsino display at the end of the scene?
Act I, Scene 5
What does Maria threaten the Clown with?
What kind of attitude does the Clown evidence toward Olivia?
What does the Clown try to prove about Olivia?
What is the name of Olivia’s steward?
What does Olivia put on before speaking with Cesario?
Who falls in love with whom in this scene?
Twelfth Night—Act II Comprehension &
Analysis Questions
Act II, Scene 1
What is Antonio’s occupation?
What relation does Sebastian hold to Viola?
What does Sebastian think has happened to Viola?
Where do Antonio and Sebastian find themselves in this scene?
What purpose does this scene serve?
Where does Sebastian say he is headed?
What does Antonio want to do for Sebastian?
Act II, Scene 2
Why does Malvolio seek Cesario?
Whose ring is it?
What kind of speech is it that Cesario utters?
What does Malvolio emphasize to Cesario?
Where does Malvolio put the ring?
What does Cesario feel about the ring?
Who has fallen in love with Cesario?
What does Cesario wonder in the latter part of the soliloquy?
What motif does Cesario repeat in his soliloquy?
What is the critics’ attitude toward Malvolio?
Act II, Scene 3 Questions and Answers
What does going to bed after midnight mean for Sir Toby?
What does Sir Andrew call Feste the Clown?
What ability of the Clown does Sir Andrew compliment?
What do Sir Toby and Andrew offer to Feste for his singing?
What two types of songs does the Clown suggest?
What does the Clown’s song define?
What plot is hatched in this scene?
What is Maria’s motive for the scheme?
What does Maria plan to drop in Malvolio’s way?
Act II, Scene 4
What is the first item the Duke requests?
Who is not immediately available to sing the song?
What kind of a lover does Orsino classify himself as?
What does the Duke surmise about Cesario?
According to the Duke, does the age of the man in a relationship matter?
What does the Clown’s song focus on?
Who does the Clown insult?
Where does Cesario go once again?
What warning does Cesario give to Orsino about Olivia?
In what does the lover of the Clown’s song wish to be laid?
Act II, Scene 5
Who is Fabian?
What is his motive for tricking Malvolio?
Who has worked out the scheme?
Where will the spectators of the device hide?
What does Malvolio fancy himself?
What kind of intention do Sir Toby and Andrew evidence by their remarks?
In whose handwriting supposedly is the letter that Malvolio finds?
What four letters in the letter lead Malvolio to believe it is addressed to him?
What is the source of imagery used by Sir Toby, Andrew, Maria, and Fabian to
characterize Malvolio’s situation?
From whom is Malvolio alienated?
Twelfth Night—Act III Comprehension &
Analysis Questions
Act III, Scene 1
What instrument is the Clown holding?
Where does the Clown say he lives by?
Why is the Clown upset with words?
Rather than Lady Olivia’s fool, what does Feste claim to be?
What does Cesario praise while waiting for Olivia?
Who declares love in this scene?
What is Olivia’s response to Cesario’s wooing for the Duke?
Act III, Scene 2
What is Sir Andrew getting ready to do?
On whom does Andrew see Olivia bestow her affection?
What is Fabian’s explanation for that favoritism?
What element does Fabian think will stir Olivia’s passion?
What idea does Sir Toby come up with to help Sir Andrew?
What task does Sir Toby assign Sir Andrew?
What does Sir Toby not plan to do, though?
In what manner does Sir Toby hail Maria?
How does Maria describe Malvolio’s absorption in the letter?
What role does Sir Toby continue to play well?
Act III, Scene 3
What does Sebastian say he will not do to Antonio?
Where do they meet?
What encouraged Antonio to keep up with Sebastian?
How does Antonio describe the area they’re in?
What does Sebastian desire to do in Illyria?
Why does Antonio have to decline Sebastian’s offer to see the town?
What does Sebastian reckon Antonio has done?
What does Antonio say he is guilty of?
Who is the missing link in the love strands?
With what character does Sebastian have a similar thematic function?
Act III, Scene 4
How is Olivia feeling at the opening of the scene?
What does Olivia commend about Malvolio?
What influence sways Malvolio’s mind as he speaks with Olivia?
In what words does Malvolio try to dismiss Sir Toby when he enters?
What does Sir Toby indicate his attitude toward Malvolio will be when the trick is
done?
What does Sir Andrew return with?
How receptive is Cesario to Olivia’s love?
With what news does Sir Toby alarm Cesario?
Twelfth Night—Acts IV & V Comprehension &
Analysis Questions
Act IV, Scene 1
How does Sebastian react to Feste?
What does Sebastian tell the Clown to vent elsewhere?
Who tells the other to abandon his pretense?
Who fights in this scene?
When the Clown sees the fray, what does he do?
Who breaks up the fight?
How does Olivia characterize Sir Toby’s behavior?
To whom does Olivia issue an invitation?
How does Sebastian respond to Olivia’s invitation?
What does Maurice Charney say about Feste’s mind?
Act IV, Scene 2
What two articles does Maria give the Clown?
Whom does she want Feste to play?
What label does Sir Topas greet Malvolio with?
What kind of room is Malvolio in?
What are the two sources of light in that room?
How does Malvolio perceive himself?
What items does Malvolio request from Sir Topas?
What kind of test does Malvolio ask for?
Why does Sir Toby feel compelled to put a stop to the trick?
What image in the scene suggests the cruelty of Maria and Sir Toby?
Act IV, Scene 3
Why is the garden an appropriate setting for this scene?
What does Sebastian try to come to terms with?
What does the rapidity of the love match prevent us from obtaining?
What gift has Olivia given Sebastian?
Whom does Sebastian wish to speak with?
Does he accept or reject Olivia’s love?
What skill of Olivia’s does Sebastian praise?
What plans has Olivia made?
Who has she brought to carry out those plans?
Act V, Scene 1
Whose letter does Feste refuse to show Fabian?
With what disparaging term does the Clown refer to himself and Fabian?
Whom does Antonio think Cesario is?
Why does Olivia call in the priest?
What has happened to Sir Andrew?
What does Sebastian’s presence signal?
Whom does Malvolio cast blame on in his letter?
With Olivia and Sebastian being the first couple, who make up the second couple?
Who make up the third pairing?
What satisfaction does Malvolio want for the trick?