Twelfth Night Story Overview
William Shakespeare must have had a lot of fun writing Twelfth Night, as the script is one of his most uproarious comedies. The play was first performed during the holiday Twelfth Night celebrations in 1602. During Elizabethan times, the holiday was celebrated as the night signifying the end of the twelve days of Christmas which began on the night of the winter solstice. The celebration was a night of revelry and feasting in which the “Lord of Misrule” symbolized the world turning upside down for one night. Peasants acted like aristocrats, women sometimes dressed as men, and everyone bade a jolly farewell to the Christmas season. Understanding the context of the play gives us insight into the complete zaniness of the plot.
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As our play opens, we see the twins Viola and Sebastian almost drown during a shipwreck and have washed ashore on the island of Illyria. Each believes the other has died during their ordeal. The captain of the ship and some of his sailors aid Viola when she decides she would be safer disguised as a man on the strange island. She turns herself into Cesario, a young page and servant. (Ah, the “Lord of Misrule” at work!)
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During the next scene we learn that the handsome Duke Orsino is in love with the beautiful Countess Olivia. She has spurned his love because she mourns her own brother’s death. Viola introduces herself as Cesario to the duke, and Orsino hires him (her) to become his page. It only takes three days before the witty and clever Cesario charms Orsino, and he sends Cesario to Olivia’s with a message of love from the duke. |
The next scene takes place at Olivia’s estate where we meet some of Shakespeare’s most memorable characters. Living at the palace is Sir Toby Belch, Olivia’s fun-loving uncle; Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Sir Toby’s not-so-bright friend whose intentions are to woo Olivia at Toby’s insistence; and Fabian, a longtime friend of Toby’s. The servants at Olivia’s are equally memorable. There is the witty Maria, Olivia’s chambermaid, and the preposterous Malvolio, Olivia’s longtime serving man. |
At Olivia’s we learn that Sir Toby and Sir Andrew keep everyone up at night with their drinking and “caterwauling.” We also learn that Sir Toby, Maria, Sir Andrew, Fabian, and the play’s jester, Feste, are irked by Malvolio’s pompous behavior. |
When Cesario (Viola) comes to the house to woo Olivia for the duke, Olivia falls in love with the charming Cesario (Viola). In the meantime Viola has fallen in love with Orsino. In an aside she tells the audience: |
Yet, a barful strife!
Whoe'er I woo, myself would be his wife.
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And then later, when she realizes that Olivia has fallen in love with her, disguised as Cesario, she exclaims, |
What will become of this?
Oh time! Thou must untangle this, not I;
It is too hard a knot for me to untie!
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In the middle of all the action between Orsino, Olivia, and Viola, the motley crew at Olivia’s house plays a practical joke on Malvolio, which creates some of the funniest scenes in the entire script. Sir Toby’s encourages Maria to write a letter in the exact style and penmanship as Olivia, professing Olivia’s “secret” love for Malvolio. The arrogant servant is gullible enough to believe it. He convinces himself that the beautiful young countess is in love with him. (Remember that during this time period an aristocrat would NEVER fall in love with a servant! Looks like the “Lord of Misrule” is at work here also.) Malvolio decides to follow the exact instructions of the letter, to show up in yellow stockings, cross-gartered, and to smile perpetually in Olivia’s presence. He also takes note that he “Be opposite with a kinsman (meaning Sir Toby), and surly with servants.” |
Sure enough, Malvolio slips into his yellow stockings, cross-gartered, plants a foolish grin on his face, and meets with Olivia. She is confused by his odd behavior and decides he must be ill. She tells her servants to take him to bed and to care for the poor ailing soul. |
Soon Sebastian comes into the play. Since Viola is disguised as a man, the two are identical which result in humorous mistaken identities in which Shakespeare seems to take exceptional delight. The twins do not see each other until the last scene of the play, so everyone mistakes Sebastian for Viola, including the beautiful Olivia. She takes the confused but delighted Sebastian and marries him, thinking she has married Cesario! The “Lord of Misrule” really rocks in this play as everything is turned upside down and inside out. |
This is one of my favorite plays. All the characters are wacky, and the whimsical plot is lighthearted and fast-paced. I am sure we will have a lot of fun working on this together. Keep in mind that all the roles in this play are strong. This year’s narrators are six traveling musicians who go from Olivia’s house to Orsino’s, entertaining the aristocrats and commenting on their antics. |
There are also four wild ponies and six large sea birds that inhabit Illyria and dance several times during the performance. The four ponies represent Olivia, Sebastian, Viola, and Orsino, and the sea birds signify Maria, Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, Fabian, Feste and Malvolio. Their dances reflect the action that has just taken place within the play, and they get to wear fantastical costumes throughout the performance. |
I have had a great time adapting this script. I never tire of spending time with Will Shakespeare in my studio as the snow flies outside my windows. The days may be dreary outside, but in my imagination on the island of Illyria, they are sunny and bright and full of humor! |
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~ Jan Helling Croteau |
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