INTRODUCTION TO

TWELFTH NIGHT

A BRIEF SUMMARY

Kingdom of Illyria Orsino pines for Lady Olivia. Off the coast, a storm has caused a terrible shipwreck. Viola is swept onto the shore She assumes that her twin brother, Sebastian, has been drowned Viola disguises herself as a man to work for Duke Orsino

Aristocratic birth/protagonist

Disguises herself as “Cesario” to get work after the

shipwreck

Falls in love with Duke Orsino while working for him.

Olivia falls in love

with “Cesario” . Viola cannot reveal her true identity to

either.

VIOLA/“CESARIO”

Powerful nobleman of Illyria

Lovesick for Lady Olivia

Becomes more and more fond of “Cesario”

Egotistic

Shows the absurdity of love – enjoys the idea of being in

love rather than

experiencing it

DUKE ORSINO

Wealthy, beautiful noble lady of Illyria

Mourning her Brother

Will not marry for seven years

Similar character to Orsino • Wallows in her own misery

She breaks free from this melancholy when pining away

for “Cesario”

LADY OLIVIA

Viola’s twin brother

Assumed dead after wreck

BFF’s with Antonio

Lady Olivia wants to

marry him

People think they know

him

Head servant to Lady

Olivia

Very straight-laced

Looks down on having fun

Tricks get played on him

Wants to rise above his

social class

MINOR CHARACTERS

Sebastian Malvolio

The court jester

Known as Feste

Pokes fun at the rich

Despite being the fool, he

often

seems like the wisest

character

Olivia’s Uncle

Lives with Lady Olivia

Looked down upon for poor

behaviour and his friend-Sir

Andrew

Ally to serving woman Maria

Opposite of Malvolio

MINOR CHARACTERS

Feste the fool Sir Toby Belch

Clever and daring young

servant to

Lady Olivia

Similar to her antagonist

Malvolio

Wants to raise her social

status through a wealthy

marriage

Friend of Sir Toby’s

Attempts to court Lady Olivia

Does not stand a chance

Thinks he is witty and

charming

He is in fact an idiotic oaf

MINOR CHARACTERS

Maria Sir Andrew

FINAL MINOR CHARACTERS

Antonio: Recues Sebastian from the shipwreck and falls in love with

Sebastian, his love remains unrequited

Valentine and Curio: Two gentlemen who work for Duke Orsino

Fabian: A servant in Olivia’s household. He assists Maria and

Sir Toby in their plot to humiliate Malvolio

Captain: Rescues Viola after the shipwreck. He helps Viola become

a page for Duke Orsino and keeps her identity a secret.