The Shakespeare Book

200

S

purned by the beautiful

Olivia, Orsino of Illyria begs

for sad music to reflect his

lovelorn state. Viola is shipwrecked

on the shores of Illyria. Convinced

her twin brother Sebastian has

drowned and that she is alone,

she decides to dress as a boy and

join Orsino’s service. Meanwhile,

Olivia’s reprobate cousin Sir

Toby and her maidservant Maria

persuade rich but dim Sir Andrew

to pay court to Olivia. Orsino sends

Viola (as Cesario) to Olivia as a

messenger of his love. But Viola is

already in love with Orsino herself.

TWELFTH NIGHT

Feste the clown tries to cajole

Olivia out of her mourning, but is

rebuked by her puritanical steward

Malvolio. They are interrupted by

the arrival of Cesario. But Cesario’s

ingenious pleading of Orsino’s

case falls on deaf ears as Olivia is

smitten by Cesario. When Cesario

goes, Olivia sends Malvolio after to

tell him he has left a ring behind.

Viola’s twin Sebastian arrives

in Illyria, saved by his companion

Antonio. Thinking Viola dead,

Sebastian resolves to try Orsino’s

court. When Malvolio gives Viola

Olivia’s ring, she realizes Olivia has

DRAMATIS

PERSONAE

Orsino Duke of Illyria,

in love with Olivia.

Viola A young lady

shipwrecked in Illyria,

disguised as Cesario, a

male page, in order to win

favor with Orsino.

Sebastian Twin brother

of Viola, whom she believes

to have drowned at sea.

Antonio Sea captain and

companion of Sebastian.

He is arrested, but

eventually forgiven.

Captain The captain of

Viola’s wrecked ship.

Olivia A beautiful countess,

in mourning for her father and

brother, she woos Cesario and

later marries Sebastian.

Maria Olivia’s feisty maid,

who is the author of the plot

to humiliate Malvolio.

Sir Toby Belch Olivia’s

reprobate kinsman, who

plays pranks on the dimwitted

Sir Andrew.

Sir Andrew Aguecheek

A rich but ineffectual young

man, would-be suitor to Olivia.

Malvolio Olivia’s puritanical

and pedantic steward.

Feste Olivia’s jester, a wit

and gifted impersonator, who

verbally spars with the people

of his household. He acts as a

commentator on events.

Valentine and Curio

Gentlemen attending

to Orsino.

Act 1 Act 2

1.5

2.1

1.1

1.2

2.2

Viola as Cesario is sent

by Orsino to Olivia to

plead his love, but

Olivia falls for

Cesario.

Orsino laments that

Olivia spurns his love

because she is mourning

her brother.

Washed up in Illyria by a

tempest, Viola dresses

as a man to enter the

service of Orsino.

In revenge against the

killjoy steward, Maria

and her friends fool

Malvolio into

thinking Olivia

loves him.

Viola’s twin brother

Sebastian, thought

to be drowned,

reaches Illyria.