1. Twelfth Night
Act 2

2. Key Events Scene 1 First meet Antonio and Sebastian
Sebastian thinks that his whole family are dead
Antonio decides to follow Sebastian into Illyria despite it posing a threat.
Scene 2
Malvolio gives Cesario the ring that Olivia has sent him
Viola realises Olivia’s deception and plays along - telling Malvolio to tell Olivia she must keep it.
Malvolio throws the ring on the ground.
Viola realises Olivia must love her.
Scene 3
Sir Toby and Sir Andrew stay up late drinking in Olivia’s house
Both noble men encourage Feste to sing a song.
Maria warns them they must keep their voices down or Malvolio will be called.
Malvolio comes in and criticises the men for being really drunk
Sir Toby, Sir Andrew and Feste all make jokes at Malvolio
Sir Andrew suggests to challenge Malvolio to a duel, however Maria suggests they play a joke on him.
They plan to leave letters around that suggest Olivia is in love with Malvolio

3. Scene 4
Cesario and Orsino discuss love.
Orsino says that he can tell that Cesario is in love when he looks at him.
Cesario says that he and Orsino are alike in age and features
Orsino, not reading the signs says that Cesario should date a younger woman as they would please him more romantically satisfied.
Feste sings a sad song, afterwards Orsino sends Cesario to Olivia’s house to beg for her love again.
Cesario reminds Orsino that Olivia has denied him many times before - but Orsino refuses to accept this.
Orsino gives Cesario a jewel to give to Olivia.
Scene 5
In the garden of Olivia’s house, Sir Toby,Sir Andrew, Fabian and Maria all prepare to play their practical joke on Malvolio
The letter is planted and the three men hide - Malvolio approaches as though in some sort of fantasy regarding Olivia already.
Malvolio boasts that he would have control over everything if he were to marry Olivia, the three men all jeer (mock) him.
Malvolio reads the letter aloud, there is a riddle about love in it, the letter states that their true beloved’s identity is represented by M.O.A.I , Malvolio believes this must be him.
The second half of the letter reveals that he must wear yellow ‘cross gartered’ stockings and must be sharp tempered with Sir Toby, rude to the servants and smile all the time.
Olivia actually hates the colour yellow and is in fact in mourning and doesn't want anybody smiling around her, Malvolio has been completely stitched up.

4. Terminology
“pregnant enemy” - Satan,Shakespeare addresses Satan a lot throughout the play, ultimately giving a macabre undertone to the play.
“That then methought her eyes had lost her tongue.” -Viola (2.2) She seemed distracted and couldn't finish her sentences very well. Evidence of the emphasis on Comedy within the play, Olivia acts head over heels in love.
“Does not our life consist of the four elements?”- Sir Toby (2.3) Earth, Wind, Air and Fire. Sir Toby’s possible criticism of Faith, followed up by Sir Andrew stating that faith is drinking and eating - the importance of feasting within society.

5. Context
Twelfth Night was believed to have been written about 1601 where social activities involving drinking, dancing and singing amongst others. All of these are evident within Twelfth Night and some are apparent in Act 2.
Malvolio’s complaints in Scene 3 about the men being too drunk and loud, this is potentially an example of the Elizabethan societies critical attitudes toward Puritans and the strict ways in which they chose to live.
In Scene 4 it is apparent that the character of Orsino confirms female position within society, when he exclaims that a younger woman would satisfy Cesario more, as well as his defiance in not accepting Olivia’s refusal. Highlighting the significance of women’s position as it is evident that they remained under the authority of men.

6. Key Themes Jeering Feasting Desire and Love Heroism
“Th’art i’th’ right. (To Malvolio) Go, sir rub your chain with crumbs*.” -Sir Toby (2.3)
Authority and Class
Faith, so they say, but I think it rather consists of 10 eating and drinking.” -Sir Andrew (2.3)
“…he is a kind of puritan.” - Maria (2.3)
“The best persuaded of himself, so crammed (as he thinks)with excellencies,” -Maria (2.3)
*rub your chain of office with bread crumbs to clean it
“Do you make an ale-house of my lady’s house, that ye squeak out your coziers’ catches without any mitigation or remorse of voice?” - Malvolio (2.3)
“O peace! contemplation makes a rare turkey-cock of him:how he jets under his advanced plumes!” - Fabian (2.5)
Desire and Love
“If you will not murder me for my love, let me be your servant.” -Antonio (2.1)
“It gives a very echo to the seat Where love is throned?”- Cesario (2.4)
Deception and Disguise
“Tell her my love, more noble than the world.” -Orsino (2.4)
“Disguise, I see thou art a wickedness, Wherein the pregnant enemy* does much.” -Cesario (2.2)
Heroism
inventive Satan*

7. Being Critical
Could there be another reason for Shakespeare’s presentation of Malvolio? He is the only ‘bad guy’ within the play does he serve another purpose?
It is not just a romance play, does it warn the audience about the effect of Puritanism?
What else does the significance of feasting say about Elizabethan society? Is it criticised or encouraged?
Critics say that the sub-plot of Malvolio makes the play a satire, where others argue that Malvolio ties the subplot and the main plot together and highlights the merriment within.. How far is this accurate?
Does Cesario and Orsino’s dialogue in (2.4) give any indication of suspected homoeroticism?