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Twelfth Night: the characters
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Almost everyone in Illyria is foolish in love or in pride. The clever ones are often the servants and the fool.
Viola, Orsino and Olivia
Viola is resourceful and loyal. She hides her feelings for Orsino, hinting: "I am all the daughters of my father's house, / And all the brothers too."
Orsino loves the idea of love: "If music be the food of love, play on."
Olivia vows to mourn her brother for seven years, but quickly falls for Cesario.
Orsino loves the idea of love: "If music be the food of love, play on."
Olivia vows to mourn her brother for seven years, but quickly falls for Cesario.
Malvolio
Olivia's steward is serious, proud and dislikes fun. Maria says he is "a kind of puritan".
He reads the forged letter: "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em."
His cruel punishment makes many audiences pity him.
He reads the forged letter: "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em."
His cruel punishment makes many audiences pity him.
Toby, Andrew, Maria and Feste
Sir Toby loves drink and fun: "Dost thou think, because thou art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes and ale?"
Sir Andrew is a foolish, rich knight Toby exploits.
Feste the fool is the wisest character. Viola says "This fellow is wise enough to play the fool."
Sir Andrew is a foolish, rich knight Toby exploits.
Feste the fool is the wisest character. Viola says "This fellow is wise enough to play the fool."
Analyse "Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em."
- The sentence has three balanced parts (a tricolon).
- Malvolio believes the letter means he is meant to rise and marry Olivia.
- It exposes his ambition and vanity, which the tricksters exploit.
Answer: It reveals Malvolio's ambition to rise above his station, making him an easy target.
Viola: clever, loyal, hides her love. Orsino: in love with love. Olivia: mourning, then impulsive. Malvolio: proud, puritan, ambitious. Toby: party-loving. Andrew: foolish. Feste: the wise fool.
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