Twelfth Night

At Olivia’s estate, Orsino arrives with Cesario and his attendants. They run into the Feste, who delights Orsino with his wit. Antonio is then brought in and Cesario tells Orsino this is the man who saved them. Orsino recognizes Antonio because of his past misdeeds, but Cesario insists that “he did me kindness,” though he also “put strange speech upon me” (V.1.62-64). Antonio explains that his love of Sebastian led him to expose himself in Illyria despite his history, though he now believes that Sebastian is a “most ungrateful boy” (V.1.75) who “denied me my own purse” (V.1.88). Orsino asks when the man that Antonio is referring to came to Illyria; Antonio replies “today, my lord,” adding that the two men had previously not been separated before today for three months (V.1.93-95).

Olivia enters and accuses Cesario (who she believes has married her) of “not keep[ing] promise with me” (V.1.104). Cesario is confused and Orsino and Olivia argue. Orsino says that he would willingly sacrifice or hurt Cesario in order to spite Olivia, and Cesario goes along with that, saying that for Orsino, Cesario would die a thousand deaths. Cesario declares his love for Orsino, telling Olivia, “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” (V.1.138-140). Olivia is confused and calls in the Priest, who says that he has just married Olivia and the person believed to be Cesario.

Orsino starts to yell at Cesario when Sir Andrew and Toby enter, saying that Cesario has attacked them. Suddenly, Sebastian enters, apologizing to Olivia that he has “hurt your kinsman” (V.1.219). Orsino marvels at Sebastian and Cesario’s resemblance, remarking, “One face, one voice, one habit, and two persons!” (V.1.226). Sebastian sees Antonio and expresses joy that they are reunited; Antonio is confused, asking, “How have you made division of yourself?” (V.1.233).

Sebastian questions Cesario about his parentage, and soon realizes that Cesario is actually his sister Viola. Viola confesses that she is a woman who has disguised herself as a man, and Sebastian tells Olivia that she has “been mistook” and would have been married to a “maid” if she had actually married Cesario. Instead, he tells Olivia, “you are betrothed both to a maid and man” (V.1.271-275).

Orsino takes Viola’s hands, and she tells him that the Captain has her women’s clothes, but Malvolio has imprisoned him. Olivia tells Feste and Fabian to fetch Malvolio, and the Fool gives Olivia Malvolio’s letter, in which Malvolio says Olivia has wronged him and declares himself “madly used” (V.1.325). Olivia tells Orsino to now think of her as a sister and offers to pay for his and Viola’s wedding. Orsino accepts the offer and proposes marriage to Viola, telling her she “shall from this time be / Your master’s mistress” (V.1.342-343).

Malvolio enters and declares that Olivia has “done me wrong, / Notorious wrong” (V.1.349-35), handing her Maria’s letter. Olivia says that this isn’t her writing and that it’s Maria who wrote the letter. Maria and Fabian confess to the prank. “Alas, poor fool, how they have baffled thee,” Olivia tells Malvolio (V.1.392), and he exits vowing revenge on everybody.

Orsino remarks that Malvolio still didn’t say anything about the Captain and says that when the Captain is found with Viola’s clothes they’ll be married. While she’s still in her Cesario outfit, Orsino says, Viola shall still be known as Cesario. “But when in other habits you are seen, / Orsino’s mistress, and his fancy’s queen,” Orsino adds, as all the characters but the Fool exit the stage (V.1.410-411). Feste ends the play with a song.