Since, Sebastian is much stronger than the feeble old men, he injures them. As the events of the play unfold it is important for any actor playing Malvolio, and anyone writing about the character, to ask: Weve started to think below about some of the reasons why Malvolio believes Olivia loves him. Sebastian was drowned in the sea, after the beginning of the play, according to The only problem aside Looking at the following scenes might also help to collect evidence: You can explore Viola's language further in the Language Analysis section. What does Antonio do when he sees Viola and Sir Andrew drawn on one another? Save over 50% with a SparkNotes PLUS Annual Plan! It doesnt matter if you agree or not, as long as you can back it up! She is able to bounce back from setbacks. After many battles, she contracted malaria. See if you can complete the grid to make four points that could answer this question. What is Malvolio think about when he finds the letter? These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Looking at the following scenes might also help to collect evidence: There are lots of reasons why Cesario might be a more attractive option for Olivia. Ultimately, it is unknown why Viola pretended to be Cesario. What happens when Sebastian enters the scene? Why does Sebastian not want Antonio to come with him and where is he going? How do you think he feels when the truth of the letter is revealed. Or might it be something else? Viola is in danger as a woman with no family to protect her, so she dresses as a man for her own safety. Royal Shakespeare Company. Renew your subscription to regain access to all of our exclusive, ad-free study tools. By this point, Viola has revealed her true identity and Duke Orsino has agreed to marry her. Instead she falls desperately in love with Orsinos young servant 'Cesario'. That Cesario is in love, which is true because Viola disguised as Cesario is in love with the Duke. At the age of 20, after killing a courtier while defending herself from his unwanted advances, she dressed as a man and joined a mercenary army. Olivia values her independence. Act 5 Scene 1: Sir Toby has just a few lines in this act when he enters having been beaten by Sebastian. Olivia has fallen in love with Viola while Viola is in love with the Duke who is in love with Olivia. WebAfter Viola dresses up as a boy, gender becomes an even more front-and-center theme, as she must learn to navigate the world of men in spite of her female identity. Maria makes it clear later in this scene that Olivia hates yellow and cross-gartered is a fashion she detests. Olivia cannot control her deep attraction to Cesario, which is based on feelings and emotions rather than practicality. It is also plausible that since the masculine figures of Viola's life are all gone, she now has to find a way to survive on her own. What does Sebastian assume happened to his sister and what does this mean for him? In order to prove her worth to him as a woman, she disguising herself as a man was necessary. Why do viola and Feste like each other? Orsino exclaims that Sebastian and, Through a series of questions, Sebastian and, Orsino reassures Olivia, telling her that the twins have noble blood. What does Olivia want to do with Sebastian? One of the group is known to have been killed, and others suffered injuries. Why did Duke Orsino send Viola to Olivia? Why does Malvolio believe Olivia is in love with him? Why does Sir Toby want to keep Sir Andrew around? What does Malvolio do after being brought in by Olivia? How do Olivia's words in Act 3 Scene 4 suggest how she might respond to Sebastian in Act 4 Scene 1 when he returns her interest? She says Malvolio is sick of self-love and that Festes jokes are the only ones that do not harm her. WebShe disguises herself because it would have been impossible to join the court at that time as an unattached women, or to earn her living and have the freedom to search for her Look at the way 'Cesario' speaks to her in their first meeting, for example. Because Sebastian fears his journey will be dangerous and he intends to go to the Dukes home. What is name of the clown in Olivias house? Similar mythology surrounds the story of Hua Mulan. How do you think Sir Toby feels about Sir Andrew at this stage in the play? It doesnt matter if you agree or not, as long as you can back it up! Her first attempt to serve was unsuccessful as she was recognized soon after joining. WebTwelfth Night Study Guide Student Name: The Hilarity of Mistaken Identity When aristocratic-born Viola is shipwrecked off the shores of Illyria, she disguises herself as a man named Cesario to earn a position in Duke Orsinos household. She says that he is acting like a complete fool because he is following what was written in the letter. This activity, exploring Olivia and Violas first meeting in Act 1, can be found on page 10 and takes approximately 20 minutes. Instead of having any doubts about the authenticity of the letter he is quick to believe that his dreams are coming true. What is the Dukes reaction to this revelation? He wants to go with Sebastian because the Antonio cares about him. The first time we meet Sir Toby, Maria tells him that Olivia is tired of his drunken antics and is not impressed by the foolish knight Sir Toby has invited to stay. The letter that he wrote proving that he only did what the letter said. Why did Antonio accuse him of insubordinateness? Cesario is given a jewel with his picture to wear. Some were motivated by the cause they were fighting for while others, like the fictional Polly, wanted to follow their husbands and lovers. Do his insults suggest a change of attitude? Complete your free account to request a guide. Because Sir Toby has been spending Sir Adnrews money. Detecto una fuga de gas en su hogar o negocio. He refuses to hunt and instead has muscians play for him while he thinks of Olivia. WebThe relationship between gender and performance is particularly complex in Twelfth Night because the part of Viola is played by a boy actor, who is cross-dressed as a female What do you think might be Sir Tobys attitude to Sir Andrew based on this first scene between them? This shift is most apparent in the scene where Orsino and the disguised Viola argue about how men and women behave in love. How does Olivia respond to Malvolios statement about Feste? In Shakespeares time, a woman of Olivias social status would have been expected to marry to form the right alliances rather than for love. It does not store any personal data. She is in a similar situation to Olivia and perhaps this is In order to survive in this new land, she disguises herself as a man and takes on the name "Cesario." The easy answer is that Shakespeare always uses people in disguise to complicate his plots (Peck and Coyle-93). WebIn a time when women were expected to follow strict rules of social decorum, Violas masculine disguise gives her the chance to speak her mind much more freely. As Fabian tries to get Feste to let him read it, Orsino arrives with. Sanitiza tu hogar o negocio con los mejores resultados. What does Viola want to do after hearing about Olivia? Act 1 Scene 5: Olivia tells 'Cesario' that she agreed to see him rather to wonder at you than to hear you. Act 2 Scene 5: Look carefully through this scene at everything Malvolio says about Olivia, before, during and after reading the letter. Per.6 Characters Why does Viola disguise herself as a man? The small love triangle involving the two of them and Orsino is similar to the one between the two of them andOlivia. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. Why does Malvolio believe Olivia is in love with him? Why does Sir Andrew challenge Viola to a duel? As the events of the play unfold it is important for any actor playing Viola, and anyone writing about the character, to ask: Weve started to think below about some of the reasons Viola disguises herself as 'Cesario'. Here, Feste is asked by Sir Toby to dress up as a priest in order to fool Malvolio, now imprisoned as a madman. Cesario was sent back to Orsino byOlivia to tell him that she doesnt love him. Because Viola promises to pay him well: Antonio answers by retelling the story of how her found Sebastian and protected him. Orsino is described throughout the play as an attractive, wealthy and decent man, but Olivia is confident in her rejection of him. The original text plus a side-by-side modern translation of. Wed love to know what you think about the Shakespeare Learning Zone. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". The first reason is that he has already been impressed by the devotion and fidelity she showed while pretending to be him. Everyone is astonished. WebViola and Sebastians failure to obtain their own desires leaves them with no choice but to help the other achieve those desires. She thinks it would be a shame if she didnt have children. What is Olivias reaction to the letter from Malvolio? Cesario/Viola was sent by Orsino because he didnt want her to see him. WebViola, shipwrecked and alone, does not have time to grieve. Because Olivia hates the color yellow and is still mourning and does not want anyone to smile. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". In Twelfth Night, Viola dresses as the male Cesario in order to get into the court of Orsino. She kept up her disguise and had a varied military career before joining the French army and fighting in the Napoleonic Wars. Does the Duke realize that Cesario/ Viola is in love with him? It is important for any actor playing Sir Toby, and anyone writing about the character, to consider his relationship with Sir Andrew, asking: Weve started to think below about some of the reasons Sir Toby deceives Sir Andrew. Act 2 Scene 2: Why do you think Viola lies to Malvolio about the ring? However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Cesario is a boy who works for a rich Duke called Orsino. Act 2 Scene 3: Look at the end of this scene, as Sir Toby and Sir Andrew are responding to Marias plan to trick Malvolio. Help us by taking a short survey it will only take a few minutes and will help us make the Shakespeare Learning Zone even better for everyone. He jokes and puts Olivia in a better mood so that he is not kicked out. WebTwelfth Night Study Guide Student Name: The Hilarity of Mistaken Identity When aristocratic-born Viola is shipwrecked off the shores of Illyria, she disguises herself as a man named Cesario to earn a position in Duke Orsinos household. They act like he is possessed by the devil and decide to force him into a dark room and lock him in. She disguises herself as a boy, gives herself the name Cesario and finds employment with Duke Orsino, the wealthy young ruler of Illyria. WebConsequently, Viola decides to disguise herself as a man for a very practical purpose to assure her own protection in an alien world which would not respect a young virgin maiden. How do Olivia's words in Act 3 Scene 4 suggest how she might respond to Sebastian in Act 4 Scene 1 when he returns her interest? What does her soliloquy suggest about how successful her disguise has been and how she feels about it? It is clear from the beginning of Act 2 Scene 5 that Malvolio already dreams of marrying Olivia, even before he reads Marias letter. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. He brings in a letter challenging Cesario to a duel that Sir Toby is to deliver to Cesario. It also provides a comedic effect when she falls in love with the Duke. Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and Fabian(servant). The following activities will also help you explore the characters of Malvolio, Olivia and Viola even further with students. WebTwelfth Night, as with many of Shakespeare's comedies, employs cross-dressing as a narrative technique. What does Cesario do when Malvolio gives him/her the ring? Antonio didnt return his purse, but he thinks he knows who Viola is. In this video, Nick Day suggests that Sir Toby is a flawed human being who is dependent on Sir Andrew for defining his purpose in life. The reasons for doing so vary. Why do you think Marias letter is so successful? WebViola decides that, in that case, she will disguise herself as a young man and seek service with Duke Orsino instead. You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes. As a beautiful and wealthy heiress, Olivia attracts the attention of many men who would like to marry her. Viola suggests she would like to hide after her trauma until she is ready to face the world again. Viola hides her sexulaity because she dosent have a man to vouch for her social status, this then a looks her to work for the Duke Orsino. Why did Antonio accuse him of insubordinateness? Viola, disguised as a young man, decides to take up the job of a page in Orsinos household. Antonio asks Cesario to return his money so he can pay the bail fee, but Cesario does not have it because he is not Sebastian. Youve successfully purchased a group discount. About how it would be if he married Olivia and how he would have power over Sir Toby and the servants. Purchasing The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. Without her brother, Viola is alone and unable to The officers drag Antonio off. Viola is in danger as a woman with no family to protect her, so she dresses as a man for her own safety. Are Sebastian and Viola twins? How does Sir Toby get Sir Andrew to stay? At the start of the play, Viola finds herself alone: her father died when she was 13 years old and now she has lost her brother. WebHere, Viola first becomes aware of Olivias newfound affection for Cesario and laments the unintended consequences of her disguise. Sir Tobys position in Olivias household is not entirely clear. What does Antonio want to do with Sebastian? Orsino said that Viola/Cesario had terrible taste in lines 30 to 40 and that she was like Orsino in age and appearance. Her main areas of interest are history, education and the arts and always looks for the human interest angle of the story. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. It doesnt matter if you agree or not, as long as you can back it up! WebMany characters in Twelfth Night assume disguises, beginning with Viola, who disguises herself as a man in order to serve Orsino, the Duke. Who was Viola and what reason does she give for wanting to work for Olivia? Viola: My father had a daughter loved a man. Sir Toby is a drunk and is not really aware of what he is doing. There is an old English folk song called Polly Oliver. What does Olivia do when Cesario delivers the love speech from the Duke? Being a shipwrecked virgin maid on a strange shore and knowing no one, she must use her wit, her intelligence. Sebastian is thought to be Cesario by Sir Andrew. What does Olivia do when she arrives in the courtyard? In This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. WebIn the speech Viola reflects on the concept of disguise. Act 5 Scene 1: When Malvolio is finally released and faces Olivia with the letter he still believes she wrote, what do you think might be going through his mind? Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Why does Viola not want to appear in Orsinos Court? As Orsino is leaving, Sir Andrew enters, bleeding and calling for a surgeon. March 4, 2023, SNPLUSROCKS20 WebAfter she is shipwrecked off the shores of Illyria, Viola disguises herself as Cesario, a young man, and becomes a servant of Duke Orsino. Sir Andrew is involved in the deception of Malvolio but has no idea he is being deceived himself. Unfortunately, when she recovered, she found that her male alter ego was wanted for desertion so could not return to duty. | Then respond to the following question.In act II, scene I, the audience finds out that Sebastian and Viola are twins and that they are identical, at least when they are both dressed as men. Gwyneth Paltrow as Viola in Twelfth Night. She also tells Malvolio that Olivia must keep it. She was wounded nine times but still managed to maintain the illusion she was a man. She did commend my yellow stockings of late, she did praise my leg being cross-gartered, and in this she manifests herself to my love, and with a kind of injunction drives me to these habits of her liking. (Malvolio, 2:5). What is Malvolios position? MOAI, all of the letters appear in his name so Malvolio concludes that he is the beloved. It seems that Olivia has complimented Malvolio on his yellow stockings and cross- garters before, perhaps out of politeness or as a joke, but that Malvolio took her seriously. The earliest recorded example is the story of Epipole who joined the Greek army disguised as a man. She wants to marry him because she thinks she is Cesario. Looking at the following scenes might also help to collect evidence: You can explore Viola's language further in the Language Analysis section. This activity can be found on page 6 and takes approximately 20 minutes. Analysis This scene shows us that Viola has been completely successful in carrying out her plan to become a member of Duke Orsino's household. These are great questions to explore with students in mind maps, or as class debates. Can You Use Violin Rosin For Pointe Shoes? Sir Toby sees this as an opportunity to take the horse for himself, saying in an aside: Ill ride your horse as well as I ride you (3:4) which suggests he is consciously using Sir Andrew for his own gain and enjoying it. She sends Malvolio to give Cesario a ring that she says he left (Cesario did not leave anything behind) and admits that she is in love with Cesario, Sebastian, Violas twin brother who survived the shipwreck. Unfortunately, payments are no longer supported by Mastercard in your web browser In Act III of Twelfth Night, The Countess continues to pursue the young woman who she fell in love with despite her own better judgement. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. She forgot about her grief after meeting Orsinos messenger and sent her steward, Malvolio, after him. She is afraid of being a good person. She wants to experience the freedom of being treated as a young man. What has Viola done to be a servant for the Duke?