Twelfth Night Characters, Plot, and Themes Study Guide

Orsino

The Duke of Illyria, in love with Olivia, and obsessed with the idea of love.

Viola

A shipwrecked woman who disguises herself as a man, "Cesario," and serves Orsino.

Cesario

Viola's male disguise.

Olivia

A wealthy countess mourning her brother; she falls in love with Cesario (Viola).

Sir Toby Belch

Olivia's uncle; a rowdy, fun-loving prankster who disrupts the household.

Sir Andrew Aguecheek

A foolish suitor of Olivia, manipulated by Sir Toby.

Maria

Olivia's maid; intelligent and witty; masterminds the prank on Malvolio.

Feste

The Fool in Olivia's household; clever, insightful, uses wit and wordplay.

Sebastian

Viola's twin brother; believed to be dead, eventually marries Olivia.

Antonio

The sea captain who rescues and protects Sebastian; deeply loyal.

Malvolio

Olivia's pompous steward; tricked into believing Olivia loves him.

Fabian

A servant who helps Maria and Sir Toby with the prank on Malvolio.

Viola's disguise

For safety after being shipwrecked; she wants to serve Duke Orsino.

Olivia's love for Cesario

Olivia.

Prank on Malvolio

A fake love letter from "Olivia" is written by Maria to make him act foolishly.

Marriages at the end

Olivia & Sebastian, Maria & Sir Toby. Orsino proposes to Viola.

Antonio's mistake in Illyria

He thinks Viola (Cesario) is Sebastian, whom he rescued.

Feste's trick on Malvolio

Disguises himself as "Sir Topas" and pretends Malvolio is mad.

Duel between Andrew and Cesario

Sir Toby convinces Andrew to fight Cesario for Olivia's love.

Sebastian's confusion

He is mistaken for Cesario and agrees to marry Olivia.

Theme of Viola's disguise

Identity and gender roles.

Significance of 'Twelfth Night' title

Refers to the holiday celebrating misrule, reversal of norms, and festive chaos.

Love in Twelfth Night

As irrational, sudden, and often unreciprocated or mistaken.

Feste's role in the play

He's a fool who speaks truth through wordplay and wit, often wiser than others.

Class and status exploration

Servants like Maria and Feste outsmart nobles; Malvolio wants to rise above his station.

Malvolio's representation

Self-love, ambition, and the dangers of social aspiration.

Tone created by Toby and Feste

Comic, chaotic, and playful with underlying satire.

Malvolio's yellow stockings

His vanity and gullibility—used to humiliate him.

Theme of disguise's effect on plot

It causes mistaken identities, confusion in love, and comic situations.

Feste's final song message

Life is full of folly, ups and downs—accept it with humor and grace.

Major event in Act I

Viola disguises herself; Orsino sends Cesario to woo Olivia.

Maria's prank

Maria begins her plan to trick Malvolio with a fake letter.

Confusion in Act III

Viola is challenged to a duel by Andrew; Antonio intervenes and is arrested.

Olivia's mistake in Act IV

Mistakes Sebastian for Cesario and marries him.

Resolution in Act V

Viola and Sebastian reunite; marriages are arranged; Malvolio's prank is revealed.

Orsino's opening line

"If music be the food of love, play on." - Orsino expressing his love-sickness.

Feste's wisdom

"Better a witty fool than a foolish wit." - Feste claiming that even fools can be wise.

Malvolio's delusion

"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em." - Letter to Malvolio.

Feste (The Fool)

Olivia's jester; witty, wise, comments on the action with insight.

Love declarations in Act I

Orsino to Olivia (via Cesario), Viola begins to fall for Orsino.

Shipwreck and disguise in Act I

Viola stranded in Illyria, disguises as Cesario.

Olivia's mourning in Act I

Olivia vows to mourn for 7 years; Orsino sends Cesario anyway.

Toby & Andrew's antics in Act I

Partying, drinking; reprimanded by Malvolio.

Plans to cheer Olivia up in Act I

Toby, Maria, and Feste try to distract Olivia.

Love messengers in Act I

Cesario delivers Orsino's message; Olivia falls for Cesario.

Antonio & Sebastian in Act II

Antonio follows Sebastian despite danger in Illyria.

Malvolio & Cesario in Act II

Malvolio delivers Olivia's ring, begins to believe she loves him.

Malvolio prank begins in Act II

Maria, Toby, Fabian, and Feste plan to fool him.

Orsino's feelings in Act II

Expresses deep love for Olivia; talks about love with Cesario.

Olivia courts Cesario in Act III

She apologizes and confesses her love.

Toby & Andrew's duel plan in Act III

Plan to challenge Cesario to a duel.

Malvolio's transformation in Act III

Acts absurdly in yellow stockings.

Fight scene

Andrew challenges Cesario (Viola); Antonio intervenes and is arrested.

Identity confusion grows

Viola and Antonio are mistaken for being close friends.

Sebastian arrives

Mistaken for Cesario; Olivia proposes and he accepts.

Malvolio's imprisonment

Locked in a dark room as 'mad'; Feste visits as 'Sir Topas.'

More confusion

Sebastian is shocked but goes along with events.

All is revealed

Viola and Sebastian are reunited; mistaken identities resolved.

Antonio explains

Reveals his history with Sebastian, confusion about Cesario.

Malvolio returns

Shows the letter; angry and humiliated.

Marriages

Olivia and Sebastian, Maria and Toby; Orsino proposes to Viola.

Feste's final song

Reflects on the folly and cycles of life.

Viola/Cesario

Her disguise complicates and moves the plot forward.

Disguise and Identity

Disguise affects truth, love, and perception.

Love

Romantic love portrayed as irrational or even mad.

Madness

Literal vs. metaphorical madness—love and pranks blur lines.

Class and Social Mobility

Servants outwit nobles; Shakespeare's critique of society.

Dionysian vs. Apollonian Love

Passionate chaos vs. idealized order in relationships.

Wordplay

Feste's puns and clever jokes highlight the folly of other characters.

Role-playing in society

How people 'perform' their identities and roles.

Twelfth Night

Refers to a holiday (Feast of Epiphany) celebrating misrule and inversion.

Social commentary

Shakespeare critiques vanity, ambition, and rigid class structure.