Feste, who happens to be there, is summoned to entertain, and Feste sings about a man who longs for death after unrequited love. The opening lines of Twelfth Night, in which a moping Orsino, attended by his servants and musicians, says, “If music be the food of love, play on,” establish how love has conquered Orsino (I.i. He says to her serving girl, Maria, that his niece is melodramatically overreacting, and he thoroughly disapproves. Summary Act 4. Maria and the “gentlemen” plan to play a trick on the pompous Malvolio by leaving a forged letter from Olivia for Malvolio to find. Literature Network » William Shakespeare » Twelfth Night » Summary Act 4. But, in the very next breath, Orsino tells the musicians to get lost – he's sick of music and doesn't want to hear it anymore. The comedy begins in Illyria, a fictional country on the “eastern Adriatic Coast,” according to one … Sebastian tells Antonio of his sister, Viola, who he fears has been drowned; he thanks Antonio for his kindness in saving him from being drowned, and resolves that he must be off alone. He expresses his love at first sight for Olivia. Twelfth Night is one of the plays referred to as Shakespeare’s “transvestite comedies,” and Viola’s gender deception leads to all kinds of romantic complications. Fortunately for Viola, she gains a place and favor in Orsino’s court as Cesario, an attendant and messenger. In the opening scene of Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night, we are introduced to Orsino, the Duke of Illyria, who is in love with a woman named Olivia. As predicted, Malvolio is duped by the letter and vows to follow its advice, advice that runs contrary to Olivia’s character. Since Antonio cannot move about freely, due to his enemies’ presence, he will rent space at an inn, The Elephant, while Sebastian will take Antonio’s money to shop and explore for a short time. William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night explained in just a few minutes! Twelfth Night Five Act Structure Example Act 1: Prologue. Maria, Olivia’s lady-in-waiting, says that Andrew is a fool, and Andrew himself doubts his ability to win Olivia, but Toby encourages him to woo her. Antonio asks if he may go with Sebastian, but Sebastian refuses this kind request, and is gone. 1). Olivia, putting on a black mourning veil, says the messenger may enter. Act 1, Scene 1. Twelfth Night Summary is divided by the five acts of the play and is an ideal introduction before reading the original text. Twelfth Night Act 5 Summary and Analysis by William Shakespeare • In front of Olivia’s house, Orsino comes with Viola and other lords and sees Feste and Fabian there. Too bad Olivia can't be bothered with the Duke or any other living man. Olivia enters with Malvolio her steward. Sir Toby Belch is talking to Maria who is a servant in Olivia’s house. This whole scene is dedicated towards advocating his love for Olivia, a countess. Malvolio reports that the visitor is stubborn enough to meet her. Back to: Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. Olivia and Maria enter, and all but Cesario and Olivia leave. They start having fun around and Sir Toby says that they are born under Taurus so they are like this. Olivia attends behind a veil. Someone comes to meet Olivia and is stopped at the door by Sir Toby. Twelfth Night: ACT One Analysis Important Scenes Thematic Devices Tragedy Orsino fell in Love with Olivia Even after his servant Valentine informs him that Olivia does not share his feelings and is in fact mourning over her dead brother, he simply accepts this and says that this 1. It seems that Duke Orsino’s lust for Olivia is more ideal than actual. Twelfth Night—an allusion to the night of festivity preceding the Christian celebration of the Epiphany—combines love, confusion, mistaken identities, and… Act 1, scene 1 At his court, Orsino, sick with love for the Lady Olivia, learns from his messenger that she is grieving for… He is in love and is in a whimsical, romantic mood, luxuriating in the various emotions which the music evokes. Olivia alternates between privately worrying about her feelings for Cesario and gathering information from Maria about Malvolio’s ridiculous behavior, which he confirms when he arrives and quotes passages from the fake letter.