"Cliff Notes - Twelfth Night" - читать интересную книгу автора (Cliff Notes)

sister.

Shakespeare was already an extremely popular playwright when
Twelfth Night was first performed about 1600, and his success
continued. His works after Twelfth Night include the four great
tragedies--Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth. In 1603,
Shakespeare's company was chartered by Elizabeth's successor,
James I, as the King's Men. When Shakespeare retired to
Stratford in 1611, he lived in the second biggest house in town,
called New Place. On April 23 (possibly the same day of the
year on which he was born) in 1616, he died.

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TWELFTH NIGHT: THE PLOT

Orsino, the duke of Illyria, is helplessly in love with the
Countess Olivia. She, however, refuses to return his
affections, preferring instead to mourn her dead brother. She
will not even see the messengers he sends daily. Rejection only
seems to increase Orsino's ardor. He spends his days listening
to sad music and pining away for Olivia.

A shipwreck throws a stranger, Viola, a young woman of noble
birth, onto the shore of Illyria and into the middle of this
situation. She believes her brother was drowned in the same
shipwreck. Needing some time to get her bearings in this
strange country, she disguises herself as a boy, calls herself
Cesario, and presents herself to Duke Orsino. He immediately
takes a liking to this "boy" and sends "him" as a messenger to
Olivia. Viola/Cesario does what Orsino asks, but she has a
problem--she has fallen in love with Orsino herself!

Viola/Cesario proves to be an excellent messenger when she
calls on Olivia. Her determination wins her an audience with
the lady. She movingly pleads Orsino's case. Olivia resists
the entreaties on Orsino's behalf. When Viola/Cesario leaves,
however, you learn the truth. Olivia has now fallen hopelessly
in love with Viola/Cesario! She sends her puritanical steward
Malvolio after Viola/Cesario with a ring.

Malvolio rudely accosts Viola/Cesario and repeats the lie
Olivia told him--that the ring was a gift from Orsino and that
Olivia is returning it. Viola/Cesario knows that she gave the
lady no ring. She quickly figures out the truth. Olivia is in
love with somebody who doesn't exist.

Meanwhile, Olivia has another suitor, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, a
simpleton who fancies himself a ladies' man. The wealthy
Aguecheek is being deceived by Olivia's uncle, Sir Toby Belch,
into believing he has a chance of winning Olivia's hand.