Act II

Sebastian, Viola's twin brother, is in fact alive. He has come ashore with the man who saved his life, a sea captain, named Antonio. Sebastian believes that his sister is drowned. Sebastian heads to Orisino's court, and despite the fact that Antonio has enemies there, he follows Sebastian out of love and loyalty. Antonio:

"I have many enemies in Orisino's court, Else would I very shortly see thee there. But come what may, I do adore thee so That danger shall seem sport, and I will go."

Malvolio catches up with Viola to return the ring he believes she left with Olivia. Viola plays along with the ruse, but secretly wonders what Olivia is up to. Malvolio exits and Viola delivers a soliloquy where she works out that Oliva has unfortunately fallen in love with Cesario. Viola:

"As I am woman, now, alas the day, What thriftless sighs shall poor Olivia breathe! O time, thou must untangle this, not I. It is too hard a knot for me t' untie."

Sir Andrew and Sir Toby are up at all hours, drinking and laughing away the time. Feste joins in the merriment and begins loudly singing. Maria comes down warning them to be quiet or risk Olivia sending Malvolio to kick them out. Malvolio does come down and he chastises Sir Toby for the most part as he tends to be the instigator and Sir Andrew simply follows him around. Malvolio even threatens to tell Olivia that Maria was participating in their drinking. He leaves and Maria devises a way to get back at Malvolio for his behavior. She will write a letter in Olivia's handwriting, expressing her love for one detailing Malvolio's description. The letter will be conveniently left where he may find it and detail many embarrassing things he may do and wear to demonstrate his acceptance of Olivia's love. Maria is seen as much more than a servant to Olivia and she takes Malvolio's threats much more seriously than even Olivia's uncle does. Maria is clever and witty and she is able to employ Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, Fabian, and Feste into her plot against Malvolio. The poor man doesn't stand a chance. Maria:

"the best persuaded of himself, so crammed, as he thinks, with excellencies, that it is his grounds of faith that all look on him love him; and on that vice in him will my revenge find notable cause to work."

Orsino is drowning his poor spirits in music once more and discussing love with Cesario. He has noticed that there is something different about Cesario and quite accurately guesses that he is in love, but wrongly assumes that it is with a woman. It is quite humorous that every time Orisino asks Cesario to describe her, Viola compare this "woman" to Orisino. Orsino then presses Cesario to continue to woo Olivia for him and Viola tries to talk him out of it but he is determined. She is certainly in love with him at this point, but her reasons for dissuading him from his pursuit of Olivia have less to do with her own wanting than she knows that Oliva is just not interested. Orison is persistent, however, and even goes so far as to assume men could love better than women, but Viola is not so sure about that. Viola:

"Too well what love women to men may owe. In faith, they are as true of heart as we."

Maria's plan of revenge is set into motion. Sir Toby, Fabian, Sir Andrew and place the letter and then hide and watch how Malvolio reacts. Before he even finds the letter, Malvolio is walking around the garden, imagining himself as Olivia's husband and, more importantly, lord of the household. Sir Toby can barely restrain himself at the outrage and finally Malvolio gets his head out of the clouds long enough to look down and find the letter. At first, he is unsure if the letter is really talking about him or some one else, but he quickly bends the facts to his liking and becomes convinced that Olivia is in love with him. It encourages him to dress in yellow stockings and be cross-gartered, to smile constantly on her, and to be rude to the other servants. He runs off to instantly fulfill the letter's requests. Maria enters and asks them if it worked and they fill her in on the details. Maria:

"He will come to her in yellow stock- ings, and 'tis a colour she abhors, and cross-gartered, a fashion she detests; and he will smile upon her, which will now be so unsuitable to her disposition, being addicted to a melancholy as she is, that is cannot but turn him into a notable contempt."