Notes on Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare

Act I

"'Get you to your lord. I cannot love him. Let him send no more, Unless, perchance, you come to me again.'"-- Olivia (Shakespeare 25)

Olivia shows interest in Cesario. This stirs up more dramatic irony as the audience knows that Cesario is actually Viola in disguise. Her interest in Cesario makes it more difficult for Orsino to woo her and for Viola to eventually reveal herself. What was before a simple plot of a man trying to win over the girl, is now a complex story of a love triangle.

"'If it be a suit from the Count, I am sick, or not at home. What you will to dismiss it.'" --Olivia (Shakespeare 19)

Olivia's mood has worsened due to the grief from her brother's death. Though she allows her servants to interact with her, she refuses any other company. Confirming her sorrow, her dismissive attitude implies that though she was once social, she is too affected by her brother's death to socialize.

"'Let him approach.'" --Olivia (Shakespeare 21)

Though she was too distraught to agree to socialize initially, her mind has changed almost instantly when she hears that her visitor is a young man. Her quick change of mind foreshadows her never steadfast judgment. Later after Viola reveals herself as Olivia's crush Cesario, Olivia wastes no time switching her affection to Sebastian.

Act II

"'She is drowned already, sir.'"--Sebastian (Shakespeare 28)

At this point in the novel, Sebastian believes that his twin sister has drowned. His obliviousness to her disguise and actions ultimately leads to a more confusing climax when he finds his way into Viola's plan. Sebastian's belief that Viola is dead leads to dramatic irony and more drama for viewers.

"'Fortune forbid my outside have not charmed her [....] She loves me sure.'"--Viola (Shakespeare 29)

Viola has just figured out that Olivia likes her (as Cesario) and realizes this will cause alot of complications as her job is to woo Olivia for Orsino and because she is not a man. This causes Viola to distance herself from Olivia. She realizes that revealing herself to Olivia will ruin her plan of getting close to Orsino.

"'How dost thou like this tune?'[....] 'even when they are to perfection grow.'" --Orsino & Viola as Cesario (Shakespeare 39-40)

Viola hints that she has feelings for Orsino. This simulates more drama and complications because she is still disguised as Cesario, Orsino likes Olivia, and Olivia likes her (as Cesario). This builds up the rising action as each love interest becomes tangled with each other, the plot complicates.