The document provides a summary of the plot of Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night. It describes the main characters and their relationships: Duke Orsino loves Lady Olivia but she refuses him while in mourning. Twins Viola and Sebastian are separated in a shipwreck, with Viola disguising herself as a man named Cesario to work for Duke Orsino. Orsino sends Cesario to woo Olivia, but Olivia falls for Cesario instead. Sebastian is later mistaken for Cesario, further complicating the relationships and identities of the characters. Themes of love, disguise, and madness are also explored through the interactions and deceptions between characters.

1. SYNOPSIS
Presented To : Sir Imran Anwar
Presented By : Abdul Qayyum

2. Duke Orsino Court
In the Kingdome of Illyria, a noble Duke Orsino is
in love with Lady Olivia a beautiful countess.
Orsino’s proposal has been turned down by Lady
Olivia since she is in a mourning state as she has
lost her brother. She does not like to meet any
strangers for 7 years.

3. Shipwrecked !!
Off the shore, a terrible shipwrecked by a storm.
A pretty noble Lady namely Viola and her brother
Sabastian are separated. Viola supposed her twin
brother as drowned. Viola is saved by a friendly
captain’s crew. The friendly captain tells her all
about a Duke namely Orsino who rules Illyria and is
still bachelor. Further, he tells him about Lady
Olivia to whom Duke Orsino is courting.

4. Finds work at Duke place
Viola wishes to work for Lady Olivia since she is all
alone in this world and needs work. On realizing Lady
Olivia’s mourning state, she elected to work for Duke
Orsino but disguised as a man namely Cesario.
Viola (disguised as Cesario) found job at Orsino’s
court. She soon becomes his favorite. Orsino uses
Viola (Cesario) as his page to deliver his love message
to Lady Olivia. Viola finds herself in love with Orsino
whereas Orsino considers her as a male.

5. The love Triangle
In Lady Olivia’s house Cesario (Viola) is
denied but on insistence Lady Olivia meets
him and falls in love with believing him to be
a man. Hence forming a love triangle;
 Viola loves Orsino
 Orsino loves Olivia
 Olivia loves Cesario

6. At Olivia’s House
In, Olivia’s house, we meet her drunkard uncle
Sir, Toby Belch, his foolish friend Sir Edward
Aguecheek, a pretty witty noblewoman Maria
who is in service of Olivia, Feste, the clever
clown of the house, the dour, prudish Malvolio
who is the steward.

7. Fooling Malvolio
When Sir Toby and others take offence at
Malvolio’s constant effort to spoil their fun,
Maria fools Malvolio by a counterfeited love
letter supposedly from Olivia. Maria writes
the letter in same way of Olivia which works
perfectly and Malvolio is fooled.

8. Following the Letter
The letter says, if he wants to earn her
(Olivia) favor then he should dress in yellow
stocking and crossed garters, act proudly,
smile constantly and refuse to explain
himself to anyone. Malvolio assumes that it is
addressed to him and follows the instructions
given in the forged love letter. By acting so,
Olivia supposed him as mad and he is put
into dark room, locked.

9. Sebastian is Alive !
Meanwhile, Sebastian, Viola identical and
separated brother is saved by a sea captain
Antonio. Antonio has cared for Sebastian since the
shipwreck and is passionately attached with him.
Antonio is obsessed with Sebastian’s love so much
that he took risk to follow Sebastian in Orsino’s
domain. In the past, Antonio while a sea-fight
damaged Orsino’s army very severely and they
were old enemies.

10. Olivia A bone of contention?
Sir Andrew observes Olivia’s attraction towards Cesario
(Viola). He himself is a candidate for courting Olivia. Sir
Andrew challenges Cesario for a duel through a letter. Sir
Toby who is an entertainer and often takes money from Sir
Andrew supports the idea.
However, Sebastian while searching for his sister (Viola)
comes on the scene. He was staying in an inn with Antonio
and having his purse. Sir Andrew and Sir Toby end up coming
to blows with Sebastian thinking him as Cesario.

11. Identity Mistake?
She asks him to marry her. Sebastian is perplexed as
neither he knows the reason of fight nor the Lady
Olivia. Since Olivia is wealthy and pretty, he agrees and
both marries before the priest.
Meanwhile, Antonio who was in search for Sebastian is
arrested by Orsino’s officers. Antonio on seeing Cesario
(Viola) mistaking him as Sebastian. Antonio wants the
pay bail so he calls for help from Sebastian who is
having Antonio’s purse. Cesario (Viola) denies knowing
Antonio.

12. Sebastian a hope?
Antonio is dragged off crying out that
Sebastian has betrayed him. Cesario
(Viola) on this account got hope that her
brother may be alive.

13. Malvolio is insane?
To tease Malvolio more, Maria, Sir Toby prepare
Feste the clown to dress up as Sir Topas, a priest
and pretends to examine Malvolio. Sir Topas
(Feste) declares Malvolio as insane and demon
haunted. Malvolio protested to prove himself as
sane. However, Sir Toby, begins to think better
of joke and they allow him to send a letter to
Olivia for release.

14. The family union
Cesario (Viola) and Orsino arrive at Olivia’s
house. Olivia welcomes Cesario (Viola) as
her husband thinking him as Sebastian.
Orsino is furious but then Sebastian appears
on the scene and all is revealed. The sibling
asks each other some question to confirm
their identity and finally united

15. Celebrations
Cesario exposed his identity as Viola and Orsino
realizes that he is too in love with Viola. Orsino asks
Viola’s hand. We discover that Sir Toby has privately
married Maria meanwhile. Someone recalls Malvolio
and he is turned out from dark room. The trick is
revealed on seeing his letter. Malvolio is stormed
off leaving the happy couple to their celebrations.

16. Themes
Appearance versus Reality
Madness
Love
Social Class

17. Appearance versus Reality
Disguise, I see thou art wickedness“
Appearances hide an important reality and sometimes get in the way of a
character from developing or attaining his/ her goal. Thanks to Maria, Sir
Toby and Fabian's prank on Malvolio he appears to be mad. Maria forged
Olivia's handwriting and wrote a letter to Malvolio. The gullible Malvolio,
being in love with Olivia believes she loves him. The letter tells Malvolio
to dress in yellow cross gathered stockings. Of course, this is exactly
what Olivia hates. He shows up to Olivia's house and she has sentenced
him to a dark room because she believed that he was mad. He appears to
be mad but in reality he isn't. The significance of the dark room is that in
Elizabethan times it is believed that you can be cured of madness by
being imprisoned in a dark room.

18. CONTI..
Another incident Of Appearance versus reality is portrayed by Olivia. This is
as she has gone into mourning for seven years and refuses to see no one but
servants and family
Feste: "Good madoona, why mourn 'st thou?"
Olivia: 'Good fool, for my brother's death." (act 1 scn 5)
She appears to be mourning the death of her brother but actually, she isn't.
She veils her self in memory Of her choice (mourning) . Towards Orsino this
is her reactions.

19. CONTI..
When Viola/Cesario show up, she sends for her. (if she is in
mourning it should be on at all times).
" give me my veil; come throw it over my face".
(Act 1 scn 5)
I am sick, or not at home. What you will to dismiss it".
(Act 1 scn 5).
She says do or say what you will but get rid off him. This a message
sends for Viola/Cesario. This is because Orsino has send him to woo the
love Of Olivia for him.

20. CONTI…
Olivia unveils. Upon meeting Viola/ Cesario
she falls head of heals in love with him.
"Unless perchance you come to me again to
tell me how he takes it".
(act 1 Scn 5).

21. Under the theme of Appearance versus
Reality comes:
 Disguise
 Mistaken Identity

22. Disguise:
The theme of disguise is one of the most important parts Of the
play. Viola is used to portray the major disguise. Viola who is a
woman is disguised as a man. As she works for Orsino her love for
him grows, but she is forced to pretend or bury her love towards
him because Of the choice she had made.
'O, time must untangle this not I" (Act 2 scn 3)

23. CONTI..
She would like to reveal herself but is unable to do so. Viola/
Cesario is sent to woo the love Of Olivia for Orsino. This is though as
Viola loves Orsino but she must take up her role as Cesario and carry
out the mission.
" To woo your lady. Yet a barful strife: Whoe'er I woo,myself
would be his wife"

24. CONTI…
One could say Olivia is in heat for falling in love so fast but then
falling in love is not a choice it just happens. One could also say is
Viola didn't love Orsino she may have wooed Olivia's love for him but
who is to know?
The significance Of disguised can be looked at from two different
ways.
How does it affect the plot?
How does it work thematically?

25. Mistaken Identity:
" You do mistake me sir"
Viola disguises herself once again. This time as her twin brother Sebastian. To
Antonio, Viola is Sebastian, his good friend but since she obviously doesn't
recognizes him so he gets up set. This is mistaken identity, through Viola's
disguise Antonio is unable to see that she is not Sebastian.
" Is't possible that my deserts to you
Can lack persuasion? DO not tempt my misery,
Lest that it make me see unsound a man
As to upbraid you with those kindness
That I have done for you" (Act 3 scn 4)

26. CONTI…
Mistaken Identity shows again when the Officers arrests
Antonio. Although Antonio had entered the scene to stop the
shed of blood, the officers doesn't know and refuses to
believe him. The Officers believe that he too was going to
fight. His identity was mistaken and he was arrested.
"You do mistake me sir" (Act 3 SCII 4)

27. CONTI…
Sebastian now is disguised as Cesario. Olivia believes he is
Cesario but she too has no made the mistake of mistaken
identity. She believes he is the boy Cesario who she loves
and she asks for his hand in marriage.
"Let thy fair wisdom, not thy passion, sway
In this uncivil and unjust extent"
(Act 4 scn 1)

28. CONTI…
Sebastian who Olivia believes is Cesario wonders but accepts the
strange enchantment just like Olivia's soliloquy in Act 2 sen 2.
"I left no ring with her.... It is to o hard a knot for me to untie".
He accepts her proposal to marriage. Olivia is unaware Of who Cesario
really is and hustles into marriage. This is as she wants the marriage
done before Sebastian/Cesario changes his mind as the real Cesario-
Viola, was hesitant before toward her.

29. CONTI…
Now with Olivia believing Sebastian is Cesario so does Orsino.
"O thou dissembling cub!"
Orsino accuses Sebastian/Cesario Of disrespect and betrayal for
knowing his love for Olivia and still marring her. He too has
mistaken Cesario's identity.

30. Madness:
" Are all the people mad?" (act 4 scn 1)
There are two levels Of madness in the play.
 Madness in Love
 Mental madness
No one in Twelfth Night Or What You Will is actually mad but
in reality is sane. Madness overlaps or is an extension Of love and the
desire to be love.

31. CONTI…
Olivia- Cesario: " O by your leave, I pray you;
I bade you never speak again Of him.
But would you undertake another suit,
I had rather hear you to solicit that
Than music from the spheres. "
(act 3 Sen 1)
This quote shows how madly in love Olivia started becoming with Viola/Cesario.
Although Viola/Cesario was sent to woo the love Of Olivia Orsino, Olivia falls in
love with her and tells her say no more about her master but tell her about
herself as she would appreciate it over the music from the sphere. In
Elizabethan time they believed that the most beautiful sounds came from the
planets as they rotated. This showed how deeply or madly Olivia was in love
with Viola.

32. CONTI…
Madness in love is also explored with Orsino. Orsino-Cesario
"Be clamorous and leap all civil bounds Rather than make unporfited
return".
Orsino tells Viola/ Cesario to go to all ends far and possible but come
back with word from Olivia. Madness is a way for characters to express
the intensity Of their romantic love.

33. CONTI…
In act 2 scn 4 Viola also express her love for Orsino.
"A blank, my lord. She never told her love, But let
concealment like a worm I'th' bud..".
She tells Orsino about an incident where a girl had loved a man
but she hide it and it tore her apart. In reality she was the girl
and Orsino was the man.

34. Mental Madness:
Maria, Sir Toby and Fabian plays a prank/ trick on Malvolio, they made
him appear to be mad. Due to their knowledge that Malvolio loves Olivia
they uses it against him, Maria forges a letter that Malvolio thinks came
from Olivia. He shows up to Olivia's house in yellow cross gathered
stockings, everything Olivia hates, she sentences him to a dark room.
Another instance Of mental madness is when Antonio mistakes the
disguised Viola for her twin brother Sebastian and due to his angry
insistence that she recognizes him allows people to think or assume that
he is mentally unstable. The normality Of life has turned topsy-turvy and
everyone must confront a reality that is somewhat fractured.

35. Love:
" Then let thy love by younger than thyself,
Or thy affection cannot hold thee bent"
In Shakespeare's Twelfth Night Or What You Will find three
different types Of love explored. They are;
 Romantic love
 Friendly love
 Self love

36. Romantic / True Love:
"Be Clamorous and leap all civil bounds Rather than make unprofited
return.“
Orsino duke Of Illyria is in love with Olivia. He wants Cesario to go to all
ends just to get a reply from Olivia for him. Since Olivia refuses to
return the love for Orsino so he sends Cesario to woo the love Of Olivia
for him. Instead, Olivia accidently falls in love with Viola/Cesario and is
willing to give anything in return for Viola/ Cesario's love.
"I'd rather hear you to solicit that than music from the spheres"

37. CONTI…
This is a clear indication that Olivia loves Viola because she tells her
she prefers the sound of her voice that the rotation of the planets,
which in Elizabethan times was the most beautiful sound which the
music Of the spheres were supposedly exerted a magical influence.
Although Viola is aware Of Olivia's love for her she says she
can't give her as her heart belongs else where and also she is a
woman. (act 3 Sen 1).
" By my troth I’ll tell thee, I am almost sick for one, though..."

38. CONTI…
Another example Of romantic love is when
Maria, Sir Toby and Fabian trick Malvolio into
dressing into dressing the exact way Olivia
hates. He does this because he thinks Olivia
loves him.

39. Friendship Love:
There are many Of friendship love in Twelfth Night Or What You Will
The first between Viola/Cesario and Orsino duke Of Illyria as within a
few days she had the trust Of Orsino.
" He hath know but three days and already you are no stranger".
(act 1 scn 4)
Another is between Sebastian and Antonio. This is through their
language Of poetry it is seen as the ultimate mark Of true friendship.
" The gentleness Of all god go with thee.... The danger shall still
seem sport and I will go."

40. Self Love:
Throughout the play the sub-theme Of self love is expressed through the
portrayal Of Sir Andrew.
“He does it with a better grace, but I do it more natural’' (act 2 scn 3)
Everything someone claims or can do Malvolio says he can do it better.
" O you are sick Of self-love, Malvolio and taste with a distempered
appetite.“
(Act 1 scn 3)

41. Unrequited Love:
Unrequited love a love that is not returned. This was portrayed through Orsino and
Olivia. Orsino loved Olivia till he was sick.
"if music be the food Of love play on, give me excess of it that surfeiting"
He loved Olivia so much that he forgot about all his responsibilities as a duke. Since
she fell in love with Cesario and married Sebastian who she thought was Cesario. He
want to satisfy his love thirst but is unable to.
Love as a cause Of pain can come from unrequited love.
"My state is desperate for my master's love" (act 2 scn3)
This can result in violence. Just as in (act 5 sen 1) when Orsino threatens the life Of
Olivia because she doesn't love him.
"kill what I Love..."

42. Social Class:
The play is concerned with social ambition especially relating
to marriage above or below ones rank. This was explored in
Malvolio's plot, where the play takes particular pleasure in
ridiculing Malvolio's social climbing fantasies. This is as he
loves Olivia. In Shakespeare's time or the era in which the
play was made a woman Of height status
wouldn't marry someone Of a lower status as it would have
damaged their rank.

43. Thanks !!