Twelfth Night Act 1 Summary

• Malvolio loves Olivia.
• Antonio loves Sebastian.
• The love triangle consists of:
  • Olivia and Orsino both wanting Viola

Act I-Main Points

• Scene 1
  • Orsino is in love with Olivia
  • Orsino considers himself to be a fool for love.
  • Valentine tells Orsino that Olivia wants nothing to do with him.
• Scene 2
  • Viola is shipwrecked in Illyria.
  • The captain is helping her disguise herself as a man.
  • Viola disguises herself so she can work for Orsino.
• Scene 3
  • Toby, Maria, and Andrew are in conversation.
  • Andrew wants to get closer to Maria.
  • Maria wants Toby to drink less.
  • Toby's drinking is getting him into trouble with Olivia.
  • Toby wants Andrew to marry Olivia.
  • Toby wants to hang out and drink all the time.
  • Andrew is to stay for one month to try to win Olivia's heart.
• Scene 4
  • Valentine speaks well of Orsino to Viola/Cesario.
  • Orsino compliments Cesario/Viola
  • Calling them beautiful with “Diana's lip” and a “small pipe”.
• Scene 5
  • Viola/Cesario admits her love for Orsino.
    • “Whoeʼer I woo, myself would be his wife.”
  • The Fool (Feste) and Maria talk, the Fool returns to Olivia's house.
    • The Fool has been away for a long time.
  • The Fool offers pieces of wisdom:
    • “He that is well hanged in this world needs to fear no colors."
    • "Many a good hanging prevents a bad marriage..."
    • “Better a witty Fool than a foolish wit!”
  • Olivia gets annoyed and wants the Fool imprisoned.
  • Viola arrives at Olivia's house.
• Viola refuses to leave.
• Olivia is to talk to the young man with a veil on her face.
• Viola tells Olivia how beautiful she is.
• Viola tells Olivia about Orsino's love.
• Olivia cannot love Orsino.
• Olivia wants to talk to Cesario again.
• When Cesario leaves, Olivia sends Malvolio after him to give him a ring.
• Olivia wants Cesario to return.

Act II-Main Points

• Scene 1
  • Antonio and Sebastian arrive in Illyria.
  • Antonio has rescued Sebastian from the shipwreck.
  • He wishes to be Sebastian's “friend” and companion.
  • Sebastian wants to explore Illyria and find Orsino.
  • Sebastian's father knew Orsino
  • Sebastian feels he can ask Orsino for help.
  • Antonio cannot walk freely through Illyria
  • he will risk it all for Sebastian.
  • Antonio is in love with Sebastian.
• Scene 2
  • Malvolio finds Cesario/Viola.
  • Malvolio throws Olivia's ring at Cesario's feet.
  • Viola realizes she has never given Olivia a ring.
  • The love triangle, “My master loves her dearly, And I, poor monster, fond as much on him, And she, mistaken, seems to dote on me."
• Scene 3
  • Toby and Andrew are drinking when the Fool enters.
  • They ask him to sing a song.
  • Maria believes they are being too loud and Olivia might send Malvolio.
  • Malvolio enters to stop the fun.
  • Malvolio advises Toby to control his drinking or leave.
    • “ If you can separate yourself and your misdemeanors, you are welcome to the house..."
  • When Malvolio leaves, Toby, Maria, and Andrew plan to write a fake letter from Olivia to Malvolio.
  • They want to play a joke on him because he is arrogant.
• Scene 4
  • Viola returns to Orsino's place.
  • Viola tells Orsino that Olivia does not love him.
  • Orsino claims women don't know how to love deeply.
    • Viola knows of a woman that could love him deeply.
  • Orsino asks who that woman is.
    • Viola talks about herself.
  • Viola says, “I am all the daughters of my father's house, And all the brothers, too—”
  • Viola asks Orsino if he still wants her to deliver the jewel to Olivia.
  • He says he does.
• Scene 5
  • Toby, Andrew, and Fabian are in the garden.
  • They are waiting to play the trick on Malvolio.
  • Maria drops the letter and leaves.
  • Toby, Andrew and Fabian hide.
  • Malvolio talks about what life married to Olivia would be like.
  • He finds the letter
    • Malvolio believes it really is a love letter from Olivia.
  • Reads two main points from the letter "...be not afraid of greatness. Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.”
  • (This talks about all kinds of people and success.)
  • "She did commend my yellow stockings of late, she did praise my leg being cross-gartered, and in this she manifests herself to my love...”
  • (He will now dress up for her.)
  • Malvolio intends to gain Olivia's love, and he will smile!

Act III-Main Points

• Scene 1
  • Viola and the Fool converse about the way words are used.
    • Viola recognizes the Fool's insight.
  • The Fool leaves, and Viola is confronted by Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and then Maria.
  • They stop her from entering Olivia's.
  • Olivia appears and brings Cesario inside.
  • Cesario tells Olivia they are enemies.
  • Olivia has Orsino's love is Viola's reasoning.
  • Olivia admits to Cesario her love.
    • "Cesario, by the roses of the spring, By maidhood, honor, truth, and everything, I love thee so, that, maugre all thy pride, Nor wit nor reason can my passion hide."
  • Viola says, “I have one heart, one bosom, and one truth, And that no woman has, nor never none Shall mistress be of it, save I alone."
  • Cesario leaves, Olivia begs him to return.
• Scene 2
  • Fabian, Toby, and Andrew discuss Olivia's attraction to Cesario.
  • Toby suggests Andrew challenge Cesario to a duel.
  • The winner gets Olivia.
  • Maria announces Malvolio is dressed and ready to see Olivia.
• Scene 3
  • Sebastian and Antonio are in town.
  • Sebastian wants to look around.
  • Antonio is a wanted man because he killed many of Orsino's men.
  • Antonio gives Sebastian money to spend in town and buy something.
  • Antonio will meet him later at the Elephant.
• Scene 4
  • Maria warns Olivia that Malvolio is acting crazy and possessed.
  • Malvolio appears with yellow stockings and smiles.
  • Olivia tells him to go to bed.
  • He repeats the lines about greatness when Cesario returns.
  • Olivia tells Maria to get Malvolio help.
  • Toby, Andrew, and Fabian enter.
  • Malvolio speaks crazily
• Malvolio doesn't understand what is going on.
• The others lock Malvolio up in a dark prison.
• This is to stop him from acting crazy.
• Andrew writes a letter to challenge Cesario to a duel.
• Cesario is already at Olivia.
• Toby will tell Cesario of the duel in person.
• Olivia gives Viola a locket (necklace) with a picture of herself inside.
• Viola wants Olivia to admit she loves Orsino.
• Olivia can't love Orsino because she is in love with Cesario.
  • “How with mine honor may I give him that Which I have given to you?"
• Cesario leaves, and Toby announces the challenge of a duel.
• Viola will not fight as she is not a fighter.
• Cesario and Andrew are about to duel when Antonio arrives.
  • He thinks Cesario is Sebastian.
• Antonio defends Viola.
• Antonio admits he is in love with Sebastian.
• Police officers arrive, they arrest Antonio.
• They want to arrest Antonio for his crimes against Orsino.
• Antonio asks Viola for the purse.
• Antonio's purse is the money he gave Sebastian.
• Viola doesn't know what Antonio is talking about
• Viola says she has no money.
• Antonio feels betrayed by Sebastian leaving him in his time of need.
• Antonio does not realize it is Viola.
• Scene 1
  • As the officers take Antonio away, Viola realizes that Sebastian is alive.
    • Viola thinks to herself, "He named Sebastian.”

Act IV-Main Points

• Scene 1
  • Sebastian encounters the Fool and then Andrew, Fabian, and Toby.
  • Andrew challenges him to a duel again.
  • Sebastian decides to fight, and they draw swords.
  • Olivia stops the duel.
    • Olivia is angry
  • Olivia tells Toby, Andrew, and Fabian to leave.
  • Alone with Sebastian, thinking it is Cesario.
  • Olivia declares her love for Sebastian.
  • Sebastian is excited and thinks it is a dream.
  • They leave together happily.
• Scene 2
  • Malvolio is imprisoned, Toby and the Fool mess with him.
  • The Fool pretends to be Sir Topas
  • The Fool pretends to be a priest.
  • The Fool talks to Malvolio.
  • Malvolio asks for a pen and paper.
  • Malvolio to write a letter to Olivia.
  • Malvolio wants to tell Olivia how he has been made a fool of.
  • The Fool agrees to help him by getting the paper and pen.
• Scene 3
  • Worried about Antonio.
  • Excited about meeting Olivia.
  • Olivia enters with a priest, and she and Sebastian marry.

Act V-Main Points

• Scene 1
  • The Fool and Fabian have the letter from Malvolio to give to Olivia.
  • They are outside of Olivia's home.
  • Orsino arrives with Viola and his servants.
  • The Fool begs Orsino for money.
  • Orsino gives two gold coins and begs for a third.
  • Orsino promises the third when the Fool brings Olivia to him.
  • The Officers bring Antonio to the scene, and Viola announces that is the man that rescued her from dueling.
  • (Everyone in the play is coming together at the same time.)
  • Antonio asks forgiveness and says he has been with Cesario daily.
  • Antonio was with Cesario for the past three months.
  • Viola is confused as she did not spend time with Antonio.
  • Olivia wonders why Cesario is with Orsino (they are married)
  • Orsino asks Olivia about her love for him.
  • She says she does not love him and he thinks her cruel.
  • Orsino says he will take Cesario away from Olivia
  • Olivia will be hurt like he has been hurt by her.
  • Viola agrees to go.
  • Olivia questions, and Viola answers.
    • “After him I love More than I love these eyes, more than my life, More by all mores than e'er I shall love wife."
  • Olivia asks Cesario what he means and calls him Husband.
  • Orsino is angry, and Viola is shocked.
  • The priest confirms the marriage happened two hours ago.
  • Andrew is bleeding and hurt.
  • Andrew says Cesario beat him and Toby
  • Cesario is standing right there.
  • Viola says she did nothing.
  • Toby enters with the Fool, and Olivia is upset with all of them.
  • Sebastian enters and admits to hurting Andrew and Toby.
  • Everyone is shocked, and questions what they are looking at.
    • "One face, one voice, one habit, and two persons!"
  • Sebastian is happy to see Antonio.
  • Sebastian finally sees Viola and says.
    • “I never had a brother, Nor can there be that deity in my nature Of here and everywhere. I had a sister..."
  • Viola reveals she is actually a woman.
  • They are twins.
  • Olivia now asks for Malvolio.
  • The Fool reads the letter, and the others go to get Malvolio from his prison.
  • Olivia is happy that Viola is her sister
  • Orsino loves Viola
  • Everyone is happy - Sebastian and Olivia, Orsino and Viola.
  • Malvolio knows of the trick, Fabian tells the truth. -“I'll be revenged on the whole pack of you!"
  • Malvolio says he will get revenge.
  • Olivia is angry about the way they treated him.
  • The play ends with a happy song sung by the Fool.