Twelfth Night’s Summary

Involved Characters:

Orsino: The Duke of Illyria

Olivia: The Countess

Viola: Cesario in disguise

Maria, Feste, Marvolio: Olivia’s maid

Sir Toby Belch: Olivia’s uncle

Sir Andrew Aguecheek

Antonio: See captain, Sebastian’s friend

Sebastian: Viola’s brother

          Orsino, the duke of Illyria, is in love with his neighbor, the Countess Olivia. She has sworn to avoid men’s company for seven years while she mourns the death of her brother, so rejects him. Nearby a group of sailors arrive on shore with a young woman, Viola, who has survived a shipwreck in a storm at sea. Viola mourns the loss of her twin brother but decides to dress as a boy to get work as a page to Duke Orsino. Despite his rejection Orsino sends his new page Cesario (Viola in disguise) to woo Olivia on his behalf. Viola goes unwillingly as she has already falling in love at the first sight with the duke. Olivia is attracted by the “boy” and she sends her pompous steward, Marvolio, after him with a ring. Olivia’s uncle, Sir Toby Belch, her servant Maria and Sir Toby’s friend, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, who is also hoping to woo Olivia, and is being led on by Sir Toby, who is trying to fleece him of his money, all plot to expose the self, love of Marvolio. By means of a false letter they trick him into thinking his mistress Olivia loves him. Marvolio appears in yellow stocking and cross garters, smiling as they have told him in the letter.

Unaware of the trick the Countess is horrified and has Marvolio shut up in the dark as a madman. Meanwhile Viola’s twin brother, Sebastian, who has also survived the shipwreck, comes to Illyria. His sea captain friend, Antonio, is a wanted man for piracy against Orsino. The resemblance between Cesario and Sebastian leads the jealous Sir Andrew to challenge Cesario to a duel.

          Antonio intervenes to defend Cesario when he thinks is his friend Sebastian, and is asserted. Olivia has in the meantime met and become betrothed to Sebastian. Cesario is accused of deserting both Antonio and Olivia when the real Sebastian arrives to apologist for fighting Sir Toby. Seeing both twins together, all is revealed to Olivia. Orsino’s fool, feste, brings a letter from Marvolio and on his release the conspirators confess to having written the false letter. Marvolio departs promising revenge. Maria and Sir Toby have married in celebration of the success of their device against the steward. The play ends as Orsino welcomes Olivia and Sebastian. Releasing his own attraction on Cesario, he promises that once she is dressed as a woman again. They will be married too.