Twelfth Night
by
William Shakespeare
Twelfth Night is a comedic play that follows the story of twins Viola and Sebastian, who are separated in a shipwreck. Viola, disguised as a man named Cesario, begins working for Duke Orsino and falls in love with him, but he is in love with Olivia. Olivia, mourning the death of her brother, rejects Orsino’s advances.
Meanwhile, Olivia’s uncle Sir Toby Belch and his friend Sir Andrew Aguecheek convince Olivia’s maid Maria to play a trick on her strict steward Malvolio by forging a letter that suggests Olivia is in love with him. Malvolio, believing the letter to be genuine, acts foolishly and is locked up as a madman.
As the story progresses, Olivia falls in love with Cesario (Viola in disguise), and Sebastian, who has been rescued by Antonio, arrives in Illyria, where he is mistaken for Cesario and causes confusion. Eventually, the truth is revealed, and Viola and Orsino declare their love for each other, while Olivia and Sebastian do the same.
The play explores themes of love, deception, and mistaken identity, and features memorable characters such as the witty and mischievous Sir Toby Belch, the fool Feste, and the self-important Malvolio. With its complex plot and humorous dialogue, Twelfth Night remains a popular and widely performed play to this day.
Act I
Act 1 of Twelfth Night is a comedic introduction to the characters and setting of the play. The play is set in Illyria, where the Duke Orsino is pining for the love of Lady Olivia. He sends his page, Cesario (who is actually Viola disguised as a man), to deliver love letters to Lady Olivia on his behalf.
Meanwhile, Viola has been separated from her twin brother in a shipwreck and believes him to be dead. She decides to take on the identity of Cesario to protect herself and find work in Illyria. When she arrives at the court of Duke Orsino, she quickly becomes his favorite page and confidante.
Lady Olivia, however, is not interested in the Duke's affections and has decided to mourn her brother's death for seven years. She rejects Orsino's advances and sends his page, Cesario, away with a message of her disinterest. Cesario, however, catches Olivia's attention and she begins to fall in love with him/her.
In the subplot of the play, Sir Toby Belch, Olivia's uncle, and his friend Sir Andrew Aguecheek are trying to win Olivia's heart and money. They enlist the help of Olivia's maid, Maria, to play a trick on her strict steward, Malvolio. They forge a letter from Olivia declaring her love for Malvolio and convince him to dress in ridiculous yellow stockings in order to win her affections.
The first act ends with the introduction of the character of Viola's twin brother, Sebastian, who has also survived the shipwreck and is in Illyria. This sets the stage for the confusion and mistaken identities that will occur in the later acts of the play.
SCENE I. DUKE ORSINO's palace.
In Scene 1 of Act 1, a ship is wrecked off the coast of Illyria, and Viola, a young woman, is separated from her twin brother, Sebastian. Viola believes that her brother is dead and decides to disguise herself as a man to protect herself in this unfamiliar land. She meets the captain of the ship and tells him of her plan to serve Duke Orsino as a eunuch. The captain agrees to help Viola and takes her to Duke Orsino's palace. Once at the palace, Viola, now going by the name Cesario, is hired by Duke Orsino to be his servant. Duke Orsino is in love with the Countess Olivia, but Olivia has refused his advances. Orsino sends Cesario to try and woo Olivia on his behalf. Cesario, who is actually Viola in disguise, is hesitant to take on this task, but ultimately agrees to do so. As the scene comes to a close, Viola reflects on her situation and the fact that she is now in love with Duke Orsino, despite her disguise as his servant.
Enter DUKE ORSINO, CURIO, and other Lords; Musicians attending
Exeunt
SCENE II. The sea-coast.
Scene 2 of Act 1 of a classic play takes place in a room of a house in a fictional town. The scene begins with a conversation between a man and a woman. The man, who is a servant, is discussing his master's love for the woman's employer. The woman is skeptical of the man's claims and asks him to provide proof. He does so by describing the various ways in which his master has expressed his love for the woman's employer. As they continue to talk, another character enters the scene. This character is the woman's employer, who is described as a wealthy and influential figure in the town. The servant quickly exits, leaving the two women alone to talk. The employer expresses her frustration with the servant's constant talk of her suitor's love for her. She tells the other woman that she has no interest in him and wishes that he would leave her alone. As they continue to talk, a third character enters the room. This character is a young man who is related to the employer. He is described as being handsome and charming, and the women are immediately taken with him. The young man is surprised to find the women alone and asks if he has interrupted something. They tell him that they were just talking and invite him to join them. The scene ends with the three characters engaging in witty banter and discussing their various interests. The young man expresses his love of music and poetry, which impresses the women. They invite him to stay and continue their conversation, and the scene ends with them laughing and joking together.
Enter VIOLA, a Captain, and Sailors
Exeunt
SCENE III. OLIVIA'S house.
In Scene 3 of Act 1, we are introduced to a young woman named Viola who is shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria. Viola believes that her twin brother Sebastian has drowned in the shipwreck, and she is left alone with no money or resources in a foreign land. Viola decides to dress up as a man and goes by the name of Cesario, hoping to find employment in the court of Duke Orsino. Viola meets with the Duke's servant, Valentine, and asks for an audience with him. Valentine tells Viola that the Duke is in love with a woman named Olivia, who is mourning the recent death of her brother and has refused to see any suitors. Viola, disguised as Cesario, is sent to deliver a message to Olivia on behalf of the Duke. When Viola/Cesario arrives at Olivia's house, she is immediately smitten with him. Olivia asks Cesario to return to her with a message for the Duke, but Cesario tries to dissuade her, telling her that the Duke is a great man and would make a good husband. Olivia is not deterred and insists on seeing Cesario again. As Viola/Cesario leaves Olivia's house, she realizes that she has fallen in love with the Duke, even though she is disguised as a man. Viola/Cesario is torn between her loyalty to the Duke and her newfound feelings for him.
Enter SIR TOBY BELCH and MARIA
Enter SIR ANDREW
Exit
Exeunt
SCENE IV. DUKE ORSINO's palace.
Scene 4 of Act 1 of Twelfth Night takes place in Duke Orsino's palace in Illyria. Orsino and his servant, Curio, are discussing music when Orsino requests more of it to be played. He then sends Curio to retrieve the young musician, Feste. Meanwhile, Viola, disguised as the male Cesario, enters the palace seeking employment from Orsino. She is accompanied by the shipwreck survivor, Antonio, who saved her from drowning. However, Antonio is a wanted man in Illyria and cannot enter the palace without risking arrest. He therefore gives Viola some money and promises to meet her again later. Viola is then introduced to Orsino and expresses her admiration for him, but he is more interested in talking about his love for the Countess Olivia. Orsino sends Cesario to deliver a message to Olivia, hoping to win her over. As Cesario leaves, Feste enters and sings a melancholic song about love. Orsino praises Feste's talent but also comments on the sorrowful nature of the song. Feste replies with a witty retort, displaying his intelligence and humor. The scene ends with Orsino lamenting his unrequited love for Olivia and pondering the nature of love itself.
Enter VALENTINE and VIOLA in man's attire
Enter DUKE ORSINO, CURIO, and Attendants
Exeunt
SCENE V. OLIVIA'S house.
In Scene 5 of Act 1, a ship carrying Viola and her twin brother Sebastian has been wrecked in a storm. Viola believes that her brother has drowned and decides to disguise herself as a man and seek employment with the Duke Orsino. She becomes Cesario and is immediately hired by Orsino, who asks her to go and deliver a message of love to the Countess Olivia. Cesario is hesitant to do so, as Olivia has declared that she will not receive any suitors and is in mourning for her brother. Nevertheless, Orsino insists and Cesario reluctantly agrees to go. When Cesario arrives at Olivia's house, she is met by Olivia's fool, Feste, who engages in a witty conversation with her. Cesario then meets with Olivia herself and tries to deliver Orsino's message of love, but Olivia rejects it and declares her intention to remain in mourning for her brother. However, she is immediately struck by Cesario's charm and beauty and invites him to return to her house the next day. Cesario leaves, still unsure of how to proceed with Orsino's message. Meanwhile, Olivia's uncle, Sir Toby Belch, and his friend Sir Andrew Aguecheek are plotting to win Olivia's heart. They convince Olivia's maid, Maria, to write a letter to Malvolio, Olivia's steward, pretending to be from Olivia and expressing her love for him. They hope that Malvolio will embarrass himself in front of Olivia by responding to the letter. The scene ends with Malvolio discovering the letter and eagerly believing that Olivia loves him.
Enter MARIA and Clown
Exit
Re-enter MARIA
Enter SIR TOBY BELCH
Exit
Exit
Re-enter MALVOLIO
Exit
Re-enter MARIA
Enter VIOLA, and Attendants
Unveiling
Exit
Re-enter MALVOLIO
Exit
Exit
Act II
Act 2 of Twelfth Night is a continuation of the comedy of errors that began in the first act. The Duke Orsino, still pining for the love of Olivia, sends his servant, Cesario (who is actually Viola in disguise), to woo her on his behalf. Viola, however, finds herself falling in love with the Duke, even as she attempts to carry out his wishes.
Meanwhile, Sir Toby Belch, Olivia's uncle, is joined by Sir Andrew Aguecheek, a foolish gentleman who hopes to win Olivia's hand. The two of them, along with Olivia's maid, Maria, and Feste the jester, plot to play a trick on Malvolio, Olivia's pompous steward. They forge a letter supposedly from Olivia, which leads Malvolio to believe that she is in love with him and wishes him to behave foolishly. Malvolio falls for the ruse and makes a fool of himself in front of Olivia, who believes he has gone mad.
As the chaos unfolds, Viola/Cesario continues to court Olivia on behalf of the Duke, even as Olivia begins to fall in love with Cesario. The two women become entangled in a love triangle, with Viola torn between her loyalty to the Duke and her growing love for Olivia. Meanwhile, the scheming Sir Toby and his cohorts continue to play pranks on Malvolio, leading to more confusion and hilarity.
By the end of Act 2, the stage is set for a series of mistaken identities and romantic entanglements that will continue to unfold throughout the play. The characters are all caught up in their own desires and schemes, leading to a world of chaos and confusion that is both comic and poignant.
SCENE I. The sea-coast.
Scene 1 of Act 2 begins with Duke Orsino sending his loyal servant, Valentine, to deliver a message to Olivia, the object of his affection. He instructs Valentine to tell Olivia about his undying love for her and to persuade her to return his feelings. Valentine goes to Olivia's home and is greeted by her pompous steward, Malvolio, who initially refuses to let him see Olivia. However, Olivia eventually agrees to meet with Valentine, but she makes it clear that she has no interest in Duke Orsino. Valentine tries to reason with Olivia, but she remains firm in her decision and tells him to inform the Duke that she has sworn off men for seven years following the death of her brother. She also expresses her attraction to Cesario, Duke Orsino's messenger, whom she believes to be a man. The scene ends with Valentine leaving Olivia's home and Duke Orsino still pining for her love, unaware of her true feelings towards him and her growing attraction to Cesario.
Enter ANTONIO and SEBASTIAN
Exit
Exit
SCENE II. A street.
In Scene 2 of Act 2 of Twelfth Night, a character named Malvolio finds a letter that he believes is from his mistress, Olivia. The letter is actually a prank written by Olivia's servants, Maria, Sir Toby Belch, and Sir Andrew Aguecheek. The letter is written to make it seem like Olivia is in love with Malvolio and wants him to behave in a ridiculous manner to prove his love for her. Malvolio is initially skeptical of the letter but eventually becomes convinced that it is authentic. He follows the instructions in the letter, which include wearing yellow stockings and cross-gartering his legs. Malvolio also behaves in a pompous and arrogant manner, believing that he is now favored by Olivia. Meanwhile, Sir Toby and Sir Andrew are watching Malvolio's behavior from a hiding spot. They find his actions amusing and continue to mock him. Maria also observes Malvolio and is pleased with the success of her prank. The scene ends with Malvolio being confronted by Olivia, who is disturbed by his strange behavior. Malvolio, still under the impression that Olivia is in love with him, acts even more foolishly. Olivia becomes angry and dismisses him, not understanding the true reason for his behavior.
Enter VIOLA, MALVOLIO following
Exit
Exit
SCENE III. OLIVIA's house.
In Scene 3 of Act 2 of Twelfth Night, Sir Toby and Sir Andrew are drinking and talking about Olivia's rejection of Sir Andrew's advances. Feste, the jester, enters and sings a song that mocks Sir Andrew and his foolishness. Malvolio, Olivia's steward, enters and scolds Sir Toby and Sir Andrew for their drunken behavior. Sir Toby responds by mocking Malvolio and challenging him to a duel. Malvolio leaves and Sir Toby and Sir Andrew continue drinking and discussing their plans to get revenge on Malvolio.
Enter SIR TOBY BELCH and SIR ANDREW
Enter Clown
Catch sung
Enter MARIA
Enter MALVOLIO
Exit
Exit
Exeunt
SCENE IV. DUKE ORSINO's palace.
In Scene 4 of Act 2, the character Viola, who is disguised as a man named Cesario, meets with Olivia, the woman she is secretly in love with on behalf of Duke Orsino. Olivia is mourning the death of her brother and has refused to see any visitors, but Viola/Cesario persuades her to speak with him/her. During their conversation, Olivia becomes enamored with Viola/Cesario and begins to flirt with her/him. Viola/Cesario tries to redirect the conversation back to Duke Orsino's love for Olivia, but Olivia insists on talking about her feelings for Viola/Cesario. The scene ends with Olivia giving Viola/Cesario a ring and sending her/him away, much to Viola's confusion and dismay.
Enter DUKE ORSINO, VIOLA, CURIO, and others
Re-enter CURIO and Clown
Exit
Exeunt
SCENE V. OLIVIA's garden.
Scene 5 of Act 2 of Twelfth Night takes place in Olivia's garden. Sir Toby and Sir Andrew arrive, drunk, and begin to sing loudly. Maria enters and scolds them for their behavior, telling them to be quiet and go to bed. Sir Andrew, who is in love with Olivia, expresses his frustration at not being able to win her over. Maria then comes up with a plan to make a fool out of Malvolio, Olivia's steward, by forging a letter that appears to be from Olivia, expressing her love for him. Sir Toby and Sir Andrew agree to help carry out the prank. Malvolio enters and scolds Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and Maria for their loud behavior. He also takes offense to their teasing and jokes. Maria then drops the forged letter, which Malvolio picks up and reads aloud. Believing it to be from Olivia, he becomes ecstatic and begins to imagine the possibilities of a relationship with her. Maria, Sir Toby, and Sir Andrew watch in amusement as Malvolio leaves, planning his next move to win Olivia over. This scene sets up the subplot of the play, which involves the prank played on Malvolio. It also highlights the contrast between the drunken, rowdy behavior of Sir Toby and Sir Andrew and the more reserved and serious demeanor of Malvolio. Additionally, it introduces the idea of mistaken identity and deception, which are recurring themes throughout the play.
Enter SIR TOBY BELCH, SIR ANDREW, and FABIAN
Exit
Enter MALVOLIO
Taking up the letter
Exit
Re-enter MARIA
Exeunt
Act III
Act 3 of Twelfth Night sees the main plot and subplots of the play continuing to develop. Duke Orsino sends Viola, disguised as Cesario, to deliver a message of love to Olivia. However, Olivia falls in love with Viola, believing her to be a man. Meanwhile, Sir Andrew Aguecheek and Sir Toby Belch plot to teach Cesario (Viola) a lesson by challenging him to a duel. However, their plans are foiled when Cesario easily defeats them.
Later, Maria and the fool Feste play a prank on Malvolio, Olivia's steward, by forging a letter from Olivia that suggests she is in love with him. Malvolio becomes convinced that Olivia is in love with him and behaves foolishly, wearing yellow stockings and cross-gartered. Olivia is horrified by his behavior and has him locked up in a dark room as a madman.
The act ends with Viola/Cesario and Olivia confessing their love for each other, although Olivia still believes Viola to be a man. The stage is set for further complications and misunderstandings in the final act of the play.
SCENE I. OLIVIA's garden.
Scene 1 of Act 3 begins with Duke Orsino sending his courtier, Curio, to summon the young Viola, who is disguised as a man named Cesario. Orsino is still pining for the love of the Countess Olivia, who has refused his advances. Viola has fallen in love with Orsino but cannot reveal her true identity to him. When Viola arrives, Orsino sends Curio away and confides in Cesario about his love for Olivia. Cesario, who is actually Viola, tries to persuade Orsino that he should move on from Olivia and consider other women. However, Orsino insists that he cannot love anyone else and sends Cesario to deliver a message to Olivia on his behalf. At Olivia's house, her uncle, Sir Toby Belch, is still trying to convince his friend Sir Andrew Aguecheek to court Olivia. However, Olivia's steward, Malvolio, disapproves of Sir Toby's drunken behavior and threatens to report him to Olivia. Sir Toby and his friend Maria, Olivia's gentlewoman, plot to get revenge on Malvolio by tricking him into thinking that Olivia is in love with him. Meanwhile, Cesario arrives and delivers Orsino's message to Olivia. However, Olivia is so taken with Cesario's charm and wit that she falls in love with him instead. She tries to convince Cesario to stay and woo her, but he insists that he cannot love anyone other than his master, Duke Orsino. Olivia gives Cesario a ring as a token of her affection and sends him away, promising to see him again soon. The scene ends with Viola realizing that Olivia has fallen in love with her disguised self, Cesario. She is torn between her love for Orsino and her desire to please Olivia, who holds the key to her future as a woman in a man's world.
Enter VIOLA, and Clown with a tabour
Exit
Enter SIR TOBY BELCH, and SIR ANDREW
Exeunt
SCENE II. OLIVIA's house.
Scene 2 of Act 3 of Twelfth Night takes place in Olivia's garden. Sir Toby Belch, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, and Feste the clown are on stage. Sir Toby is trying to convince Sir Andrew to continue pursuing Olivia's love despite the fact that she has rejected him multiple times. Feste then enters and sings a song about a love that cannot be reciprocated. After the song, Sir Toby asks Feste to impersonate a priest and visit Malvolio, who has been locked up in a dark room by Olivia's orders. They hope to play a trick on Malvolio and make him believe that Olivia is in love with him. As Feste leaves, Maria, Olivia's maid, enters and scolds Sir Toby and Sir Andrew for their drunken behavior and wasting of Olivia's money. She also informs them that Malvolio has been locked up and is being treated as a madman. Sir Toby and Sir Andrew leave, and Feste returns disguised as a priest. He successfully tricks Malvolio into believing that Olivia is in love with him through a fake letter. The scene ends with Malvolio being excited about the possibility of being with Olivia and leaving to follow the instructions in the letter, unaware that it is all a prank.
Enter SIR TOBY BELCH, SIR ANDREW, and FABIAN
Exit SIR ANDREW
Enter MARIA
Exeunt
SCENE III. A street.
Scene 3 of Act 3 of Twelfth Night is set in Olivia's garden. The scene begins with Olivia's fool, Feste, singing a song about the nature of love. Sir Toby and Sir Andrew enter and engage in a conversation about Olivia's supposed love for Cesario (who is actually Viola in disguise). Sir Andrew is jealous of Cesario and wants to challenge him to a duel. Sir Toby, however, tells him to wait for a better opportunity. Viola (as Cesario) enters the scene and Olivia comes out to talk to her. Olivia confesses her love to Cesario and tries to convince him to love her back. Cesario, who is actually in love with Duke Orsino, tries to politely reject her advances. However, Olivia persists and asks Cesario to come back the next day to see her. After Olivia leaves, Sir Toby and Sir Andrew enter again and try to convince Cesario to challenge Sir Andrew to a duel. Cesario is hesitant but eventually agrees to the challenge. The scene ends with Feste singing another song, this time about the foolishness of love.
Enter SEBASTIAN and ANTONIO
Exeunt
SCENE IV. OLIVIA's garden.
In Scene 4 of Act 3, two of the main characters engage in a humorous exchange. Sir Andrew Aguecheek, a foolish and wealthy man who is trying to court Olivia, is speaking with his friend Sir Toby Belch, who is Olivia's uncle. Sir Andrew is feeling frustrated because Olivia seems to be more interested in the playfulness and wit of another suitor, Cesario (who is actually Viola in disguise), rather than in his own attempts at wooing her. Sir Toby tries to cheer him up by suggesting that he challenge Cesario to a duel. Sir Andrew is hesitant at first, but Sir Toby convinces him that he has the advantage because Cesario is a young man and Sir Andrew has been trained in swordfighting. They agree to challenge Cesario the following day. As they continue to talk, the conversation takes a comical turn as Sir Andrew reveals that he has spent a large amount of money on various skills and talents, such as dancing and singing, in the hopes of impressing Olivia. Sir Toby mocks him, saying that he has wasted his money and that he should have spent it on more practical things. The scene ends with Sir Andrew agreeing to the duel and Sir Toby suggesting that they have a drink to celebrate.
Enter OLIVIA and MARIA
Enter Servant
Exeunt OLIVIA and MARIA
Re-enter MARIA, with SIR TOBY BELCH and FABIAN
Exit
Enter SIR ANDREW
Exit
Re-enter OLIVIA, with VIOLA
Exeunt SIR TOBY BELCH, FABIAN, and MARIA
Exit
Re-enter SIR TOBY BELCH and FABIAN
Exit
Exeunt
Re-enter SIR TOBY BELCH, with SIR ANDREW
They draw
Enter ANTONIO
They draw
Enter Officers
Exit with Officers
Exit
Exeunt
Act IV
Act 4 of Twelfth Night begins with Sebastian and Antonio arriving in Illyria, where they are greeted by Olivia's steward, Malvolio. Malvolio mistakes Sebastian for Cesario and invites him into Olivia's house. Inside, Olivia greets Sebastian and confesses her love to him, mistaking him for Cesario. Sebastian is surprised but goes along with it, thinking that Olivia is simply overjoyed to see him. They agree to marry, and Olivia sends for a priest.
Meanwhile, back at Orsino's court, Viola is worried about her brother and decides to go look for him. Feste the jester disguises himself as a priest and convinces Malvolio to release Cesario so that he can marry Olivia. When Viola arrives, she is mistaken for Cesario by Olivia's attendants, who bring her to Olivia. Olivia declares her love once again, but Viola reveals her true identity and explains that she cannot reciprocate Olivia's feelings because she is a woman. Olivia is surprised but accepts the truth and wishes Viola well.
Just then, Sebastian arrives with the priest, and everyone is confused. Viola is thrilled to see her brother, and they both realize that they have been mistaken for each other. Orsino arrives and is confused by the situation, but Viola explains everything to him. Orsino realizes that he loves Viola, not Olivia, and proposes to her. Viola is overjoyed and accepts his proposal. The play ends with everyone paired off happily, including Olivia and Sebastian, who are also married.
SCENE I. Before OLIVIA's house.
A character named Olivia sends a servant named Maria to summon her steward, Malvolio. While Maria is away, Olivia muses on her love for the disguised Viola, whom she believes to be a man named Cesario. Malvolio arrives wearing yellow stockings and cross-garters, which Olivia finds ridiculous and which Malvolio claims are fashionable. Olivia dismisses him and sends for Cesario, who comes and tells her that Orsino, who also loves Olivia, has sent him to plead his case. Olivia tells Cesario that she cannot love Orsino, but that she loves Cesario instead. Cesario protests that he cannot return Olivia’s love, but Olivia persists, giving Cesario a ring and telling him to return it if he ever changes his mind. After Cesario leaves, Olivia sends Malvolio after him to give him a message, but Malvolio is intercepted by Maria, who has written a letter in Olivia’s handwriting that makes Malvolio believe that Olivia loves him and wants him to act foolishly. Malvolio follows the instructions in the letter, wearing the yellow stockings and cross-garters and behaving foolishly, which leads Olivia to believe that he is insane. The scene ends with Olivia declaring that she cannot be with Cesario and must instead mourn her love alone.
Enter SEBASTIAN and Clown
Enter SIR ANDREW, SIR TOBY BELCH, and FABIAN
Exit
Enter OLIVIA
Exeunt
SCENE II. OLIVIA's house.
In Scene 2 of Act 4 of Twelfth Night, the character Viola, disguised as a man named Cesario, is confronted by Sir Andrew Aguecheek, who is upset about the way he has been treated by Olivia, the woman they both love. Viola tries to console Sir Andrew, but he becomes angry and challenges her to a duel. However, Sir Toby Belch, Olivia's uncle, intervenes and convinces Sir Andrew to delay the duel until the next day. Meanwhile, in another part of the scene, Feste, the fool, disguises himself as a priest and convinces Malvolio, Olivia's steward, that he is mad and needs to be locked up. Malvolio, who is wearing yellow stockings and cross garters, believes that Olivia is in love with him and becomes increasingly erratic in his behavior. The scene ends with Viola expressing her love for Duke Orsino, who she has been serving as Cesario. She reveals her true identity to him and hopes that he will accept her as a woman. Duke Orsino is surprised but pleased by her confession and promises to help her win Olivia's love.
Enter MARIA and Clown
Exit
Enter SIR TOBY BELCH and MARIA
Exeunt SIR TOBY BELCH and MARIA
Exit
SCENE III. OLIVIA's garden.
In Scene 3 of Act 4, a group of characters discuss the possibility of a duel between two of the male characters. One of the characters, Sebastian, has been mistaken for his twin sister Viola and has been involved in a romantic entanglement with another character, Olivia. The other character, Sir Andrew, has also been pursuing Olivia's affections but has been unsuccessful. Sir Toby, Olivia's uncle, urges Sir Andrew to challenge Sebastian to a duel in order to win Olivia's love. However, Sir Andrew is hesitant and expresses his doubts about his own fighting abilities. Sir Toby assures him that he will be able to defeat Sebastian, but also suggests that they should first provoke him in order to make him more likely to accept the challenge. Meanwhile, Olivia enters and informs the group that she has married Sebastian, mistaking him for his sister Viola. Sir Andrew and Sir Toby are shocked and disappointed, realizing that their plan to win Olivia's love has failed. However, Sebastian enters and is surprised to see Olivia, whom he has never met before. Olivia is confused by his reaction and asks if he is not her husband. Sebastian confirms that he is, and Olivia is delighted. The scene ends with Sir Andrew and Sir Toby realizing that they have been outwitted, while Sebastian and Olivia begin their married life together.
Enter SEBASTIAN
Enter OLIVIA and Priest
Exeunt
Act V
Act 5 of Twelfth Night begins with Feste the jester singing a song about love and time. Then, Viola (disguised as Cesario) arrives and talks to Orsino about Olivia, who has just married Sebastian (Viola's twin brother). Orsino is confused and angry, thinking that Viola has betrayed him by marrying Olivia, but Viola reveals her true identity and explains the situation. Orsino is relieved and happy, and he realizes that he loves Viola.
Meanwhile, Sir Toby and Sir Andrew are nursing their wounds from a fight with Sebastian, whom they mistook for Cesario. They are visited by Feste, who tricks them into confessing their foolishness and apologizing. Malvolio, who has been locked up in a dark room, is also visited by Feste, who dresses up as a priest and convinces Malvolio that he is insane. Malvolio is released from his prison and vows revenge on the people who tricked him.
Finally, everyone gathers together for a happy ending. Orsino declares his love for Viola and they plan to get married. Olivia apologizes to Sebastian for mistaking him for Cesario and they also decide to get married. Sir Toby and Maria reveal that they are also getting married. Feste sings another song about the end of the holiday season and the return to normal life.
SCENE I. Before OLIVIA's house.
Scene 1 of Act 5 takes place in a garden at Olivia's house. Orsino, Duke of Illyria, and his attendants enter and discuss their love for Olivia. Orsino is still pining for her, while his attendants are smitten with her maid, Maria. As they converse, Viola (disguised as Cesario) enters with Olivia's servant, Fabian. Orsino sends his attendants away and speaks with Viola alone. He confesses his love for Olivia and asks for her help in winning her over. Viola, who is secretly in love with Orsino, tries to steer him away from Olivia and towards herself, but Orsino is too focused on Olivia to notice. Olivia then enters with Malvolio, her steward, and accuses Cesario (Viola) of being cruel to her by not returning her affections. Viola denies the accusations, saying that she is merely following Orsino's orders. Olivia then leaves with Malvolio, and Orsino is left alone with Viola. Viola uses this opportunity to reveal her true identity to Orsino, but he is initially confused and angry. However, he quickly realizes that he is in love with Viola (as Cesario) and not Olivia. They declare their love for each other and plan to get married.
Enter Clown and FABIAN
Enter DUKE ORSINO, VIOLA, CURIO, and Lords
Exit
Enter ANTONIO and Officers
Enter OLIVIA and Attendants
Enter SIR ANDREW
Exeunt Clown, FABIAN, SIR TOBY BELCH, and SIR ANDREW
Enter SEBASTIAN
To FABIAN
Re-enter FABIAN, with MALVOLIO
Exit
Exeunt all, except Clown
Exit