Twelth night Act 3

scene 1
1. Viola and Feste talk as she attempts to enter the house to see Olivia
  1. Viola encounters on Sir Toby and Sir Andrew, before Olvia and Maria come to meet the messenger.
    1. Olivia Dismisses them all, They do not hear Orsino's message or Olivia claim her love for Cesario
      1. Viola pitys Olivia, who takes comfort from that acknowledgement.Viola then leaves, explaining that she cannot ever love a women
      2. The conversation between Olivia and Cesario is tense with what is unspoken. Olivias supressed feelings break out when she interupts Viola's line, continuing the iambic pentametre with her own speech.
        This repeats again but Viola ends up completely Olivia's line. By picking up eachothers sppech rhythms and echoing certain sounds and phrases, it suggests the indication of intimacy.
        Viola has made two strong attatchments, to both Orsino and Olivia. Olivia's speech gives an indication of her heightened emotional state, through the use of many caesura's. She moves from blaming herself for her own "shameful cunning" to blaming Cesario for having cruelly "baited" her heart.
        The last time they met, Viola dominated the situation, this time around, Olivia is setting the pace. Olivias sense of being trapped by her sudden love for Orsino's messenger is conveyed in the image of herself as a bear "at the stake."
        The irregualr rhythm that doesnt fit with the ismbic pentametre and the heavy punctuation in the middle of lines, gives a jerky feel to the flow of the verse.
        Both characters speak in end-rhymed verse at the end of the scene. This could be to represent a metaphorical breathing space from a heightened situation within the confines of rhyme; a way of controlling and curbing the conversation which has become intense. This intense scene is the height of the reationship between Olivia and Viola.
        The scene also shows how erotic desires express themselves in language in the exchange between Olivia and Viola. In these word games, Viola calls herself Olivia's fool.
        After Olivia's long and built up outburst, Viola's respose is "I pity you" Olivia is Desperate to seek Cesarios love as so takes this as postive love for his feelings. Viola quickly dismisses this "very oft we pity enemies" Olivia has a sudden awareness of a " waste of time" Not so much the waste ofcurrent time, she has spent over Cesario but how shes wasted her youth mourning her family.
        There is a sense of desperation in Olivias voice "stay!", wishing he would stay and pleading an answer to her question" I prithee tell me what thou think'st of me" Within this, Viola can only refer to herself in an encryptes state "I am not what I am" hoping that Olvia would identify her hidden secret.
        Cesario cannot return Olivia's feeling, but the intensity of her emotion is revealed in her anger. " I have one heart, one bosom, and one truth,/ and that no women has; nor never none. Viola is saying that she cannot ever love a women.
        It is clear, that despite Cesario's refusal, Olivia cannot take no for an answer, she remains undeterred. She invites him to continue his efforts to woo her for Orsino
  2. Feste's punning begins the scene, and he shows how 'foolery' can have a serious approach
    1. He makes a comments about the clean cut young Cesario " a beard." A pointed observation that is sometimes taken to indicate that he knows the truth of the disguise.
      1. As many of the characters are made fools or being made fools of, The thruth behind who is and who isnt a fool becomes unclear.
      2. Viola's jesting with Feste is in prose, continuing the theme of overlapping wisdom and foolishness. Orsino and Olivia are seen as fools in the play when it comes to feelings and emotions. Whilst Feste, Maria and Viola show wisdom and wit.
scene 2
1. Sir Andrew is certain that Olivia fancies Cesario, and threatens to leave
  1. Aided by Fabian, Sir Toby persuades Sir Andrew that Olivia favours him and writes a letter to challenge Cesario to a duel.
    1. Maria enters with the news that Malvolio is wearing cross-garters and yellow stockings
      1. Maria relates the process in the reenge against Malvolio in terms of the "spleen"
        The "spleen" is the organ producing another of the four humours; this image is appropriate on the revenge of Malvolio as the yellow stockings links to the 'Yellow bile' linked with the spleen.
    2. His departure would cut off Sir Toby's money supply, so Fabian and Sir Toby raise the stakes and encourage ihm into a duel.
      1. From the beginning, there were hints that Sir Toby's greed was his primary motive for his friendship with Sir Andrew, perhaps showing his cruel behanviour towards him in Act v scene 1
      2. Sir Andrew becomes an agent in the main plot as aresult of the duel, although comedic, the duel puts a strain on Violia's disguise.
    3. Sir Toby:" For Andrew, if he were opened and you find so much blood in his liver as will clog the foot of a flea, I'll eat the rest of the anatomy."
      1. Sir Toby does not believe that Sir Andrew has the courage to fight Cesario.The decepetion of Andrew is in detail. and wherre false apperances lead to comic confusion.
      2. The "liver" was linked with blood, one of the four humours, and was associated with LUST. They liver is mentioned throughout the play. THe first being Orsino when talking about Olivia.
  2. Sir Andrew joins those in the play that are unlucky, unhappy or unrequited of love.
scene 3
1. Out of concern and devotion, Antonio has followed Sebastian and he is grateful for Antonios care"
  1. Antonio confesses that he had previously been in a seafight with Orsino's men and was at risk if being arrested in Illyria.
    1. To avoud trouble, he goes to an Inn, Leaving his purse for Sebastian cconvenience.
      1. The Elephant was the name of an inn near the Globe Theatre in Southwark.
  2. Just before Viola faces her Duel, this scene reassures the audience, as did Sir Tobys comments about Sir Andrew's lack of valour, that although there is danger, she will survive and everything will be sorted out soon.
  3. The scene also stresses the intensity of Antonios bond to Sebastian. He put himself in great danger by following him. It could be argued that Antonio is the only character who acts selflessly in the service of someone he loves.
    1. Sebastians repition of "Thanks" may suggest he doesnt know how to respond to the persistence of Antonio's devotion.
scene 4
1. Maria suggests to olivia that Malvolio is 'Posessed'
  1. Olivia this thinking of Cesario but is greeted by a cross garted, yellow stockinged Malvolio. She tells him to go to bed to recover, Malvolio takes this as a sexual invitation and he quotes from Maria's letter. Olivia concludes that Malvolio has gone mad.
    1. Olivia goes to meet Cesario, leaving Malvolio convinced she will marry him
      1. Sir Andrew's challenge to Cesario is too comical. So Sir Toby said he will deliver word of mouth to strike fear in Cesario.
        Viola returns at Olivias Command, but only to ask her to love Orsino.
        Sir Toby tells Cesario that Sir Andrew wants to duel him, he then encourages Sir Andrew to fight. Antonio enters and thinks it is Sebastian who is in danger.
        Before Antonio can do anything about it, he is arrested and appeals to 'Sebastian' for help. Although it is actually Viola and denies knowing him. After Antonio is taken away, she wonders whether her brother may still be alive.
        A number of the main plots come together in this long climatic scene, where most of the characters appear deluded at the current situation. - leaving the audience to enjoy the mania.
        Sir Toby describe the timid knight as "full of despite, bloody as the hunter" This description of Sir Andrew was to make Cesario feel scared
        The parallel plots of the twins come together in Antonios mistaking of Viola as Sebastian, the ground of Oliva's same error. Although, this mistake gives Viola hope about Sebastian
        Olivia apologises for her behaviour "I have said too much unto a heart of stone" Viola's terse reply immediatley prompts desperation in Olivia
        "a little thing would make me tell them how much I lack of a man" Although it is a joke with the audience as she lacks a"little thing" of a mans. It is also an expression of fear and shows how close she comes to revealing her disguise
  2. The contrast between the uptight 'puritan' of the earlier scenes and the grinning fashion of the scen is pointed
    1. Olivia: "very midsummer madness" gives the plotters an idea oh how to continue the tortue of their victim.

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Twelth night Act 3

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	Created by molly scorey over 7 years ago