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Twelfth night summary

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The twelfth night summary indulges in this Elizabethan comedy of events

revolving around deceit, gender disguise, separated twins, mistaken identity
and unrequited love. Most characters in the twelfth night also called or what
you will are defined by the representations of their dual personalities. The
play is full of several literary devices namely dramatic irony which enhances
the comical effect.
The Twelfth Night Summary Act I
A rich noblewoman, the countess Olivia decides to mourn for seven years
over the recent death of her brother. This doesnt bode well for Orsino the
reigning duke of Illyria who is trying to woo her. The opening scene begins
with one of Shakespeare most famous metaphoric quotes widely used in
drama today, If music be the food of love, play on! (act i,i)
Meanwhile we learn that a shipwreck has separated Viola from her twin
brother Sebastian. She finds herself in Illyria and upon realizing that she
cannot serve Olivia she disguises herself as a boy and serves Orsino instead.
The first act introduces the audience to the comical element in the play
consisting of sir Toby Belch Olivias cousin, a drunkard and his eccentric
friend Sir Andrew Aguecheek whom Toby constantly manipulates to pursue
Olivias so that he can get a hand on Aguecheeks wealth.

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Viola disguised as Cesario gains favor with the duke Orsino and soon
becomes his favourite companion. Orsino instructs Cesario (Viola) to woo the
lady Olivia on his behalf. Viola now totally in love with Orsino reluctantly
carries out his instructions to represent him at Olivias residence.
While Olivia is pleased at her jester for insinuating that her brother is now in
heaven, her steward Malvolio who is an arrogant, self indulgent and
narcissistic man scolds rebukes him. It is Olivia who describes his nature with
an alliteration saying O your are sick of self love Malvolio and taste with a
distemperd appetite (act i, v)
Cesario (Viola) seeks an audience with Olivia who finds herself attracted to
Him. She explains why she cant return Orsinos affections but cleverly asks
cesario to return again as she wanted to know the Dukes reaction to her
refusal. When Cesario leaves, she sends Malvolio after him on the pretext of
returning a ring to him as a sign of her love.
The Twelfth Night Summary Act II
Violas brother Sebastian has also survived the shipwreck and believing Viola
his sister to be dead, makes his way to Orsinos court accompanied by his
friend Antonio who is a wanted man in Illyria. Sebastian laments to Antonio
using a pun to describe his feelings saying She is drowned already, sir, with
salt water, though I seem to drown her remembrance again with more (act
ii, 1). Although she is drowned in the sea, the sad memory of her death
continuously unfolds in his mind time and again.
Meanwhile Malvolio rudely returns Cesarios ring which confuses Cesario
(Viola) as he did not recall giving the lady Olivia any ring. Malvolio also
informs him that Olivia wishes him to return as she requires confirmation
that Orsino has finally accepted her refusal of love.
Olivias ploy strikes Cesario who realizes that Olivia is attracted to him.
Cesario is now worried and hopes future events may clear up the mess.
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Cesario (Viola) delivers an apt soliloquy on love. She refers to time as an

apostrophe hoping time will unravel the confusion. O, Time, thou must
unravel this, not I; It is too hard a knot for me to untie. (act 2.2.)
Sir Toby, Sir Andrew and fester the clown are having a late night drinking
session. Despite of Olivias maid Maria warning them, they continue their
revelry till Malvolio warns them he will inform Olivia. Malvolio ends up
threatening to make Olivia displeased with Maria if she doesnt quiet them
down. This enrages Maria who connives with the three men to make a fool of
Malvolio. They would write a fake letter addressed to Malvolio from Olivia
making him believe that Olivia is in love with him.
This gets the Groups attention and they quiet down as all of them hold utter
contempt for Malvolio. They plan to hide in a secluded spot so they can
watch Malvolio find the letter and watch his reactions for their own
amusement and his humiliation
Orsino and cesario discuss the pangs of unrequited love. Cesario describes
Orsinos character but he does not realize that cesario is actually Viola and in
love with him. Cesario uses one of the plays most descriptive metaphors for
depression describing how unrequited love has left her in a state of a green
and yellow melancholy, she sat like patience on a monument smiling at grief
(actii, iv). Shakespeare uses both a metaphor and a simile where the term a
green and yellow melancholy is likened to the bilious state of depression.
Throughout the play Orsino uses poetic imagery to describe love but he does
it best in these liens for women are as roses, whose fair flower, being once
displayed, doth fall that very hour. (act ii, 4)
Although Orsino learns from Cesario that Olivia doesnt love him, he does not
intend giving up. This time he sends Cesario to Olivia with a jewel symbolic
of his love hoping that would sway her heart.
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In Olivias residence. Maria, Sir Toby and group prepare to fool Malvolio.
Without even finding the fake letter, Malvolio contemplates the possibility of
Olivia being in love with him. When he finds the letter, he puts himself on a
pedestal making his popular speech Some are born great, some achieve
greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." (act ii, v). the letter
goes on to say that Olivia would like to see him wearing yellow stockings
and they should be cross gartered too as this would surely attract Olivia.
Shakespeares use of dramatic irony and self deception is well reflected in
the example of Malvolios characterization.
Maria explains to the hiding spectators that Olivia hates yellow stockings.
Twelfth Night Summary Act III
Cesario (Viola) meets with Olivia again. Despite of Cesario trying to convince
her not to love him, she will not be deterred. She admits that the ring was a
ploy to make him return
Meanwhile a depressed Sir Andrew Aguecheek plans to leave knowing he can
never get Olivia. Sir Toby and Fabian convince him to challenge Cesario to a
duel knowing full well that both are incapable of dueling. Meanwhile Maria is
all smiles in letting the men know that Malvolio is actually wearing yellow
cross gartered stocking for Olivias supposed benefit. They should come and
watch the comic spectacle
Antonio explains to Sebastian why is he still wanted for theft in Illyria and
gives his wallet to Sebastian saying to meet him in a boarding house called
the elephant
Olivia now smitten by Cesario plans to woo him. However, she sees Malvolio
dressed in the comical way and calls him mad because even as she is rude
with him he still misinterprets her words as love for him. She likens his
condition to midsummer madness and tells her servants to take him away.
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Instead, Sir Toby, Maria and Fabian, Olivias servant plans to have fun with
him.
Sir Tobys devilish scheme of planning a duel between Cesario and Sir
Andrew Aguecheek succeeds and they duel each other. In a comical twist,
Antonio arrives on the scene and thinking cesario to be Sebastian he fights
Sir Andrew on his behalf but Antonio is captured by Officers. When he asks
Cesario for his purse, he feels Sebastians has tricked him.
The Twelfth Night Summary Act IV
The comedy now twists and turns in a series of confusing events as
Sebastian is mistaken by all and sundry for Cesario (Viola). Sir Andrew on
finding Sebastian hits him thinking him to be Cesario but Sebastian a well
built man retaliates to the horror of Sir Toby who stops him. When Sir Toby
begins to fight with Sebastian, Olivia screams at him to stop. She pleads with
Sebastian to forgive Sir Toby for his misdemeanor and Sebastian is now
thoroughly confused
He is totally taken up with the beautiful woman who mistakes him for her
lover and he too falls in love with her. They get married secretly in a chapel.
Meanwhile more comical events unfold with Feste the clown teasing Malvolio
in a dark room where he is being kept under suspicion of being mad.
Ultimately fester allows him to write to Olivia mentioning that he is a sane
man.
The Twelfth Night Summary Act V
Confusion and Chaos reigns in the climax of the play as players end up
blaming the twins for each others actions. Antonio on meeting Cesario asks
him to return his wallet accusing him of betrayal. The audience learns that

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Antonio was previously a pirate and a wanted man in Illyria. He tells Orsino
that Cesario was his companion for almost 3 weeks which confuses Orsino.
Olivia arrives on the scene addressing Cesario (Viola) as her husband
accusing him of neglect. Orsino plans on punishing Cesario for betrayal too.
Cesario (Viola) is accused of a third betrayal by Olivia who feels Cesario
would rather be punished than escape with his wife.
It is in this scene that Shakespeare baffles his audience at the ambiguity of
the dukes statement planning to kill Cesario saying ill sacrifice the lamb
that I do love (act v, i). In that moment Sebastian arrives and everyone is
amazed in wonder. The twins then recognize each other and Viola reveals
her true identity to the Duke. The Duke then regards Olivia as a sister and
takes viola instead to be his wife.
Meanwhile Malvolio shows Olivia her letter only to be confirmed by her that it
is actually Marias handwriting and he has been fooled. Malvolio storms out
in contempt of everyone. Feste the clown ends the play with a song.