Twelfth+Night

=__Twelfth Night__=

[|Twelfth Night], or //What You Will,// is one of Shakespeare's mature comedies (others include //As You Like It//, and //Much Ado About Nothing//). Like most of Shakespeare's comedies, the play deals with romantic love, you could call it a romantic comedy. In the style of a romantic comedy the play deals with mistaken identity and gender-crossing diguises. The play also has a subplot dealing with Olivia's servants. Shakespeare did break the mold of a romantic comedy with this play in that he speaks about insantiy as a main part of the plot and the madness of love.

__**Summary**__
The play is set in Illyria when the Duke Orsino is love sick over Lady Olivia. However, Olivia's brother has just died and she will not see any man until she has mourned for seven years. There is a shipwreck off the coast where a pair of twins, Viola and Sebastian, have been separated. Each believes the other one to be dead. Viola meets up with a captain who tells her of the Duke Orsino. She disguises herself as a boy with the pseudonym Cesario and goes to work for him. Sebastian is spending his time with a sea man named Antonio who saved his life.

Viola, as Cesario, gets a job in Orsino's house and begins to fall in love with him. However, her main job is to go to Olivia and tell her of Orsino's love for her. In her visit to Olivia's house there is a terrible mistake. Thinking she's a man, Olivia begins to fall in love with Viola. When Olivia tries to make a pass at her, Viola flees. But Olivia's sends Malvolio after her with a ring. Viola is troubled by this because now there is a terrible mess, with her loving Orsino, Orsino sick with love for Olivia, and Olivia doting of her. In the meantime at Olivia's house, Sir Toby Belch, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Maria and Fabian are plotting against her steward, Malvolio. They decide to write him a love letter penned in Olivia's hand, though it is really written by Maria as a terrible trick. He believes the letter and begins dreaming of his "impending" marriage to Olivia. Also, Sebastian and Antonio are now arriving in town. Sebastian decides to tour the town and meet with Antonio later.

Sir Andrew Aguecheek decides he is leaving. He too is in love with Olivia and knows he can never win her love. When Viola comes back to the house, Olivia declares her love. Sir Toby convinces Sir Andrew he should have a duel with Viola (as Cesario) to impress and win Olivia's love. Now Malvolio comes along making advances on Olivia. She insists he is mad, for she wrote no letter to him. Toby delivers a challenge to Viola from Sir Andrew and gets the two to duel. However, Antonio, thinking that Viola is Sebastian comes along to break up the fight. Since Antonio is a wanted man, Officers of the Duke appear to arrest him.

Outside Olivia's house Sebastian is being pestered by Feste as he insists the Lady Olivia wants to see him. Sir Andrew then appears, also mistaking Sebastian for Viola and strikes him. The two duel until Viola breaks it up. Sebastian immediately falls in love with her and she already being in love with him, thinking he's Viola, takes him to the church so they may be married. Malvolio is now a prisoner in a cell in the basement by Toby and Maria. Feste visits him and pokes fun at him and calls him mad.

In the final scene Duke Orsino arrives looking for Olivia. Antonio shows up and tells about how he rescued Sebastian. Orsino calls him a pirate and says he can't be trusted. Upon Olivia's arrival she being doting on Viola, calling her husband. Andrew appears saying that Viola struck Sir Toby on the head and wounded him. Finally Sebastian appears and the twins are now face to face again and delighted to see the other alive. Sebastian vows to stay married to Olivia and Orsino makes an offer to Viola. Malvolio is brought forth and the trick that was played on him is revealed. Olivia insists they find Toby and Maria but they are already gone and married. Malvolio vows to revenge them all.

__Dramatis Personae__
Orsino; Duke of Illyria Sebastian; brother to Viola Antonio; a sea captain Valentine & Curio; gentlemen attending to the Duke Sir Toby Belch; uncle to Olivia Sir Andrew Aguecheek; friend of Sir Toby Fabian; servant to Olivia Malvolio; steward to Olivia Feste; a Clown, servant to Olivia Olivia; a countess Viola; sister to Sebastian, goes by Cesario Maria; Olivia's gentlewoman

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