Twelfth Night Quiz

Viola’s disguise as Cesario allows her to serve Duke Orsino as a page and to approach Olivia, who would not normally entertain a suitor. It also creates a love triangle where Viola, in love with Orsino, must pretend to love Olivia, who falls for Cesario (Viola in disguise).

Sir Toby Belch is a drunkard and a troublemaker who enjoys causing chaos, particularly by encouraging Sir Andrew Aguecheek to pursue Olivia despite his lack of success. His antics with Sir Andrew and his involvement in the prank on Malvolio provide much of the play's humour.

Feste is the fool or clown in the play, but his role goes beyond mere comedy. He is wise and insightful, often speaking truth to power. Feste provides commentary on the themes of love, identity, and madness, and acts as a voice of reason, despite his jesting manner.

Mistaken identity is a key theme, particularly through Viola’s disguise as Cesario. This leads to confusion and misunderstandings, such as Olivia falling in love with Cesario, thinking he is a man, and Sebastian being mistaken for Cesario, which ultimately leads to the happy reunions and marriages in the final scene.

Olivia’s love for Cesario (who is actually Viola in disguise) drives much of the action in the play. Her obsession with Cesario leads to the confusion of identities and adds to the comedic misunderstandings. Eventually, she marries Sebastian, whom she mistakes for Cesario, resolving the love triangle.

Sir Toby Belch and Maria have a romantic relationship, which is revealed through their shared schemes and pranks, particularly the one they play on Malvolio. Maria eventually marries Sir Toby, and their union adds to the play’s comedic conclusion.

Malvolio is the steward of Olivia’s household and is portrayed as puritanical and self-righteous. The other characters, particularly Sir Toby and Maria, mock him, especially when they trick him into believing that Olivia is in love with him. His humiliation provides one of the darker comedic elements of the play.

Sebastian is the twin brother of Viola. His arrival in Illyria and his resemblance to Cesario causes confusion, especially when Olivia marries him, thinking he is Cesario. His marriage to Olivia, along with his reunion with Viola, helps to resolve the mistaken identities and bring the play to a happy conclusion.

Orsino represents the idealised, often excessive, nature of romantic love. At the beginning of the play, he is obsessed with his love for Olivia and is unaware of the complexities of love until the end of the play, when he marries Viola, discovering a more genuine connection with her.

Twelfth Night explores love in its various forms: romantic love (Orsino’s love for Olivia and Viola’s love for Orsino), unrequited love (Olivia’s love for Cesario), and the more playful, ridiculous love (Sir Toby and Maria’s relationship). The play shows love’s complexity and how it can lead to confusion, mistakes, and ultimately, reconciliation and joy.