Twelfth Night ACT TWO

              Act two starts with the introduction of a new character, one who is related to a main character, and whose key appearance could just spell out trouble for the rest of the play. His name is Sebastian, and yes to answer your question, he is the undead brother to Viola. Sebastian wound up washing unto the seacoast far from Viola. He too has lost all hope that his twin sister is still alive (little to his knowledge)  and tells Antonio, his rescuer, that he will be leaving to go on dangerous journeys that will hopefully allow him to process all that has happened to him. “Therefore I shall crave of your leave, that I may bear my evils alone.” (II.i.5-6) After much argument, Sebastian persuades Antonio not to accompany him on his leave, “If you will not undo what you have done, that is, kill him whom you have recovered, desire is not. Fare ye well at once.” (II.i.37-39) However, Antonio cannot just let this guy go, so he faces his fears of being seen by his enemies in Orsino’s court and goes after Sebastian. “I have many enemies in Orsino’s court, Else would I very shortly see thee there. But come what may, I do adore thee so That danger shall seem sport, and I will go.” (II.i.45-48)

                While Sebastian starts his trek to Orsino’s court, Viola has some adventurous moments of her own. When speaking to Malvolio, she discovers that Olivia has fallen in love with her, well in love with Cesario. “She loves me sure; the cunning of her passion Invites me with this churlish messenger.” (II.ii.21-22) Viola feels bad that she is eventually going to have to tell Olivia that her love is false and cannot be true, “Poor lady, she were better to love a dream.” (II.ii.26)

                In scene three, Sir Toby, Sir Andrew and Maria decide to play a prank on Malvolio for ruining their fun while drinking, “My masters are you mad? Or what are you? Have you no wit, manners, nor honesty, but to gabble like thinkers at this time of night?” (II.iii.86-89) Maria decides that because he is a puritan, he has a big ego of himself and will easily be fooled into thinking that Olivia sent him a love letter which will really be from the three hooligans.

                Continuing onto scene four, Orsino is once again thrust into his love for Olivia when listening to a love song. He tells Cesario to go talk to her once more, “Get thee to yond same sovereign cruelty. Tell her my love...” (II.iv.81-82) Honestly, I don’t understand why he keeps trying to go after this girl… I mean come on give it up already she doesn’t love you!!

The final scene of Act Two is a prelude to what is to come of the next act. Maria enacts her plan to trick Malvolio into thinking the love letter he has found is for him from Olivia. When Maria plants the letter she tells the others that she is planning to make a fool of Malvolio, “Observe him, for the love of mockery; for I know this letter will make a contemplative idiot of him.” (II. v. 17-18) He goes about reading this letter and reads it to Sir Toby who of course makes sure he believes every word of it. Malvolio is now so love struck he will believe anything that the letter says, even if it means dressing like a moron. Maria wrote the letter to Malvolio in which she included having him do everything that Olivia hated. So this next Act will be very interesting indeed!