Shakespeare - Twelfth Night - plot summary

How much do you know about Shakespeare’s play Twelfth Night? This section takes you step by step through the play, helping you to identify key plot points.

Twelfth Night is a fast-paced romantic comedy with several interwoven plots of romance, mistaken identities and practical jokes. Separated from her twin brother Sebastian in a shipwreck, Viola disguises herself as a boy, calls herself Cesario, and becomes a servant to the Duke Orsino. He sends her to woothe Countess Olivia on his behalf, but the Countess falls in love with Cesario. Meanwhile Olivia’s uncle, Sir Toby Belch, gets drunk with his friend Sir Andrew Aguecheek and they play a trick on Malvolio, Olivia’s steward. Eventually Sebastian turns up and causes even more confusion, chaos and comedy.

• Viola disguises herself as a boy to become Orsino's servant.
• Olivia falls in love with Cesario and she in turn falls for Orsino.
• Maria plays a trick on Malvolio, Olivia’s strict steward.
• Sir Andrew is jealous of Cesario and challenges him to a duel.
• Olivia and Sebastian get married and Orsino is jealous.
• Sebastian appears and all becomes clear at last.

The play opens with Orsino, the Duke of Illyria talking about his love for Olivia. Then we meet Viola who has been shipwrecked and separated from her twin brother Sebastian. She would like to serve the Countess Olivia, who is also mourning for a brother, but learns that she will not accept visitors. Instead Viola disguises herself as a boy and goes to work as a servant to Orsino. Calling herself Cesario, Viola makes a good impression on the Duke who sends her to woo Olivia on his behalf.

Meanwhile, Olivia’s uncle, Sir Toby Belch tries to introduce his friend Sir Andrew Aguecheek to his niece. Olivia’s lady-in-waiting, Maria, dismisses Sir Andrew as a 'foolish knight'.

Cesario (Viola) is allowed in to speak to Olivia and tells her how much Orsino loves her. The Countess is impressed by Cesario (Viola) and sends her steward, Malvolio after him (her) with a ring.

Did you know? Women were not allowed to act in Shakespeare’s day, so the role of Viola would have been played by a boy whose voice had not broken. He would be a boy pretending to be a girl pretending to be a boy.

We meet Sebastian, Viola’s twin, who has been rescued from the sea by Antonio, a notorious sea-fighter. Antonio is determined to look after Sebastian.

Malvolio gives the ring from Olivia to Cesario (Viola), who realises that Olivia has feelings for him (her). What the Countess doesn’t know is that Cesario is a girl.

Sir Toby and Sir Andrew stay up late singing and drinking until they are told off by Malvolio. He warns Maria, Olivia’s maid, that he will inform Olivia about this partying and unruly behaviour. Maria is fed up with Malvolio’s strict attitude and decides to play a trick on him.

Viola falls in love with Orsino, but in her disguise can say nothing. He sends her back to Olivia with a gift.

Maria forges a letter, apparently from Olivia, declaring love for Malvolio. She hides with Sir Toby and Sir Andrew as Malvolio finds the letter and is taken in by the trick. The letter says that he should wear cross-gartered yellow stockings and smile more to show he returns Olivia’s love. Maria explains that Olivia hates these things and so Malvolio will look foolish in front of her.

Cesario (Viola) meets with Olivia again. The countess admits that she sent the ring to lure Cesario back. Cesario (Viola) insists that he (she) is not what he (she) seems and cannot love Olivia.

Malvolio appears dressed in cross-gartered yellow stockings and Olivia thinks he is mad. She tells Sir Toby to look after him, but he locks Malvolio in a dark room.

Olivia has refused to meet with Sir Andrew and he becomes jealous of the time that Cesario (Viola) is spending with her. Olivia gives Cesario (Viola) a jewel containing her picture to wear. Sir Andrew challenges Cesario (Viola) to fight, but he (she) refuses. Antonio arrives on the scene and, thinking that he has found Sebastian, interrupts the fight. He is upset that Cesario (Viola) does not recognise him. Antonio is taken away by the officers and Cesario (Viola) runs off.

Sebastian appears and Sir Andrew, thinking he has found Cesario, strikes him. Unlike his sister, Sebastian fights back fiercely. Olivia stops the fight and, also thinking he is Cesario, proclaims her love for Sebastian.

Olivia brings in the Priest and asks Sebastian to excuse her haste in wanting to get married instantly. Sebastian is quite happy to go along with the wedding.

Antonio sees Cesario (Viola) with Orsino. He explains that he rescued the boy (remember, he thinks Cesario is Sebastian!) from the sea and has taken great risks to look after him. Cesario (Viola), of course, denies everything. Then Olivia arrives and asks Cesario (Viola) why he hasn’t kept his promise of love. Orsino is outraged and threatens to kill Cesario (Viola) rather than let Olivia have him.

Cesario (Viola) protests against Olivia’s claims that they are married. Sir Andrew arrives complaining of the injuries Cesario has caused to him and Sir Toby.

Sebastian appears and apologises for the pain he has inflicted on Sir Toby as they are now related. He recognises Antonio, who asks which of the two ‘creatures’ before him is Sebastian. Viola and Sebastian realise that they are brother and sister, and the others realise ‘Cesario’ is really a woman. Orsino finally understands the messages of love she has declared to him as Cesario. Orsino forgets about his pursuit of Olivia and asks Viola to marry him instead.

Malvolio is brought out of the dark only to be made angry when he discovers that the letter was a trick. He storms off shouting about revenge.

The play ends with a song from Feste, the jester.