Shakespeare - Twelfth Night - Characters

The characters in Twelfth Night are in themselves a large part of the comedy in this play. Lots of them are over-the-top in their emotions and behaviour. For example, Olivia and Orsino are both entirely consumed by their love, whereas Sir Toby and Sir Andrew do nothing but drink and fool around. In fact the only character to take life seriously at all is Malvolio.

The four most important characters are:

• Viola
• Olivia
• Orsino
• Malvolio

Viola lands in Illyria after a shipwreck in which her twin brother, Sebastian is lost. Not knowing what to do or where to go, Viola decides to disguise herself as a boy and, calling herself Cesario, to work for the Duke Orsino. She is sent by the Duke to woo the Countess Olivia, though this plan backfires somewhat when Olivia falls in love with ‘Cesario’ (not realising he is actually a girl). Viola in turn falls in love with the Duke. In the end Sebastian appears and after some added confusion everything works out fine. Sebastian and Olivia get married and Orsino, discovering that his best friend is really a woman, proposes to her instead.

Although Viola, with her hidden identity, is the cause of much confusion in the play, she is still one of the most honest and sympathetic characters.

• Loyal - even when she has fallen in love with Orsino, she maintains her disguise as Cesario and woos Olivia on the Duke’s behalf.
• Passionate - when Viola speaks of her love for Orsino, she suggests she could pine away for love of him.
• Genuine - whereas Orsino and Olivia seem able to switch the focus of their love quite quickly – Orsino from Olivia to Viola and Olivia from Cesario to Sebastian – Viola remains true to her feelings throughout.

Viola's friends are:

• Orsino - her master and her love
• Olivia - the countess inadvertently falls in love with Viola

She is related to:

• Sebastian - her brother speaks of her with love

She is enemies with:

• Sir Andrew Aguecheek - he reluctantly duels with her because of Olivia

• When Viola finds herself shipwrecked and alone she disguises herself as a boy, Cesario, and gets a job with Duke Orsino.
• Viola falls in love with Duke Orsino but is unable to tell him how she feels.
• Viola reveals that she is in fact a girl and marries the Duke.

In Act 2 Scene 4, Orsino and Cesario (Viola) are talking about love.

Orsino is the first character to appear on stage. He is the Duke of Illyria and is hopelessly in love with Olivia. His opening line 'If music be the food of love play' on introduces the main themes of the play and has become one of the most famous lines of Shakespeare.

Orsino employs Cesario (Viola) as his servant and sends him (her) to woo Olivia on his behalf. He seems determined that she will give in at some point and persists in sending messages of love even when she has quite clearly rejected him.

Later in the play the Duke discovers that Cesario (this time actually Sebastian!) has married Olivia, and he is very hurt. However, he is immediately forgiving when he discovers that his servant is actually a girl, Viola, and so offers her his love instead!

• *Self-indulgent - Orsino seems in love with the idea of being in love.
• Superficial - like Olivia, Orsino is quick to change the object of his affections at the end of the play.
• Fanciful - at the start of the play, Orsino talks about surrounding himself with flowers to enhance his thoughts of love.

Orsino is friends with:

• Cesario (Viola) - she is loyal as Orsino’s servant and eventually falls in love with him
• Olivia - his object of affection

• He starts the play by asking Cesario (Viola) to woo Olivia on his behalf.
• Despite his proclaimed love for Olivia, he is willing to be spiteful to her when he discovers that she has married Cesario.
• Orsino switches his love easily from Olivia to Viola.

The Countess Olivia is mourning the death of her brother. She says she will refuse to meet with any suitors, though when Cesario (Viola) is persistent she agrees to see him (her). She seems to forget about her grief fairly quickly after meeting Orsino’s messenger and sends her steward, Malvolio, after him with a ring. She pretends that Cesario (Viola) has left the ring, but in fact it is a ploy to get him (her) to return.

When Sebastian arrives, Olivia mistakes him for Cesario (Viola) and asks him to marry her. She is delighted when he agrees, and doesn’t seem to mind at all when she later discovers that her love for Cesario had actually been for Viola, or that her new husband is essentially a stranger to her.

• Temperamental - when we first meet Olivia, she is in mourning for her dead brother. Soon after meeting Cesario however, she is more concerned with love.
• Melodramatic - Maria comments that Olivia’s current melancholy mood is an 'addiction', which suggests that it is insincere. She enjoys the drama of grief.
• Superficial - Olivia seems unconcerned that she has married Sebastian so hastily. The fact that in outward appearance he is exactly like the man (woman) Olivia has fallen in love with is all that seems to matter.

Olivia is friends with:

• Maria - her lady-in-waiting

• Orsino - he is in love with Olivia

• Malvolio - her steward also falls in love with herShe is related to:

• Sir Toby Belch - her cousin

• Olivia is in mourning at the start of the play, but seems to forget her loss rather quickly.
• She refuses to meet with any suitors, but with a little persistence from Cesario (Viola) she gives in. Olivia then falls in love with Cesario (Viola).
• At the end of the play Olivia marries Viola’s twin brother, Sebastian.

Malvolio is a serious and sober character who has secret ambitions to become a nobleman.

He is rude, overbearing and insults Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, Maria and Feste. To get revenge they trick him with a forged letter, into believing that the Countess Olivia wants to marry him. He is made to believe that she will love him more if he wears yellow stockings with cross garters and if he smiles more. However, the result is that Olivia thinks he is mad. Maria and Sir Toby Belch lock Malvolio in a dark room where he is tormented by Feste. He is later allowed out to join in the wedding celebrations, but when he realises he has been tricked, he storms out threatening to get his revenge on everyone.

• Controlling - he stops any visitors from disturbing Olivia, including Sir Andrew Aguecheek who is brought by her cousin, Toby Belch.
• Sober - he doesn’t like the fact that Sir Toby and Sir Andrew drink so much.
• Serious - Maria’s forged letter encourages him to smile more (something that he clearly doesn't naturally do much!).

Malvolio is friends with:

• Olivia - he tries to protect her and wants to marry her

He is enemies with:

• Sir Toby and Sir Andrew - he finds their excessive partying annoying
• Maria - she writes the forged letter that makes him behave like a madman

• Malvolio appears very sober and serious at the start of the play and then is made to appear mad by the trick that is played on him.
• After reading the letter he begins to wear yellow stockings and to smile.
• At the end of the play he storms off saying he will get revenge on everyone.

Sir Toby is Olivia’s cousin and Sir Andrew is his good friend. Together they spend most of their time drinking. Sir Andrew has hopes of marrying Olivia, but she refuses to see him. Together with Maria, they play a trick on Malvolio and later attack Cesario who has won the heart of the Countess.

SIR TOBY BELCH
I knew ‘twas I, for many do call me fool

Act 2 Scene 5

Character attributes

• Drunkard
• Frivolous

Olivia’s lady-in-waiting, Maria, is responsible for forging the letter that Malvolio finds in the garden. Although she is not as frivolous as Sir Toby and Sir Andrew she enjoys the practical joke they play on Olivia’s steward. Sir Toby marries her as a reward for carrying out the trick.

MARIA
I have dogged him like his murderer.
He does obey every point of the letter that I dropped to betray him.
Act 3 Scene 2

Character attributes

• Cunning
• Sharp

Olivia’s jester is quick-witted and enjoys playing with words. He adds to the chaos and comedy by causing more confusion. His songs vary between the happy and the melancholy and set the tone of the play.

FESTE
This fellow is wise enough to play the fool,
And to do that well craves a kind of wit
Act 3 Scene 1

Character attributes

• Clever
• Funny

Viola’s twin, Sebastian is rescued from the sea by Antonio. He believes his sister drowned in the shipwreck. Later, Sebastian is mistaken for Cesario (his sister in disguise) and is attacked by Sir Andrew and Sir Toby. He is even more surprised when Olivia stops the fight and declares her love for him. Eventually he is reunited with his sister.

SEBASTIAN
And though ‘tis wonder that enwraps me thus
Yet ‘tis not madness.
Act 4 Scene 3

Character attributes

• Quick to fall in love
• Trusting

Antonio rescues Sebastian and is determined to look out for him thereafter. He has a reputation as a fighter and a pirate, but he seems protective and loving towards Sebastian. He is heartbroken when he later fights on behalf of Cesario/Viola (thinking she is Sebastian) and she doesn’t know who he is.

ANTONIO
I do adore thee so
That danger shall seem sport, and I will go.
Act 2 Scene 1

Character attributes

• Loyal
• Protective