Twelfth Night Summary

• Act 1 Scene 1


  Orsino is in love with Olivia, who has just lost her brother
• Act 1 Scene 2


  Viola arrives shipwrecked + lost her brother, turns to Captain for help in new land - sets up disguise
• Act 1 Scene 3

  Toby and Maria flirtatious encounter + entrance of Sir Andrew - dancing
• Act 1 Scene 4

  • Viola + Valentine conversation about how close she has grown with Orsino = trust, foreshadows a connection, agency
  • Orsion then demands she woos Olivia on his behalf = ironic
• Act 1 Scene 5

  • Feste planning to with Maria and winning back Olivia after his absence = demonstrates closeness
  • She meets Ceasrio and instantly succumbs to maddened disease of love
• Act 2 Scene 1

  • Sebastian reveals himself to Antonio and makes decision to leave for Illyira
  • Antonio expresses sadness + essentially his love for Sebastian in risking his life to follow him
• Act 2 Scene 2

  • Caesura on route back from Olivias household and intercepted by Malvolio - throws ring
  • "I am the man" speech
• Act 2 Scene 3

  • Comic relief - drunken clip of Toby and Andrew singing in kitchen with Feste
  • Maria is flattered into joining
  • Malvolio intervens
  • Drafting of plan!
• Act 2 scene 4

  • Feste arrives at Orsino's = connects the apex of Illyrian society
  • Viola discusses her 'sister' to conceal her true feelings
  • Feste sings them "Come away death"
  • Orsino dismisses him [consider productions]
  • Sends Ceasrio back to woo Olivia - repression?
• Act 2 Scene 5

  • Maria orders Toby, Andrew + Fabian to hide in garden to watch Malvolio read letter
  • Malvolio enters already fantasising of the 'folly of his ambition'
  • Humours dialougue between Malvolio reading letter + his reactions + the others reactions [consider productions]
• Act 3 Scene 1

  • Viola and Feste engage in cryptic conversation
  • Andrew + Toby direct Viola to Olivia idioticially
  • She then rejects Olivia while in pursuit of wooing her for Orsino
  • Olivia doesn't take it well...
• Act 3 Scene 2

  • Andrew threatens to leave but Toby convinces him to stay (selfishly)
  • spurs him to challenge Ceasrio via letter
  • Toby and Maria discuss prank
• Act 3 Scene 3

  • Antonio and Sebastian meet in Illyria
  • Antonio hands him the money
  • Decide to meet at the Elephant in 1 hour
• Act 3 Scene 4 First half

  • Olivia (heartbroken) sends for Malvolio but enters sexually stimulated trying to "assail her"
  • Return of Ceasrio signals Olivia to demand Toby to tend to M
  • All three tease him with references to the devil and send him into "madness" in the dark room
  • Fabian + Toby find Andrew's challenge and Toby decides not to deliver it
• Act 3 Scene 4 Second half

  • Ceasrio continually rejecting Olivia and she calls for him to come tomorrw
  • Toby hypes up Andrew's brutish masculininty to scare Ceasrio with threat of impending dual
  • dual - both too cowardice
  • Antonio comes by, fooled by Ceasrio's disguise, he resuces her + gets arrested - betrayal at her not giving him back the purse
• Act 4 Scene 1

  • Feste + Sebastian encounter - essentially sends him to Olivia
  • Seb beats up Andrew + Toby (all fooled by Viola's disguise)
  • Olivia begs him to stay with her - he agrees due to disbelief at his seemingly good fortune
• Act 4 Scene 2

  • Maria order Feste to disguise as Sir Topas
  • Pythagours theroum analogy
  • Leaves and renters as the fool to show the irony at their role reversal with Malvolio's desperate plea for pen + paper
  • Toby and Maria entertained then leave <3
• Act 4 Scene 3

  • Betorthel of Olivia and Sebastian = he is amazed
• Denouement first half

  • Fabian begs to see Malvolio's letter but Feste refuses
  • Orsino then enters wanting to be directed to Olivia (has to pay F)
  • Antonio enters and Viola is at first pleased then pinpoints descent into unravelling of confusion
  • Antonio accuses her betrayal - Orsino hears him out respectfully then comes to Viola's praise
  • Olivia enters calling Viola 'husband'
  • Orsino in full state of fury at supposed act of deception by Ceasrio
  • Preiest backs up story
• Denouement Second Half

  • Andrew + Toby enter beaten up accusing Ceasrio
  • Sebastian enters confessing to their beating
  • Unravelling of twins reunion...
  • Fool enters with Malvolio's letter Fabian read aloud
  • Malvolio enters enraged + Olivia upset at cruelty of her staff
  • Fabian reveals Toby married Maria as reward of her cunning
  • Feste reveals his part as Sir Topas
  • Orsino still calls Viola Ceasrio until sees her in womens clothes
  • Feste's ominous song "Rain it raineth everyday"