Twelfth Night Acts 4 and 5 Act 4

Twelfth Night Acts 4 and 5

Act 4, Scene 1 � Feste comes across Sebastian (who he thinks is Cesario) and tires to bring him to Oliva. However, Sebastian is confused because he doesn’t know this person. � Toby and Sir Andrew enter � Andrew thinks that Sebastian is Cesario (the guy he was about to duel a few minutes before) and he attacks him. � (Remember Cesario walked off when “he” heard Antonio call him Sebastian) � But Sebastian, unlike Viola, is a trained fighter, and starts to beat Sir Andrew with his dagger.

Act 4, Scene 1 � Sir Andrew cries for mercy. � Sebastian thinks he’s surrounded by madmen and decides to leave. � Sir Toby (still thinking he’s Cesario) stops him, they insult each other, and prepare to fight. � Olivia enters and sees Sir Toby preparing to fight the person who she thinks is Cesario. � She yells at Toby, sends him away, and begs Sebastian (who she thinks is Cesario) to come into her house with her. � Sebastian is confused, but sees no reason to walk away from a beautiful woman, so he goes with her.

Act 4, Scene 2 Malvolio has been locked up in the dark room and is very upset � Maria asks Feste to pretend to be a priest named Sir Topas, while she and Toby listen in and laugh. � Malvolio, who cannot see Feste inside his prison tells the priest (Feste) that he is not insane and begs to be set free. � But Feste deliberately misunderstands him and says he’s really in a room full of bright windows and if he can’t see them, he must be crazy. � Malvolio tries to get the priest to question him so he can prove his sanity, but Feste (using a fake voice) continues to twist his words. � Sir Topas (Feste) tells Malvolio he’s definitely crazy and he must stay locked up. Feste then leaves. �

Act 4, Scene 2 � Sir Toby and Maria enjoy the joke, but are also getting tired of it. � Toby worries that Olivia, who already is annoyed by his drunkeness, will figure out the prank and be very angry. � They send Feste back to Malvolio, where Feste speaks (using both his own voice and the fake voice of Sir Topas) as if they are both talking to Malvolio � Malvolio swears he isn’t crazy, and begs for paper, ink, and light with which to write a letter to Olivia. � Feste promises to fetch him the items. He leaves.

Act 4, Scene 3 � Meanwhile (in the same house), Sebastian is walking around, confused, but very happy. � A beautiful woman—Olivia—has been giving him gifts and wants to marry him. � He wishes he could find Antonio to discuss the situation with him, but when he went back to their inn, Antonio was not there. � Olivia finds Sebastian (and has brought a priest) � She proposes to Sebastian (who she still thinks is Cesario). � Much to Olivia’s delight, Sebastian happily agrees, and they go off and get married.

Act 5, Scene 1 � Orsino arrives at Olivia’s house, accompanied by Viola (still disguised as Cesario) and his men. � The police show up looking for Orsino and dragging Antonio. � Orsino, recognizes Antonio as his worthy enemy, but questions why he would come to Illyria, knowing it would be dangerous for him. � Antonio tells the story of his rescue and befriending of Sebastian. � He lashes out at Cesario (still thinking he’s Sebastian) claiming that Sebastian has stolen his money and has pretended not to know him. � Cesario and Orsino are stunned and confused by his story.

Act 5, Scene 1 Olivia arrives and speaks to Cesario as though he is her husband (She has just married Sebastian a few minutes ago) � Orsino is outraged, thinking that his dear friend Cesario has stabbed him in the back by marrying his love interest. � Cesario, feeling helpless, denies what Olivia has claimed and prepares to go to her death, saying only that she loves Orsino. � Olivia is shocked and hurt. She believes that her new husband is denying he married her. � She calls in the priest, who (mistaking Cesario for Sebastian), confirms that he has just married these two � Orsino is devastated by both Olivia’s rejection and Cesario’s betryal. � He tells the pair he doesn’t want to see either of them ever again. �

Act 5, Scene 1 � Sir Toby arrives with a bleeding Andrew and accuses Cesario of attacking them � Cesario of course denies this too (Because Viola never actually fought with Andrew) � Olivia sends them out to get treated � At that moment Sebastian shows up apologizing to Olivia for having beaten up two men on her property � Sebastian notices Antonio standing in the corner and excitedly says he’s so glad to see him

Act 5, Scene 1 � There is an awkward moment, where everyone in the room stares at Cesario and Sebastian � Sebastian and Cesario begin to question each other until they realize who each other is � Everyone suddenly realizes that Cesario is a woman!! � Orsino, realizing it is Sebastian married to Olivia and not Cesario, doesn’t seem too upset about losing her to another man

Act 5, Scene 1 � Turning to Viola, he says “You said you loved me when you were a man, do you still now that you are a woman? ” � Viola says YES! Orsino then asks to see her dressed as a woman. � Viola says her female clothes are with the sea captain who has taken up a job with Malvolio � Suddenly everyone remembers poor locked up Malvolio!

Act 5, Scene 1 � Next Feste and Fabian arrive with Malvolio’s letter to Olivia (written from his cell) � She reads it and orders him to be brought to her � Malvolio arrives with the prank letter. Olivia recognizes Maria’s handwriting and realizes what’s happened � Fabian explains why they played the prank � Fabian also mentions that Sir Toby has just married Maria

Act 5, Scene 1 � Malvolio is still very angry. He storms out, swearing revenge! � Orsino sends a servant after him to smooth things over and collect Viola’s female clothing. � Orsino then announces he is going to marry Viola that same day. � All leave, except Feste who sings a final song. � The song, however, is sad and about growing up and growing old.