SmartPass Audio Education Study Guide to Twelfth Night (Unabridged, Dramatised) recap

After a shipwreck separates Viola from her twin Sebastian, she disguises herself as a young man called Cesario and serves Orsino, ruler of Illyria. Viola falls for Orsino, who sends her to woo the mourning Olivia; Olivia instead falls for Cesario. Meanwhile, Olivia's uncle Sir Toby, her attendant Maria, and their companions forge a letter that persuades the self-important steward Malvolio that Olivia loves him. Sebastian, also alive, arrives with the devoted Antonio. Because Sebastian looks like the disguised Viola, strangers challenge, rescue, and court the wrong twin. Olivia secretly marries Sebastian while believing him to be Cesario. When both twins finally appear together, Viola's identity is revealed. Orsino accepts that Olivia is married and chooses Viola, while Sebastian welcomes his marriage to Olivia. Malvolio discovers the trick played on him and leaves in anger; Sir Toby has married Maria.

Orsino, ruler of Illyria, listens to music while dwelling on his love for Countess Olivia. She has rejected his courtship and intends to remain in mourning for her dead brother. Elsewhere on the coast, Viola survives a shipwreck but has no news of her twin brother Sebastian. Learning about Orsino and Olivia from a sea captain, she chooses to disguise herself as a young man and seek a place in Orsino's service. At Olivia's house, her uncle Sir Toby drinks late with the wealthy and gullible Sir Andrew, whose suit to Olivia Toby encourages. Maria, one of Olivia's attendants, warns Toby about his behavior. Viola, now known as Cesario, quickly gains Orsino's confidence and is sent to deliver another appeal to Olivia, although Viola has herself fallen in love with Orsino.

Cesario refuses to be dismissed at Olivia's gate and gains a private audience. Viola argues Orsino's case without concealing her opinion that his rehearsed devotion is excessive. Olivia remains unmoved by Orsino but becomes fascinated by the messenger, sending Malvolio after Cesario with a ring as a pretext for another meeting. Viola realizes that her disguise has produced a triangle: she loves Orsino, Orsino loves Olivia, and Olivia loves Cesario. Meanwhile, Sebastian is revealed to have survived the wreck. He plans to enter Illyria, and Antonio, the captain who rescued him, follows despite the danger posed by his past conflict with Orsino's people.

Orsino continues to confide in Cesario about love, unaware that his page is Viola. When Viola hints that she loves someone resembling Orsino, he does not understand her confession and sends her back to Olivia. In Olivia's house, Malvolio interrupts the noisy nighttime singing of Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, Maria, and Feste and threatens to report them. Maria devises revenge: she will imitate Olivia's handwriting in a letter designed to exploit Malvolio's vanity. The letter, left where he will find it, convinces him that Olivia secretly loves him and wants him to behave in ways she actually dislikes, including smiling constantly, wearing yellow stockings, and treating Sir Toby with authority. Malvolio eagerly resolves to obey. Sebastian and Antonio have reached the city, but Antonio gives Sebastian his purse and remains cautious because he could be arrested. Fabian joins Maria and the others to watch their deception unfold.

Olivia openly tells Cesario that she loves him, leaving Viola unable to answer without exposing her identity. Sir Andrew, jealous of Olivia's interest, is persuaded by Sir Toby and Fabian to challenge Cesario. Neither challenger wants to fight, but Toby separately tells each that the other is dangerous. Before their reluctant duel can begin, Antonio mistakes Viola for Sebastian and intervenes. Officers arrest him; when Viola cannot return the purse he gave Sebastian, Antonio believes his friend has betrayed him. His use of Sebastian's name gives Viola her first real hope that her brother lives. Malvolio, meanwhile, appears before Olivia smiling and dressed according to the forged letter. She thinks him mentally unwell and entrusts him to Sir Toby, allowing the conspirators to confine and torment him. Sebastian then encounters Feste, Sir Andrew, and Sir Toby, all of whom mistake him for Cesario. Unlike Viola, he fights back, startling them. Olivia intervenes, addresses him as Cesario, and leads the bewildered but willing Sebastian away.

Sebastian accepts Olivia's affection while marveling at his sudden good fortune, and she arranges for them to marry privately. In the house, Maria and Feste continue the deception against Malvolio. Feste disguises his voice as a learned examiner and treats Malvolio's sensible answers as evidence of madness, then speaks to him as himself. Malvolio persuades Feste to carry a letter to Olivia asking for release and explaining that he has been wronged. Sir Toby begins to worry that the prank has gone too far and may cost him Olivia's favor. By the end of these events, Olivia believes she has secured Cesario as her husband, Sebastian has married a woman who mistook him for his sister's disguise, and Viola still does not know that her twin is nearby.

Orsino visits Olivia with Cesario and encounters the arrested Antonio, who insists that Cesario is Sebastian. Olivia enters and treats Cesario as the husband she has just married, while Viola denies any such commitment. Sir Andrew and Sir Toby then arrive injured, accusing Cesario of attacking them. The contradictions end when Sebastian appears. The twins question one another, recognize shared family details, and finally accept that both survived the wreck. Olivia understands that she married Sebastian, who gladly confirms the match. Once Viola promises to resume her own clothes and identity, Orsino abandons his suit to Olivia and chooses Viola. Malvolio's letter prompts his release. The forged message is produced, Fabian admits the conspiracy, and the household learns that Sir Toby has married Maria. Malvolio leaves angrily after promising revenge. The action closes with the intended marriages of Orsino and Viola and of Olivia and Sebastian, while Feste remains to sing after the company departs.

Sebastian's appearance resolves the apparent contradictions surrounding Cesario. Viola and Sebastian recognize each other and confirm that both twins survived the wreck. Olivia learns that she has married Sebastian, not Orsino's page, but accepts the match; Sebastian is glad to remain with her. Once Viola's identity is known, Orsino turns from his pursuit of Olivia and declares that he will marry Viola. Maria's letter is exposed as the cause of Malvolio's humiliation. Sir Toby has married Maria, while the injured Sir Andrew leaves to have his wounds treated. Malvolio, angry that he was confined and mocked, leaves promising retaliation. Antonio is no longer treated as a deluded stranger because Sebastian can explain his loyalty, although the play does not settle his future in detail. The households move toward the double marriage of Orsino with Viola and Olivia with Sebastian, and Feste closes the action after the other characters depart.