Twelfth Night: A Short Summary
Twelfth Night, written by William Shakespeare, is a famous comedy play believed to have been written around 1601.
Summary:
Twelfth Night, written by William Shakespeare, is a famous comedy play believed to have been written around 1601. Set in the fictional land of Illyria, the play explores themes of love, disguise, mistaken identity, and the complexities of human relationships.
The play opens with Orsino, the Duke of Illyria, pining for the love of Lady Olivia. He sends his servant, Cesario (who is actually Viola disguised as a man), to deliver his love messages to Olivia. However, Viola secretly admires Orsino and becomes increasingly confused about her own feelings.
Meanwhile, a shipwreck separates Viola from her twin brother, Sebastian. Believing her brother to be dead, Viola decides to disguise herself as a man to protect herself in this foreign land. Taking on the name Cesario, she becomes a page in Orsino's court.
As fate would have it, Olivia rejects Orsino's advances but becomes infatuated with Viola, believing her to be a man. Viola/Cesario, torn between her duty to Orsino and her growing love for him, finds herself in a tangled web of love and deception. One of the most famous quotes from the play comes from Viola when she says, "I'll serve this duke...I'll do my best / To woo your lady."
Unbeknownst to Viola, her twin brother Sebastian, who had also survived the shipwreck, arrives in Illyria. Sebastian encounters Olivia, who mistakes him for Cesario (Viola in disguise), and convinces him to marry her. Sebastian, confused but willing, agrees. Chaos and confusion arise as mistaken identities intertwine and the threads of comedy are woven.
The subplot of Twelfth Night involves the comic antics of Sir Toby Belch, Olivia's uncle, and his drunken friend Sir Andrew Aguecheek. They trick Olivia's steward, Malvolio, into believing that Olivia is in love with him, leading Malvolio to act foolishly and make a fool of himself. One of the most famous quotes from the play comes from Malvolio when he says, "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them."
Meanwhile, Viola's charm and wit begin to win Orsino's favor, even though he still believes her to be a man. Viola struggles with her own emotions as she realizes that her disguise prevents her from openly expressing her love for Orsino. She confides in the audience, saying, "I would thy lips did grow."
Eventually, the confusion reaches its climax when Viola's twin brother, Sebastian, is mistaken for Cesario (Viola in disguise) by Sir Andrew Aguecheek and challenged to a duel. As the truth becomes apparent, Olivia and Orsino are both shocked by the revelation that there are two identical twins, each believing they have been deceived. The famous line, "One face, one voice, one habit, and two persons" perfectly encapsulates the confusion and wonder of the situation.
In the end, all is resolved when the twins reunite, and their true identities are revealed. Orsino realizes his love for Viola and, to his surprise, finds that she is actually a woman. Sebastian, who had remained unaware of his sister's survival, also discovers her true identity. The play concludes with marriages and reconciliations, restoring order and harmony to Illyria.
Twelfth Night is not only a comedy but also a profound exploration of the complexities of love, gender roles, and the masks we wear in society. It forces the audience to question the nature of attraction and the expectations placed on individuals based on their appearance.
One of the key themes of the play is the fluidity of identity. Viola's disguise as Cesario challenges traditional gender roles, blurring the lines between male and female. Shakespeare's exploration of gender and identity is best summed up by Viola when she says, "I am not what I am." This highlights the idea that true identity resides beneath the external appearances we present to the world.
Another prominent theme in Twelfth Night is the deceptive nature of love. Characters mistake their own desires and projections for love, leading to confusion and misunderstanding. Olivia, for example, falls in love with Viola (disguised as Cesario) but quickly transfers her affections to Sebastian. Viola herself experiences conflicting emotions as she tries to navigate her disguised love for Orsino. This theme raises questions about the nature of love and whether it can ever be genuine when based on appearances or deceptions.
Twelfth Night also explores the power of music and its ability to evoke emotions. Orsino frequently calls for music to be played to heighten his feelings of love, using the famous quote, "If music be the food of love, play on." Music acts as a metaphor for the shifting emotions and desires experienced by the characters throughout the play.
Famous Quotes:
“If music be the food of love, play on.” (Orsino, Act 1 Scene 1)
“I’ll do my best To woo your lady. – Yet, a barful strife! Whoe’er I woo, myself would be his wife.” (Viola, Act 1, Scene 4)
“Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.” (Feste, Act 1 Scene 5)
“Some are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.” (Malvolio, Act 2 Scene 5)
“O time, thou must untangle this, not I. It is too hard a knot for me t’untie.” (Viola, Act 2 Scene 2)
“And thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges.” (Feste, Act 5 Scene 1)
Character List:
1. Viola: A young woman of aristocratic birth who disguises herself as a man named Cesario after being shipwrecked in Illyria.
2. Orsino: The Duke of Illyria who is in love with Lady Olivia and becomes fond of his new page boy, Cesario (Viola).
3. Olivia: A wealthy, beautiful, and noble lady who is courted by Orsino and Sir Andrew Aguecheek.
4. Sebastian: Viola's twin brother who is mistaken for Cesario.
5. Malvolio: The steward to Olivia who is tricked into believing Olivia is in love with him.
6. Sir Toby Belch: Olivia's uncle who engages in a comic subplot with his friend Sir Andrew, Maria, and the clown Feste.
7. Maria: Olivia's maid who plays a prank on Malvolio.
8. Sir Andrew Aguecheek: A friend of Sir Toby who is also in love with Olivia.
9. Antonio: A sea captain and friend to Sebastian.
10. Feste: A fool and servant to Olivia.
11. Fabian: A servant to Olivia.
12. Valentine and Curio: Gentlemen attending on the Duke.
Written by Pooran Chandra