Twelfth Night Read Online Free PDF Page A

which reinforces the complicated nature of gender and sexual attraction explored throughout the play. He describes Cesario as so young he is almost feminine, with “smooth and rubious” lips and a “small pipe” for a voice, adding that Cesario’s “constellation” makes him right for the task. Although she agrees to go, Viola reveals in an aside another reason for her reluctance: she is in love with Orsino herself.
ACT 1 SCENE 5
    Lines 1–155: Maria questions Feste about where he has been, saying that Olivia is displeased by his absence and will turn him away, but he refuses to say. Olivia arrives and Feste engages in “good fooling,”using the riddles and wordplay of his trade to please her and prevent her from throwing him out. Despite his role as “clown,” he is intelligent and perceptive: his fooling often contains reason and truth, as he says to Olivia “I wear not motley in my brain,” a reminder of the difference between appearance and identity. He wins Olivia round by suggesting that she is foolish to mourn for a brother whose soul is in heaven. Olivia comments that Feste improves but Malvolio cannot understand why she “takes delight in such a barren rascal” and she accuses him of having “a distempered appetite.” Maria reports that there is “a fair young man” at the gate wishing to speak to Olivia, who sends Malvolio with instructions that, if the youth is from Orsino, she is “sick, or not at home.” Sir Toby comes in, drunk, and Olivia instructs Feste to look after him; he comments that “the fool shall look to the madman,” one of many references to madness in the play, often as a parallel to love. Malvolio reports that the young man insists on speaking with Olivia, who relents but veils her face.
    Lines 156–295: The encounter between the two women, one veiled and the other disguised, visually reinforces the themes of concealment and identity, as does Viola’s claim that “I am not that I play.” Viola, as Cesario, begins to deliver Orsino’s speech, commenting on how “well penned” it is, thus emphasizing its contrived, conventional nature in comparison with her own passionate extemporized speeches later in the scene. She/he defeats Maria’s attempts to throw her out and secures a private interview with Olivia, persuading her to show her face, praising her beauty but condemning her pride. She/he tells her that Orsino loves her “With groans that thunder love, with sighs of fire.” Olivia acknowledges Orsino’s good qualities: he is “virtuous,” “noble,” and “gracious,” but she “cannot love him.” Olivia becomes more interested in the messenger, questioning him about his parentage, and encouraging him to come again. After Cesario leaves, it becomes clear that Olivia has fallen in love with “him,” creating a humorous situation of mistaken identity/gender and perhaps commenting on the shallow or arbitrary nature of romantic love. She sends Malvolio after the youth with a ring, pretending it was an unwanted gift from Orsino.
ACT 2 SCENE 1
    Antonio has cared for Sebastian since rescuing him from “the breach of the sea,” but Sebastian decides he must now leave and refuses to allow Antonio to accompany him because the “stars shine darkly” and are an evil influence over his fate. He reveals his true identity and talks of his twin sister, Viola, who he believes is drowned. He describes her, placing particular emphasis on the likeness between them, thus establishing the potential for further complications and confused identities. Sebastian intends to go to “Count Orsino’s Court” and, despite having enemies there, Antonio decides to accompany him.
ACT 2 SCENE 2
    Malvolio returns the ring to Cesario/Viola but she/he does not tell him the truth about it, realizing that Olivia has fallen in love with Cesario. She/he expresses sympathy, claiming that Olivia had “better love a dream,” and reiterating the illusory nature of her present identity. She