Member-only story

Twelfth Night: A SparkNotes of the 30-Minute Shakespeare Play

Jerome Blair

·6.4k Followers· Follow

Published in Twelfth Night: The 30 Minute Shakespeare

4 min read · 2 weeks before

66 View Claps

13 Respond

Save

Listen

Twelfth Night: The 30-Minute Shakespeare

by Nick Newlin

4.7 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	265 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	68 pages

Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare's most beloved comedies. It's a story of love, mistaken identities, and a whole lot of fun. In this 30-minute SparkNotes, we'll give you a quick overview of the play's plot, characters, and themes.

Plot Summary

Twelfth Night is set in the fictional kingdom of Illyria. The play begins with a shipwreck. Viola, a young woman, is the only survivor. She washes ashore and is taken in by Captain Orsino, the Duke of Illyria. Viola disguises herself as a boy and calls herself Cesario. She quickly falls in love with Orsino, but he is in love with Countess Olivia. Olivia, in turn, is in love with Cesario, not realizing that he is actually a woman.

The play is full of mistaken identities and love triangles. There's also a subplot involving Malvolio, Olivia's steward. Malvolio is a pompous fool who is tricked into thinking that Olivia is in love with him. He is humiliated and locked up in a dark room.

In the end, everything is resolved. Viola and Orsino are married, and Olivia and Cesario are also married. Malvolio is released from his prison and is given a new job.

Characters

Viola/Cesario: A young woman who disguises herself as a boy in order to serve Duke Orsino.
Orsino: The Duke of Illyria who is in love with Countess Olivia.
Olivia: A countess who is in love with Cesario, not realizing that he is actually Viola.
Malvolio: Olivia's steward who is tricked into thinking that she is in love with him.
Sir Toby Belch: Olivia's uncle who is a drunken fool.
Maria: Olivia's maid who helps to trick Malvolio.
Sir Andrew Aguecheek: A foolish knight who is in love with Olivia.
Fabian: A servant who helps to trick Malvolio.

Themes

Twelfth Night is a play about love, mistaken identities, and the importance of being yourself. The play explores the different types of love, from the romantic love between Viola and Orsino to the platonic love between Olivia and Cesario. The play also shows how mistaken identities can lead to both comedy and tragedy.

Twelfth Night is a timeless classic that is still enjoyed by audiences today. It is a play that is full of humor, heart, and wisdom.

We hope this SparkNotes has given you a good overview of Twelfth Night. If you're interested in learning more about the play, we encourage you to read the full text or watch a performance. Twelfth Night is a play that is sure to entertain and delight you.

Twelfth Night: The 30-Minute Shakespeare

by Nick Newlin

4.7 out of 5