Twelth Night by William Shakespeare (1601). Summary of the book.

by

Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare (1601)

Introduction

Twelfth Night, or What You Will is a romantic comedy written by William Shakespeare around 1601. It is one of his best-known plays, and it’s one of his most beloved comedies. The play tells the story of the twin brother and sister Viola and Sebastian, who are separated in a shipwreck and the series of events that ensue.

Plot Summary

Viola and Sebastian – Viola and her twin brother Sebastian are separated in a shipwreck off the coast of Illyria. Viola believes her brother to be dead and she disguises herself as a man named Cesario to serve Duke Orsino of Illyria. Orsino is in love with the Lady Olivia, and he sends Viola to woo her on his behalf.

Olivia and Sir Toby – Olivia is the wealthy countess of Illyria and is sought after by Orsino. She has declared a period of mourning for her recently deceased brother and has refused Orsino’s advances. Sir Toby is Olivia’s uncle, and he and his friend, Sir Andrew, have been exiled from Olivia’s court for their misbehavior. They scheme to make money off Sir Andrew’s foolishness by having him woo Olivia on behalf of Orsino.

Malvolio – Malvolio is Olivia’s steward and is a major source of comic relief in the play. He is a pompous, self-righteous man who is despised by Sir Toby and his friends. They devise a plan to humiliate him by convincing him that Olivia is in love with him.

The Final Resolution – After a series of hilarious and wild events, the play ends with the revelation that Sebastian is alive and reunited with Viola. Olivia agrees to marry Orsino, and Malvolio is forgiven for his misdeeds. The play ends with a celebration of love and friendship.

Teachings

Twelfth Night is a play that emphasises the power of love, friendship and forgiveness. The play also explores the idea of identity and the consequences of deceiving oneself and others. The play also highlights the dangers of pride and vanity, as well as the power of redemption and the importance of being true to oneself.

Interesting Facts

  • Twelfth Night is often considered to be one of Shakespeare’s finest comedies. It is known for its witty dialogue, complicated plot, and memorable characters.
  • Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare’s most frequently performed works. It has been adapted for film and television, and it is regularly performed at theatres across the world.
  • The play is believed to have been written for an audience of Queen Elizabeth I. Twelfth Night is believed to have been first performed on February 2, 1602, which was the twelfth night of the Christmas season.

FAQs

Q: Who wrote Twelfth Night?

A: Twelfth Night was written by William Shakespeare around 1601.

Q: What is the story of Twelfth Night?

A: The play tells the story of the twin brother and sister Viola and Sebastian, who are separated in a shipwreck and the series of events that ensue. It is a romantic comedy that explores the power of love, friendship and forgiveness.

Q: What are some interesting facts about Twelfth Night?

A: Twelfth Night is often considered one of Shakespeare’s finest comedies. It is known for its witty dialogue, complicated plot, and memorable characters. Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare’s most frequently performed works, and it is believed to have been written for an audience of Queen Elizabeth I.

Q: What are the themes of Twelfth Night?

A:The play emphasises the power of love, friendship and forgiveness. It also explores the idea of identity and the consequences of deceiving oneself and others. The play also highlights the dangers of pride and vanity, as well as the power of redemption and the importance of being true to oneself.

Related books:

  1. Twelfth Night; Or, What You Will by William Shakespeare. Summary of the book.
  2. Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare by E. Nesbit and William Shakespeare. Summary of the book.
  3. Invitation to the Waltz by Rosamond Lehmann. Summary of the book.
  4. A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare. Summary of the book.
  5. The Night Sessions by Ken Macleod. Summary of the book.
  6. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (2011). Summary of the book.
  7. The Kife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness (2008). Summary of the book.
  8. Saturday Night and Sunday Morning by Alan Sillitoe. Summary of the book.
  9. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare by William Shakespeare. Summary of the book.
  10. Sir Gawayne and the Green Knight. Summary of the book.
  11. Journey to the End of the Night by Louis-Ferdinand Celine. Summary of the book.
  12. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon (2003). Summary of the book.
  13. Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness (2012). Summary of the book.
  14. Shakespeare’s Sonnets by William Shakespeare. Summary of the book.
  15. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by William Shakespeare. Summary of the book.
  16. I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb (1998). Summary of the book.
  17. Young’s Night Thoughts by Edward Young. Summary of the book.
  18. Shakespeare’s Roman plays and their background by Sir Mungo William MacCallum. Summary of the book.
  19. Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks. Summary of the book.
  20. Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Summary of the book.
  21. Untamed by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (2008). Summary of the book.
  22. She Stoops to Conquer; Or, The Mistakes of a Night: A Comedy by Oliver Goldsmith. Summary of the book.
  23. The School for Scandal by Richard Brinsley Sheridan. Summary of the book.
  24. Night Shift by Stephen King (1978). Summary of the book.
  25. Othello, the Moor of Venice by William Shakespeare. Summary of the book.
  26. The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. Summary of the book.
  27. The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan (2009). Summary of the book.
  28. An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde. Summary of the book.
  29. The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 01. Summary of the book.
  30. White Teeth by Zadie Smith (1999). Summary of the book.
  31. King Lear by William Shakespeare (1603). Summary of the book.
  32. A Long Long Way by Sebastian Barry. Summary of the book.
  33. The Weather in the Streets by Rosamond Lehmann. Summary of the book.
  34. The Tempest by William Shakespeare. Summary of the book.
  35. Othello by William Shakespeare (1603). Summary of the book.
  36. Macbeth by William Shakespeare. Summary of the book.
  37. Fortunes of War by Olivia Manning. Summary of the book.
  38. The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare (1596). Summary of the book.
  39. Burned by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (2009). Summary of the book.
  40. Tender is the Night by F Scott Fitzgerald. Summary of the book.
  41. Porterhouse Blue by Tom Sharpe. Summary of the book.
  42. Awakened by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast (2011). Summary of the book.
  43. The Way of the World by William Congreve. Summary of the book.
  44. The Trans-Galactic Twins by George O. Smith. Summary of the book.
  45. Blott on the Landscape by Tom Sharpe. Summary of the book.
  46. It’s Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini (2006). Summary of the book.
  47. Wise Children by Angela Carter. Summary of the book.
  48. The Miserable Mill by Lemony Snicket (2000). Summary of the book.
  49. The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights by Sir James Knowles and Sir Thomas Malory. Summary of the book.
  50. Vanity Fair by William Thackeray (1848). Summary of the book.

Leave a Comment