Twelfth Night ACT ONE

 

                The Twelfth Night begins with the Duke of Illyria pouring out his obsession with Olivia and the fact that he loves a woman that will not love him back. “O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first, Methought she purged the air of pestilence. That instant was I turned into a hart, And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds, E’er since pursue me.” (I.i.20-24) The Duke feels that he cannot wait the amount of time she needs to heal before he can have her. He goes on thinking about Olivia and listening to music.

                In another part of the country a shipwreck produces a young girl named Viola. She believes that her twin brother has died in the crash and loses all hope in finding him again; without him, she doesn’t know what she can do to make a living. “And what should I do in Illyria? My brother he is in Elysium. Perchance he is not drowned. What think you sailors?” (I.ii.3-5) Viola chats with the sailors and their captain, who tell her not to lose hope and that the Duke she seeks is still in love with another lady (Olivia). Viola decides that she will not have the opportunity to work for Olivia so instead she will disguise herself as a man and work for the Duke. She convinces that captain to help hide her true identity in return for a large sum of money. “Conceal me what I am, and be my aid For such disguise as haply shall become The form of my intent.” (I.ii.53-55)

                From my observations so far, I think that Viola dressing as a man to possibly impress the Duke may backfire on her but could be for the better. I am going to make the assumption that later in the novel when and if the Duke discovers the true identity of Viola, they will fall in love and live happily ever after.

                Moving on to Scenes III and IV, we venture into Olivia’s house which she shares with her uncle Sir Toby. Maria (Olivia’s best friend) is trying to discourage Sir Toby from bringing in a suitable bachelor to talk to Olivia. However, he doesn’t listen and that is where Sir Andrew comes into the picture. Sir Andrew is a petty fellow, who in my opinion sounds like a total loser. When introduced to Maria, he continually gets her name wrong. Thankfully he is discouraged from continuing to babble on with Maria and leaves with Sir Toby. “And I thought that, I’d forswear it. I’ll ride home tomorrow, Sir Toby.” (I.iii.87-88)

                Scene IV starts with a conversation between Viola and the Duke. Viola’s disguise has apparently worked and now she is known by Cesario throughout the Duke’s court. She quickly became one of the Duke’s favorite personal messengers and now has been chosen to deliver love letters to Olivia. “I have unclasped To thee book even of my secret soul. Therefore, good youth, address thy gait unto her…” (I.iv.13-15)

                So Viola, I mean Cesario, travels to Olivia’s house and tells the guards that he is not leaving until he speaks with Olivia. She finally allows him in, “Let him approach. Call in my gentlewoman.” (I.v.161) Olivia is astonished at how feminine looking Cesario is (how ironic!). They go about talking and by the end of Act one, it seems as though Olivia is falling in love with Cesario. Little does she know that Cesario is actually Viola! I am interested to find out how that one will pan out later in the play.