the twelfth night
What does Maria tell Olivia about Malvolio (III.iv.9-14)?
What does Olivia suggest about “madness” (III.iv.15-16)?
How does Olivia react to Malvolio (III.iv.17-61)?
How does Malvolio interpret her reaction (III.iv.70-90)?
What do Sir Toby, Maria, and Fabian pretend has happened to Malvolio (III.iv.91-131)?
What does Sir Toby say they will do to Malvolio (III.iv.144-150)?
What lie do Sir Toby and Fabian tell Andrew about the letter (III.iv.156-198)?
How do Sir Toby and Fabian describe Sir Andrew to Viola (III.iv.230-280)?
What lie does Sir Toby then tell Sir Andrew (III.iv.284-293)?
What does Sir Andrew tell Toby to say to Viola (III.iv.296-298)? Does he do this?
On what is the humor based throughout this trick? Why is the audience laughing at
Cesario and Andrew?
What does Antonio do when he sees Viola and Sir Andrew drawn on one another (III.iv.
326-328)?
Why does he do this? Why doesn’t Viola understand what is happening?
How does Antonio feel when Viola doesn’t know who he is (III.iv.364-369)?
What does Viola start to realize (III.iv.393-404)?
What do Malvolio and Antonio have in common?
What point is Shakespeare making through the suffering of these two characters?
- Maria tells Olivia that Malvolio has gone mad and is acting strangely.
- Olivia suggests that madness can sometimes be a result of unrequited love.
- Olivia reacts to Malvolio by finding him entertaining and decides to play along with his delusions.
- Malvolio interprets Olivia's reaction as a sign that she is indeed in love with him and that his fantasies are coming true.
- Sir Toby, Maria, and Fabian pretend that Malvolio has become possessed by evil spirits.
- Sir Toby says that they will have to keep Malvolio in a dark room and torture him until he comes to his senses.
- Sir Toby and Fabian tell Andrew that Olivia is in love with him and that the letter he received is proof of her feelings.
- Sir Toby and Fabian describe Sir Andrew as a brave and honorable man.
- Sir Toby tells Andrew that Viola is in love with him and wants to meet him in the garden.
- Sir Andrew tells Toby to tell Viola that he is too sick to meet her, but Toby does not do this.
- The humor throughout this trick is based on mistaken identities and the foolishness of the characters. The audience laughs at Cesario (Viola) and Andrew because they are both being deceived and manipulated for the amusement of others.
- When Antonio sees Viola and Sir Andrew drawn on one another, he is confused and tries to intervene.
- He does this because he believes Viola is Sebastian, whom he has been taking care of and thinks of as a friend. Viola doesn't understand what is happening because she is unaware that Antonio was mistaking her for Sebastian.
- Antonio feels hurt and betrayed when Viola doesn't recognize him, as he thought they had a close friendship.
- Viola starts to realize that her disguise as Cesario is causing confusion and misunderstandings.
- Malvolio and Antonio both experience suffering due to their unrequited love for Olivia and Viola respectively.
- Through the suffering of these characters, Shakespeare is highlighting the foolishness and delusions that can arise from unrequited love, and the consequences it can have on individuals.