The Summary
Twelfth Night
ACT I Orsino, the Duke of Illyria, awash in a lover’s melancholy, learns his suit to the Countess Olivia has been rejected because she is in mourning for her recently deceased brother. Her misery inflames Orsino’s passions for her. Viola arrives shipwrecked on the shores of Illyria, believing her twin Sebastian to be lost at sea. A sea captain tells her of the Duke, and agrees to help her disguise herself as a young man and enter into Orsino’s employ. Olivia’s Uncle, Sir Toby Belch and his companion, the foolish Sir Andrew Aguecheek, argue with Olivia’s chamber woman Maria about their pastimes—drinking and attempting to advance Sir Andrew’s hopeless suit to Olivia. Orsino send his new page Cesario (who is really Viola in disguise) to Olivia in the continuing attempt to woo her. But by now, Viola has fallen in love with the Duke. Olivia’s clown, Feste, counsels her to cease mourning her brother. Viola/Cesario arrives and masterfully presents the Duke’s suit, so much so that Olivia falls for “Cesario” while rejecting the Duke.
ACT II Sebastian washes ashore, believing his sister Viola drowned. He heads for Orsino’s court, parting ways with his man Antonio, who has enemies in Illyria. Olivia’s steward Malvolio catches up with the departing Viola to reiterate his lady’s rejection of Orsino and to give “Cesario” a ring of romantic implications. Viola realizes that Olivia is enamored of “Cesario” and that she has entered into a messy love triangle. Sir Toby, Sir Andrew and Feste, carousing late at night, are scolded by the morose and pompous Malvolio, who also chides Maria for serving their revels. Maria proposes a practical joke on Malvolio: forging a love letter from Olivia that suggests he act and dress ridiculously. At Orsino’s court, the Duke questions “Cesario” about signs of love in Olivia. Orsino’s sentimentality is further fed by a song Feste sings, and he sends “Cesario” again to Olivia, despite the page’s hesitance. Toby, Andrew and Maria spy on Malvolio reading the fake letter. He excitedly sets out to dress and act in the manner it suggests (which Olivia, in actuality, detests).
ACT III Olivia aggressively woos “Cesario,” who protests that “no woman” has her heart. An exasperated Sir Andrew is stopped from exiting the court by Sir Toby, who goads him into challenging “Cesario” to a duel over Olivia’s affections. Antonio loyally returns to Sebastian, but still fearing arrest, hustles off to their lodgings, leaving money with Sebastian. Malvolio comes to Olivia dressed bizarrely and making unwanted romantic advances. The jokers conspire to have him committed to a dark room for his perceived madness. The Andrew/“Cesario” duel goes forth but is broken up by Antonio, thinking it is Sebastian in peril. Antonio is recognized and arrested. He appeals to “Cesario” (who he believes to be Sebastian). “Cesario” does not help. Viola is intrigued at the possibility of her brother being alive.
ACT IV Sebastian is mistaken for “Cesario” first by Feste, and then by Sir Andrew who investigates a brawl and is beaten, and finally by Olivia, who arrives and intervenes in the fight, taking a pleasantly perplexed Sebastian to her home. Feste, disguised as a curate, continues the prank on Malvolio by tormenting him in his cell. Sebastian debates weather Olivia, whom he’s just met, is really in love with him or is mad. He decides on the former as she arrives with a priest to secretly marry them.
ACT V Orsino and his page approach Olivia’s dwellings, encountering the captive Antonio. Viola thanks him for rescuing her, but denies having been given his money. She also denies being married to Olivia, which the countess reveals in desperation when Orsino threatens to take his charge, the object of her affection, away. Olivia produces the priest who married her and Sebastian as proof. A battered Sir Andrew and Sir Toby arrive, demanding the apprehension of “Cesario” for beating them. Sebastian comes into the scene, finally clearing the confusion, as he apologizes for the wounds he gave Andrew, embraces his friend Antonio, and reunites with his twin Viola, who drops the “Cesario” disguise in her joy to see her brother alive. Orsino realizes the deep love “Cesario” held for “no woman” was for him and accepts it, forgetting Olivia, who is happily paired with Sebastian. Malvolio is sought to pardon Antonio, and, at last, the abusive plot against Malvolio is revealed. All, save Malvolio, happily depart in preparation for wedding festivities.