Twelfth Night Summary

Act I

Scene i: The setting is the foreign land of Illyria, and the play opens at the palace of the youthful Duke Orsino as he speaks in lyrical but melancholy verse about his love for a beautiful countess, Olivia. A messenger arrives with bad news for the Duke: Olivia has rejected his marriage proposal, saying that she wishes to enter into a period of seclusion following the death of her brother. This vow only adds to the Duke's admiration of Olivia and her devotion increases his ardor.

Scene ii: On the seacoast of Illyria, we see the play's chief protagonist, Viola with a sea captain and learn that the ship that they were sailing on has been wrecked. Sebastian, Viola's twin brother, was aboard the same vessel. Although his fate is still unknown, the captain tells Viola that Sebastian may also have been rescued. The story of Duke Orsino's unrequited love for Olivia is related to Viola by the captain. She then decides to join the Duke's court disguised as a young man.

Scene iii: At the palatial home of the countess Olivia, we are introduced to her uncle, Sir Toby Belch, and to one of her servants, Maria. Sir Toby complains about his niece's reclusiveness. Uncle Toby's concern here is not Olivia's withdrawal, but its effect on his plan to marry his lovely niece to one of his rich and foppish friends, Sir Andrew Aguecheck. Maria says that Toby and Sir Andrew should tone down their hard-drinking merriment, of which Olivia disapproves. Having made no headway in his suit for Olivia's affection, Sir Andrew enters and says that he will leave the house because the Duke is actively courting her, but Sir Toby assures him that Olivia has rejected the Duke's romantic overtures.

Scene iv: The act takes place at Duke Orsino's palace. Here we find that Viola has disguised herself as the young man "Cesario" and has been embraced by the Duke as part of his court. The Duke sends Cesario (again, actually Viola in disguise) to persuade Olivia to marry him. Viola, for her part, is in a bind: she has fallen in love with Duke Orsino but must now act as a go-between seeking marital union between the Duke and Olivia.


Scene v: At Olivia's manor, we encounter the character of Feste, Olivia's jester, as he is scolded by Maria for his lapses, idleness, and absences. The Countess Olivia enters with the steward of her household, the middle-aged Malvolio. The ill-tempered Malvolio berates Feste harshly until Olivia accuses him of being too sour and too dour. Sir Toby appears and says that a messenger (Viola in disguised as Cesario) has arrived from the Duke. Olivia agrees to speak with Cesario, and the disguised Viola tries to woo the young noblewoman on behalf of the Duke. Olivia nonetheless refuses the Duke's marriage proposal, but as Cesario is departing, she asks him to return on the next day. After "he" departs, Olivia indicates that she has fallen madly in love with Cesario.

Act II

Scene i: On the sea coast of Illyria, we see Sebastian, Viola's brother, and Antonio, the sea captain who has saved Sebastian's life. Sebastian mistakenly believes that Viola was lost in the shipwreck. He tells Antonio that he will seek out Duke Orsino, but Antonio tells his new friend that he cannot accompany him. Antonio, a veteran of many sea battles, explains that he has enemies at Duke Orsino's court who consider him to be a pirate. But despite this danger, Antonio declares that he will cautiously follow Sebastian to the Duke's palace.


Scene ii: In a city street, Malvolio approaches Cesario (Viola) and gives "him" a ring from Olivia. Viola then realizes that the Countess has fallen in love with Cesario. She spells out the complex lines of the problem at hand and the play's main plot: she loves the Duke, but the Duke loves Olivia and Olivia loves Cesario (that is, Viola herself in disguise). Throughout the play, this confusion of mistaken identity and gender will serve as a source of comic irony, as in this scene when "Cesario" identifies herself as "the very man" with whom Olivia spoke.

Scene iii: At night In the courtyard of Olivia's house, a drunken Sir Toby and Sir Andrew cavort with Feste making a racket of noise and song. The servant Maria tells them to quiet their "caterwaling." But then Malvolio enters with Sir Toby, saying that his mistress Olivia is not "allied with (Sir Toby's) disorders" and will not tolerate his "misdemeanors" any longer. When Malvolio leaves, Sir Toby makes fun of him and Maria concocts a plot to puncture Malvolio's self-inflated ego. She will compose a love letter to Malvolio in Olivia's handwriting. With Toby, Andrew and Feste in on the trick, the conspirators anticipate the humor of watching Malvolio court Olivia dressed up (as the letter suggests) in ridiculous yellow garters.

Scene iv: At the Duke's palace, Orsino speaks with the disguised Viola in lyrical/philosophical terms about love, beauty and the corrosive force of time. Cesario (Viola) speaks of his (actually her) affection toward someone who closely resembles the Duke. After Feste sings one of many songs that are performed during the course of the play, the Duke sends Cesario on another mission to Olivia.

Scene v: In the garden of Olivia's house, the plot against Malvolio unfolds as he finds the phony love letter left for him there by Maria and her fellow pranksters. The pompous steward bites, hook, line, and sinker. He envisions himself as Olivia's husband, Count Malvolio, and says that he will banish Sir Toby and his drunken friends once he becomes master of the house. Preparing to meet Olivia, Malvolio says that he will don yellow garters as specified in the letter. Maria, Toby, Andrew and Feste laugh at the ridiculous prospect of Malvolio wooing a shocked Olivia in a garish outfit.


Act III

Scene i: Still in the garden, Cesario (Viola) engages in a comic exchange with Feste. "He" is taken to see Olivia. The Countess again rejects the Duke's proposal and says that she has fallen in love with his messenger, Cesario. "He" rejects Olivia's approach and speaks about being in love with someone else, meaning (but not naming) the Duke. Cesario adds that (s)he will no longer press the Duke's suit to Olivia.

Scene ii: Within Olivia's house, Sir Andrew again prepares to leave, explaining to Sir Toby and the servant Fabian that Olivia is in love with Cesario. But Sir Toby convinces his well-heeled friend to stay on, falsely claiming that Olivia is only trying to make Sir Andrew jealous by appearing to love Cesario. Uncle Toby suggests that Andrew challenge Cesario (Viola) to a duel. Sir Andrew agrees and writes an amusing letter challenging his rival, which is edited by Toby. Toby and Fabian relish the idea of watching two cowards, Andrew and Cesario, trying to excuse themselves from a fight. Maria enters with word that Malvolio is about to act upon the phony love letter and the trio departs to witness the steward's embarrassment.

Scene iii: In a street, Sebastian thanks Antonio for joining up with him again in spite of the danger involved. Antonio says again that he must be careful, for if the Duke sees him, he will arrest the captain as a pirate.


Scene iv: At Olivia's house, Malvolio appears in cross-laced yellow garters to express his love for his mistress. Olivia, of course, is taken aback by her steward's highly inappropriate and lewd advances. Sir Toby tells his niece that Malvolio is "possessed" and should be locked away in a lunatic asylum. When the plotters depart, Olivia repeats her offer of love toward Cesario, while Cesario (Viola) insists that the countess should offer her love to the Duke. A comic episode ensues in which Sir Toby orchestrates a duel over Olivia between Andrew and Cesario, neither of whom wishes to engage in swordplay. Antonio arrives and saves Cesario whom he believes to be Sebastian, Viola's twin brother. But Cesario is confused by Antonio's demand that "he" (Sebastian in the captain's belief) will not repay a loan. Antonio is taken into custody by the Duke's officers, thinking that Sebastian is an ingrate. As Antonio complains about Sebastian, Viola realizes that her brother must have survived the shipwreck, and is elated by the prospect of seeing him again. The duel between Andrew and Cesario is set to resume.


Act IV

Scene i: Feste meets Sebastian and, mistaking him for Cesario, and the jester is astonished that Sebastian does not recognize him as a member of Olivia's household. Sir Andrew makes the same error and strikes Sebastian believing him to be Cesario; Sir Toby wades into the fray. Olivia enters and demands that the confused, comical duel come to an end. Olivia then also mistakes Sebastian for Cesario even as Sebastian falls in love with her. Sebastian is puzzled but pleased by her invitation to come inside her home.


Scene ii: With Maria's help, Feste disguises himself as Sir Topas, a Puritan clergyman and visits Malvolio who has been placed in a prison shed as a lunatic. Feste pokes fun at Malvolio, insisting that the steward is, in fact, mad. Sir Toby is amused by all this but says that the ruse must soon come to an end or he will get in even greater trouble with Olivia. Feste visits Malvolio in the jail shed again, this time in his true identity as the house clown. Malvolio asks for a pen and paper so that he can write to Olivia and obtain his release.


Scene iii: In Olivia's garden, Sebastian is confused by his "Fortune" in being wooed by the beautiful countess. She appears with a priest and asks Sebastian (whom she believes to be Cesario) to marry her. Sebastian agrees to a wedding with his beloved.

Act V

Scene i: In this, the final scene of the play, all of the confusion and complexities that have occurred are resolved. When Sebastian and Cesario appear on stage side by side, brother and sister are re-united. Not only does Sebastian wed Olivia, Duke Orsino falls in love with Viola, the former Cesario. Malvolio appears and shows Olivia the "love letter" that set off his madness. She explains that the letter must have been a joke, Maria being able to replicate her handwriting. For the sake of Cesario, the Duke pardons the sea captain Antonio. A joyous celebration arises, but a bitter Malvolio exclaims that he will "be revenged on the whole pack of you." After the steward leaves, most of the characters go inside Olivia's house for the wedding feast. The play ends as Feste sings a comic song about the folly of life.