Twelfth Night Act 1: Summary and Analysis

• The speaker, a lovesick Orsino, expresses his desire for excess of music, which he believes can cure his lovesickness, and requests a specific tune that he finds particularly enchanting.

• The music has a dying fall, which reminds him of the sweet sound of violets, and he is overcome with emotion.

• Orsino's servant, Curio, asks if he would like to go hunting, and Orsino agrees, comparing his love for Olivia to a hunt, where his desires are like cruel hounds pursuing him.

• Olivia has vowed to mourn the death of her brother for seven years, during which time she will not be seen by anyone, and will only leave her room to walk veiled and to water her chamber floor with brine.

• A young nobleman, Viola, who has fallen in love with Orsino, disguises herself as a man called Cesario and offers to serve the duke, hoping to be near him.

• Viola, as Cesario, meets Olivia, who is mourning her brother's death, and learns that she has vowed to avoid men's company for seven years.

• Olivia's servant, Maria, describes Olivia's character, saying that she is virtuous and beautiful, but also stubborn and determined to avoid men's company.

• Sir Toby Belch, Olivia's uncle, is a drunkard and a troublemaker, who encourages Sir Andrew Aguecheek, a foolish knight, to woo Olivia.

• Sir Andrew is described as a coward, a fool, and a drunkard, who is only interested in Olivia's wealth and status.

• Viola, still disguised as Cesario, meets Sir Andrew and teases him about his foolishness and lack of wit.

• Sir Toby and Sir Andrew engage in a series of silly and drunken conversations, making jokes and playing word games.

• The scene ends with Viola, still disguised as Cesario, reflecting on the foolishness of the people around her and the difficulties of her own situation.Here is a summary of the text in detailed bullet points:

• The conversation begins with a discussion about Cesario, with the speaker asking who saw Cesario and requesting that Cesario be allowed to speak with the lady of the house.

• The Count Orsino is mentioned, and Cesario is instructed to approach the lady with a message from the Count.

• Feste, a fool, enters the scene and engages in witty banter with Sir Toby Belch, Olivia's kinsman, and Maria, Olivia's gentlewoman.

• Feste and Sir Toby discuss the nature of fools and foolishness, with Feste arguing that he is not a fool, but rather a witty and clever person.

• Malvolio, Olivia's steward, enters the scene and is mocked by Feste and Sir Toby for his pretentiousness and self-importance.

• A young gentleman, Viola (disguised as Cesario), arrives at Olivia's house and requests to speak with her.

• Olivia is initially resistant to speaking with Cesario, but eventually agrees to hear his message.

• Cesario delivers a poetic speech praising Olivia's beauty, but Olivia remains unmoved and refuses to reciprocate Cesario's affections.

• After Cesario leaves, Olivia reflects on her own feelings and realizes that she may be developing feelings for Cesario.

• Meanwhile, Antonio, a sea captain, discusses his past with Sebastian, a young man who was rescued by Antonio after a shipwreck.

• Sebastian reveals that he has a twin sister, Viola, who was also on the ship and is presumed dead.

• Antonio and Sebastian part ways, with Antonio warning Sebastian to be careful in his travels.

• The scene shifts back to Olivia's house, where Malvolio is instructed to deliver a ring to Cesario, which Olivia claims was sent by her to Cesario.

• Cesario realizes that Olivia is in love with him, but is unsure of how to respond.

• The scene ends with Cesario reflecting on the complexities of love and relationships.Here is a summary of the text in detailed bullet points:

• The scene opens with a lively conversation between Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and Feste, where they sing and make merry, with Feste teasing Sir Andrew about his love for Olivia.

• The conversation turns to Malvolio, Olivia's steward, who is described as a puritan and a time-pleaser, and the group concocts a plan to play a trick on him by writing a fake letter from Olivia, declaring her love for him.

• Feste agrees to help and suggests that they should make the letter sound like it's from Olivia by using her handwriting and phrases, and that it should be written in a way that will make Malvolio think he has a chance with her.

• Meanwhile, Cesario (Viola in disguise) sings a song about death and love, and Orsino praises her beauty and asks her to sing again.

• Viola, still in disguise, reflects on the nature of love and how it can be fleeting and unrequited, and how women's love is often seen as less substantial than men's.

• The scene shifts back to Malvolio, who finds the fake letter and becomes convinced that Olivia is in love with him, interpreting the letter's cryptic messages as signs of her affection.

• Malvolio's imagination runs wild as he envisions himself as a great lord, married to Olivia, and he decides to change his behavior to become more like the man he thinks Olivia wants him to be.

• The group, including Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and Feste, watches Malvolio's antics from afar, laughing and making fun of him behind his back.

• The scene ends with Malvolio, still convinced of Olivia's love for him, planning to change his behavior to impress her, while the others look on in amusement.