Shakespeare twelfth night act 2
MInd map summarising scenes in the act
TEXt breakdown of individual scenes
- Shakespeare Act 2 - Bullet Point Summary
- Scene 1
- Sebastian reveals his real name to Antonio
- It is not Roderigo
- We can see Antonio’s love for Sebastian
- Sebastian wishes that he was not saved by Antonio, because he has no family left
- Or so he thinks…
- Sebastian’s plan is to go to Orsino’s court for shelter and food
- Antonio wants to go with Sebastian even though Antonio is an enemy of Orsino
- Antonio will go with Sebastian no matter what because of his love for him
- Sebastian reveals his real name to Antonio
- Scene 2
- Malvolio gives the ring to Cesario (Viola)
- He says that Cesario should return it to Lady Olivia
- He informs Cesario that he should no longer come and speak on the behalf of Orsino
- Viola realises that Lady Olivia actually has love for her/him.
- She does not know what to do with the situation and hopes that time will untangle the bad love web
- Viola realises that Olivia is wanting Cesario to visit again with the idea of the ring
- Viola is now concerned that she has made Olivia in love with Cesario, instead of Orsino.
- She fears Orsino might be angry with her
- Malvolio gives the ring to Cesario (Viola)
- Scene 3
- Sir Toby and Sir Andrew are drinking at a very late hour.
- Fest joins them and sings a love song on request
- Maria then comes into the group and warns them that Malvolio will come and shout at them
- Malvolio then enters, as predicted by Maria
- He informs them that this behaviour will not be tolerated by Lady Olivia and she will ask them to leave the house
- He then ensures them that he will inform her, making all of them angry
- Fest leaves at the sound of Malvolio’s words
- Sir Toby is not happy about the way Malvolio is addressing them and reminds him that he is just a servant and they are royals (not Maria)
- Sir Toby wishes to challenge Malvolio to a duel
- Maria then says that they should plan a joke and get back at Malvolio for all of the trouble he has caused them
- We can now see Maria’s hatred towards Malvolio
- Maria points out that she can write a letter in a very similar way to Lady Olivia
- Sir Toby and Andrew are liking where the plan is headed
- Maria leaves the scene and Toby and Andrew go and drink some more
- Scene 4
- Orsino is still demanding music to obsess over Lady Olivia
- His servants are getting tired of his obsessions
- He requests Feste to come and sing to him
- This is after Curio informs him of Feste and his presence in the house
- Viola now speaks with Orsino
- She says that there might be another women who loves him
- Orsino insists that nothing can fill his love that he has for Olivia
- Viola is now leaving subtle hints of her love for him as she lists all the characteristics of the women that loves Orsino - there is a match between Viola and the description
- She says that there might be another women who loves him
- Orsino then says that he needs a younger women to keep him interested
- Fest then sings
- He sings about a lover that has died and wants to be forgotten
- Orsino is not very interested in Feste’s song and wants to pay him and get him to leave
- Fest then leaves, rejecting payment
- Orsino then asks Cesario to go and speak with Olivia
- Viola then asks what happens if Olivia will never love him
- We can assume that this is a reference to scene 2
- Viola then asks what happens if Olivia will never love him
- Viola then begins to describe her history, but becomes to detailed
- She said things that had a double meaning
- Orsino is still demanding music to obsess over Lady Olivia
- Scene 5
- Maria enters the scene with the rest of them and places the letter on the floor
- They all wait for him to pick up the letter (they are hiding)
- Before he (Malvolio) picks up the letter we see Malvolio making all the men (Toby, Andrew and Fabian) quite angry when he says things.
- Here we see that practical prank on Malvolio take place
- Maria exploits his “love” for Lady Olivia and writes a letter that looks like to came from Lady Olivia
- We see the letter telling Malvolio to dress up in a way that Lady Olivia hates
- This is how they get back at him
- Their plan is to make Malvolio look embarrassed in front of Lady Olivia
- This is how they get back at him
- Sir Toby, Sir Andrew and Fabian are very impressed with Maria’s plan and execution
- Scene 1