Twelfth Night Talk

Director Rebecca Bayla Taichman discusses her production of Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night" Viola: "Make me a willow cabin at your gate/ And call upon my soul within the house,/ Write loyal cantons of contemned love, /And sing them loud even in the dead of night; /Halloo your name to the reverberate hills,/ And make the babbling gossip of the air/ Cry out 'Olivia!' O, you should not rest /Between the elements of air and earth/ But you should pity me."

Twelfth Night: Malvolio and the letter

Twelfth Night: Or what you will - Part 3

The Beginning

Now that you have a handle on what goes on in Twelfth Night, the real fun begins. Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare's later comedies and so he was able to incorporate a lot of devices into the play that had worked for him and others in the past. Mistaken identities. Check. Shipwreck. Check. Women disguised as men. Check. Ensuing confusion. Check and check. But what makes Twelfth Night so special, is that there is some real sustenance behind all the comedy. We can't, and wouldn't want to change the fact that the play is a comedy, so there are a lot of gags pulled for comedic effect, but Shakespeare works with a much tighter plot and is able to illuminate the relationships of the characters a lot better. The play covers a span of three months, so there is not so much love at first sight, though Sebastian does marry Olivia right away but that is more in the name of madness than love. There are no duke brothers trying to kill each other and take over the dukedom, no witches, no angry merchants hankering for a pound of flesh, and no rebellious daughters with overbearing fathers. Because there is no singular enemy, the play becomes much more about the interaction between the characters and what drives them. Key words that are repeated again and again are: dreams, madness, love, and fortune/time. Viola, for example, doesn't scheme about how she can get Orsino, even when she falls in love with him. When she finds herself in the awkward love triangle, she says, "Oh time, thou must untangle this, not I/ It is too hard a knot for me t' untie." The whole reason she is even in Illyria is because her ship just happened to crash there and she did what she needed to do in order to get by.

Act V

Feste is on his way to deliver Malvolio's letter, accompanied by Fabian who begs to read it. Feste refuses and they run into Orsino and Viola, still as Cesario. Feste entertains the Duke with his wit and receives money for his efforts. Antonio is led in by some officers and Viola explains to Orsino what Antonio did for her. Orsino remembers Antonio who destroyed one of his ships. Antonio explains how he saved Sebastian and was betrayed by the boy who stands before him now. Antonio:

"A witchcraft drew me hither.
That most ingrateful boy there by your side
From the rude sea's enraged and foamy mouth
Did I redeem. A wreck past hope he was.
His life I gave him, and did thereto add
My love without retention or restraint."

Olivia enters next and it is revealed that she is now married to Sebastian, who she still thinks is Cesario. Orsino becomes furious and this is the second and third betrayals that result from the mistaken identities of the twins. Viola swears she loves Orsino more than Olivia. Sir Andrew comes in, having been just beaten up by Sebastian along with Sir Toby. Sebastian follows them in, apologizing to his new wife for having to defend himself against her uncle. In Sebastian's appearance everything is explained and set right. (Sebastian see Viola dressed as Cesario):

"Do I stand there? I never had a brother,
Nor can there be that deity in my nature
Of here and everywhere. I had a sister,
Whom the blind waves and surges have devoured."

The siblings rejoice that the other is alive, Antonio realizes Sebastian didn't deny knowing him after all, Olivia wasn't ever rejected by her husband or any man at all, and Orsino discovers Cesario is Viola who is a woman very much in love with him. He offers to marry her and she accepts. Olivia finally gets the letter from Malvolio that Feste delivers. She is shocked and dismayed by the treatment of her servant at the hands of her uncle and Maria, who have run off and married. Malvolio enters and accuses Olivia of masterminding the entire affair. This is the fourth and the last time a character is thought to be betrayed by someone close to them because of someone pretending to be someone they are not - Maria forging the letter in Olivia's handwriting. Olivia finally reveals to Malvolio that it wasn't her and offers him justice, but Fabian suggests that he put the whole matter behind him, and they should be considered equal. Malvolio storms out promising revenge. Orisno tells Cesario to go change into Viola and Feste ends the play with a song - fitting for the festivities of Twelfth Night.

"When that I was and a little tiny boy,
With hey, ho, the wind and the rain,
A foolish thing was but a toy,
For the rain it raineth every day.
But when I came to man's estate,
With hey, ho, the wind and the rain.
'Gainst knaves and thieves men shut their gate,
For the rain, it raineth every day.
But when I came, alas! to wive,
With hey, ho, the wind and the rain.
By swaggering could I never thrive,
For the rain, it raineth every day.
But when I came unto my beds,
With hey, ho, the wind and the rain.
With toss-pots still had drunken heads,
For the rain, it raineth every day.
A great while ago the world begun,
With hey, ho, the wind and the rain.
But that's all one, our play is done,
And we'll strive to please you every day."

Act IV

Feste is sent to fetch Cesario but runs into Sebastian instead. Feste insists he is someone else and but Sebastian denies knowing him or his lady. Sir Toby and Sir Andrew enter next and strike Sebastian. They too believe he is Cesario, who they just saw supposedly give up his friend. They are startled when Sebastian takes out his dagger and strikes Sir Andrew back. Sir Toby has to hold him off, and Feste goes to tell Olivia what has happened. Sir Toby and Sebastian are about to fight when Olivia comes in drives everyone but Sebastian away. She entreats him to come back to her house and he follows her home like a lost puppy. Sebastian:

"What relish is in this? How runs the stream?
Or I am mad, or else this is a dream.
Let fancy still my sense in Lethe steep.
If it be thus to dream, still let me sleep."

Later, Maria dresses Feste up as Sir Topas the curate who may determine whether poor Malvolio, who is locked up in a dark room, is possessed or crazy. He speaks to Malvolio through the door first as Sir Topos, then as the fool, then as Sir Topos, until Feste is having a conversation with himself and Malvolio is the one accused of being insane? Malvolio finally gets Feste to agree to send a letter to Olivia describing his current situation. Malvolio:

"I say this house is as dark as ignorance, thoug igno-
rance were as dark as hell; and I say there was never man thus
abused. I am no more mad than you are. Make the trial of it in
any constant question."

Meanwhile, Sebastian wonders what happened to Antonio as he has heard rumors that Antonio went looking for him. Olivia has asked Sebastian, who she still believes is Cesario, to marry her. Strangely enough, he says yes. She returns with a priest to marry them before he can change his mind. Sebastian:

"For though my soul disputes well with my sense
That this may be some error but no madness,
Yet doth this accident and flood of fortune
So far exceed all instance, all discourse,
That I am ready to distrust my eyes
And wrangle with my reason that persuades me
To any other trust but that I am mad,
Or else the lady's mad."

Act III Scene 4

Olivia summons Malvolio after being disappointed by Cesario's refusal. Maria warns her that Malvolio is not himself. Malvolio enters, cross-gartered and wearing yellow stockings. He smiles at her and flirts with her. All the while, Olivia is truly confused and concerned. He quotes snippets from the letter to her, which only confuses her further. Maria is standing there the entire time. Olivia:

"Why, this is very midsummer madness."

A servant enters to tell Olivia that Cesario has returned. Olivia bids Maria to have Malvolio looked after either by her uncle or her servants. She truly cares for Malvolio and says, "I would not have him miscarry for the half of my dowry." They both leave and Malvolio is left on stage, further encouraged by Olivia's care for him and all the more convinced that she is in love with him. Sir Toby, Fabian, and Maria come back on stage and accuse him of being possessed and mad. They decide to take their ruse a step further and have him locked up in a dark room and committed. Mavolio takes them as fools and he leaves. Fabian:

"If this were played upon a stage, now, I could condemn
it as an improbable fiction."

Sir Andrew comes in and reads his challenge words off to the group. They spur him on, secretly making fun of him. Maria suggests Sir Andrew go deliver it now as Cesario is there talking with Olivia and Sir Andrew goes off. Olivia and Cesario come in and Sir Toby leaves with Fabian to think on what he will say to Cesario when he is alone. Olivia gives Cesario a token of her affection. But they have come to a stalemate. Olivia can't give her heart to Orisino because she has already given it to Cesario, who as a woman who loves Orsino cannot reciprocate.

"Well, come again tomorrow. Fare thee well.
A fiend like thee might bear my soul to hell."

After Olivia leaves, Sir Toby comes in to deliver Sir Andrew's challenge. Fabian terrifies Viola with lies about Sir Andrew's deadly skill and great strength. Cesario insists that he hasn't done anything to this man. Sir Toby plays Sir Andrew as well, lying that Cesario is an extremely skilled fighter. They bring the two together to face off against each other. Each is absolutely terrified of the other, and then Antonio steps in and draws his sword against Sir Andrew. Viola has been mistaken as Sebastian. Officers come in, presumably drawn by the fight, and seeing Antonio, arrest him. Antonio asks for his purse back from Cesario, who offers him a loan for his help but admits to never seeing him before in his life. Antonio reminds Cesario that he saved his life, calling him Sebastian. He feels hurt and betrayed. They lead Antonio away and Viola is given new hope that her brother is still alive. Viola:

"Methinks his words do from such passion fly
That he believes himself. So do not I.
Prove true, imagination, O prove true,
That I, dear brother, be now ta'en for you!"

Act III Scenes 1-3

Viola once more goes to visit Olivia as Cesario. Olivia apologizes to Cesario for the ruse she played on him with the ring last time. Olivia then returns to her pursuit of him. Viola dances around the fact that she isn't a man. She never gives a straight forward answer to anything and her talks with both Olivia and Orsino are somewhat frustrating because she can convince neither one to drop their suit. Viola finally gives up trying to convince Olivia that she can't love her and leaves. Viola:

"I have one heart, one bosom, and one truth,
And that no woman has, nor never none
Shall mistress be of it save I alone.
And so adieu, good madam. Never more
Will I my master's tears to you deplore."

Sir Andrew is threatening to leave after he witnesses Cesario and Olivia's most recent exchange. Sir Toby and Fabian convinces him that Olivia is just waiting for him to make a move. So they suggest he challenge Cesario to a duel. He agrees and goes off to write a letter of challenge. Maria enters and reports on Malvolio's transformation into a complete fool. She bids the others to join her in watching Malvolio in front of Olivia. Meanwhile, Antonio delivers Sebastian to a safe inn and lends him his purse to buy something he might like. Antonio also reiterates to Sebastian that he can't be caught out in the open so he can't go with him. Sebastian thanks him and goes out to explore Illyria. Maria:

"You have not seen such a thing as
'tis. I can hardly forbear hurling things at him. I know my lady
will strike him. If she do, he'll smile, and take't for a great
favour."

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."

Act I Scenes 4-5

Viola, as Cesario, has only been working for the Duke for three days and has already risen in favor. Orisino urges Viola to go to Olivia and woo her for him. Orsino councils Viola not to worry about being polite, the important thing is to just get through the front door. He believes Viola's less than manly appearance might allow Olivia to let her guard down.

Orsino:
"That say thou art a man. Diana's lip
Is not more smooth and rubious; thy small pipe
Is as the maiden's organ, shrill and sound,
And all is semblative a woman's part."

Feste - the clown - argues with Olivia over who is the bigger fool. He is the only character to question Olivia's drastic measures of isolating herself in mourning for her dead brother. "The more fool, madonna, to mourn for your brother's soul, being in heaven." Malvolio is barely tolerating the fool when Maria enters to tell Olivia that there is a young gentleman at the gate, and Olivia's uncle is speaking with him now. Olivia bids Malvolio to get rid of him through any number of excuses if he is Orisno's man. Sir Toby comes in afterward, drunk as usual, and offers no additional information on the visitor. Olivia bids Feste to look after her uncle and Malvolio returns and reports that the young man will not leave until he has spoken with Olivia. She reluctantly agrees, veiling herself, she invites Viola, as Cesario in. At first, Olivia continues to give Viola a hard time, first refusing to admit that she is the countess and then pretending that Viola wasn't sent by Orsino, but by some great king on an important mission. Finally, Olivia drops all pretense and informs Viola that she does not and cannot love Orsino. Viola makes one final effort, putting herself in her masters place, and so convincingly expresses herself as a true lover that Olivia falls in love with Cesario. After Viola leaves, Olivia sends Malvolio off with a ring to give to Viola, saying that "he" left it behind when, in reality, no rings were exchanged. This is just an excuse to see Cesario again.

Viola:

"If I did love you in my master's flame,

With such a suff'ring, such a deadly life,

In your denial I would find no sense,

I would not understand it."

Act I Scenes 1-3

Orsino lounges around his mansion, lovesick for the Countess Olivia. However, he has no way to woo her as she has cloistered herself on her estate in mourning for her late brother. Orsino:
"O, when mine eyes did see Olivia first
Methought she purged the air of pestilence;
That instant was I turned into a hart,
And my desires, like fell and cruel hounds,
E'er since persue me."
Meanwhile, Viola has just washed ashore on a strange land called Illyria. Her father has been dead for some time and she believes her brother has drown in the shipwreck. She asks the captain if there is a lady in Illyria who she might work for. He tells her about Olivia and how the lady is rich but in her mourning she wouldn't be hiring anyone. He mentions the Duke Orsino in passing and Viola jumps at the chance for a job, no matter that she will need to make a few small adjustments. She begs the captain's silence and he grants it, then she heads for the Duke's manor. Viola:
"I'll serve the duke.
Thou shalt present me as an eunuch to him
It may be worth thy pains, for I can sing,
And speak to him in many sorts of music
That will allow me very worth his service."
Olivia's uncle, Sir Toby Belch and Maria argue about Sir Toby's habits of drinking too much, coming in late, and setting Olivia up with the wrong type of men, particularly Sir Andrew Aguecheek. Speaking of Sir Andrew, he loudly enters, flirting bolding with Maria until she leaves. Sir Andrew informs Sir Toby that he is leaving Illyria the next day because his chances with Olivia are slim to none. Sir Toby easily convinces him to stay longer. The two entertain eachother by dancing off the stage. Sir Andrew:
"Faith, I'll home tomorrow, sir Toby. Your niece
will not be seen, or if she be, it's four to one she'll none of me.
The Count himself here hard by woos her."