The story in one page
After a shipwreck leaves Viola stranded in Illyria, she adopts the male alias Cesario to serve Duke Orsino. Orsino dispatches his new favorite attendant to win the hand of the mourning Countess Olivia. However, Olivia ignores the Duke and falls hard for the disguised messenger instead. Meanwhile, Olivia’s household staff tricks her pompous steward, Malvolio, into believing she desires his affection. When Viola’s long-lost twin brother, Sebastian, finally arrives in town, the web of misdirected attraction hits a breaking point. Identities are eventually sorted, secrets surface, and the survivors of this social chaos end up in a series of weddings.
Who's who
- Viola
Shipwrecked woman disguised as an attendant named Cesario.
- Orsino
Duke of Illyria who spends his days pining for Olivia.
- Olivia
Rich countess who falls for a messenger in disguise.
- Malvolio
Steward who falls victim to a cruel letter-based prank.
- Sebastian
Viola's twin brother whose arrival triggers total confusion.
What it's really about
- Performance
- Identity is something you wear, not own.
- Deception
- A prank can ruin a man's life.
Why it's memorable
- A steward smiling like a maniac in yellow, cross-gartered stockings.
- A lovesick messenger promising to build a willow cabin.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
The confusion resolves with weddings, though Malvolio swears vengeance on the pranksters who fooled him. The play closes with a song about the relentless nature of the rain.
For your book club
- Why does everyone keep falling for the first person they see?
- Is the prank on the steward actually funny or just cruel?