| 1.1 | Orsino, Musician, Curio, ValentineAt his court, Orsini, sick with love for the Lady Olivia, learns from his messenger that she is grieving for her dead brother and refuses to be seen for seven years |
| 1.2 | Viola, CaptainOn the Adriatic seacoast, Viola, who has been saved from a shipwreck in which her brother may have drowned, hears about Orsino and Olivia. She wishes to join Olivia’s household, but is told that Olivia will admit no one into her prescence. Viola decides to disguise herself as a boy so that she can join Orsino’s male retinue. |
| 1.3 | Toby, Maria, AndrewAt the estate of Lady Olivia, Sir Toby Belch, Olivia’s kinsman, has brought in Sir Andrew Aguecheek to be her suitor. Maria, Olivia’s lady-in-waiting, says that Andrew is a fool, and Andrew himself doubts his ability to win Olivia, but Toby encourages him to woo her. |
| 1.4 | Valentine, Viola, OrsinoAt Orsino’s court, Viola, disguised as a page and calling herself Cesario, has gained the trust of Orsino, who decides to send her to woo Olivia for him. Viola confides to the audience that she loves Orsino herself. |
| 1.5 | Maria, Feste the Fool, Olivia, Toby, Malvolia, ViolaViola, in her disguise as Cesario, appears at Olivia’s estate. Olivia allows Cesario to speak with her privately about Orsino’s love. As Cesario presents Orsino’s love-suit, Olivia falls in love with Cesario. She sends her steward, Malvolia, after Cesario with a ring. |
Twelfth Night: Act 1 Scene summaries and character lists
July 11, 2019