This is set of questions a Quest Academy seventh grade LASS student answered from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night.

Act V Questions: Twelfth Night

1. How does line 140 change the situation? What has happened to Viola’s hopes for Orsino by line 168?
When Viola/Cesario confesses her love for Orsino, it changes the play because not only does it add more drama, it also changes Orsino’s mind about killing her/him. When it is then revealed that Olivia got married to Sebastian (though they all think that she actually married Cesario) this goes to anger Orsino to the point where he never wants to see her/him. “Farewell, and take her, but direct thy feet/ Where thou and I henceforth may never meet” (5.1.177–178). Orsino feels betrayed, and rightly so. Viola/Cesario just confessed her/his love for him, and now it is revealed that she/he just married Olivia (not really but they do not know that). Luckily, when Sebastian shows up and everyone finally realizes that Olivia has actually married Sebastian, Count Orsino forgives Viola, and they decided to get married.

2. How long does it take for Viola and Sebastian to recognize each other? Why doesn’t she just say who she is at line 240? Is it really taking this long, or are they playing it out?
It takes quite a while for them to recognize each other because not only do they both think that the other drowned but Sebastian is also confused because he has a twin sister, not a twin brother. However, everyone around them realises they are twins. “Were you a woman, as the rest goes even,/ I should let tears fall upon you cheek/ And say “Thrice welcome, drownéd Viola”” (5.1.251–253). Sebastian is hesitant to believe that his sister not only did not drown but is standing right in front of me. Since Orsino loves Viola, he is likely just afraid to get his hopes up only to realize that she really is dead.

3. How does Sebastian explain what almost happened to Olivia?
Sebastian explains that Olivia almost married both a woman and a man simultaneously. “You are betrothed both to a maid and man” (5.1.275). Sebastian is telling her that even though she thinks she is marrying Cesario, she is really marrying Viola, who is both a man and a woman. This is a very confusing situation that only makes sense to the reader because they have seen what happened to Olivia, Sebastian, and Viola leading up to this point. Unlike the characters, readers understand what is happening. 
4. What’s going to be the problem in getting Viola dressed like a woman?
The problem with getting Viola dressed as a woman is that all her clothes are with the sea captain. However, this seems like a mildly stupid problem because Olivia’s house is probably closer to them than the sea captain is and they could just pop over there and borrow some of her clothes. After all, Viola has been moving between Orsino’s house and Olivia’s house seemingly easily. Two houses are likely not that far away; therefore, it would be easy to quickly just run over to Olivia’s and get Viola some clothes. “I’ll bring you to a captain in this town,/ Where lie my female weeds” (5.1.266–267). When Viola refers to her female weeds, she is talking about the clothing she wears when she is not dressed as Cesario. For some inexplicable reason, Sebastian is insisting that she get the clothtes to wear because he refuses to believe that Cesario is really Viola and refuses to accept her until she is dressed as a woman again, thereby proving that she in Viola.

5. How is Malvolio’s situation resolved? How is the captain’s situation resolved? Is Malvolio placated?
Malvolio’s situation is resolved when he reveals that he is merely following the instructions of a letter that he mistakenly thinks Olivia has written when it is merely a prank. The clothes will be fetched from the sea captain by Malvolio if he is able to be calmed down enough to go. In order to placate him, Orsino sends some of the people in the room to go after him, though it is not clear who is sent. “Puruse him, and entreat him to a peace./ He hath not told us of the captain yet./ When that is known, and golden time convents,/ A solemn combination shall be made/ Of our dear souls” (5.1.403–407). Malvolio is expected to know where the sea captain is. Orsino decides that after Malvolio fetches the clothes from the sea captain, they will let Malvolio be until time stops him from feeling so betrayed.

6. What weddings will take place, and where?
Orsino will be marrying Viola and Sebastian has already married Olivia. It would also appear that Maria will be marrying Toby as payment for her work on forging the letter for Malvolio. Sadly, poor Antonio will not get to marry Sebastian, whom he loves. “Cesario, come,/ For so you shall be while you are a mam./ But when in other habits you are seen,/ Orsino’s mistress, and his fancy’s queen” (5.1.408–411). While asking Viola to marry him, Orsino also tells her that he loved her while she was a man, and he loves her even more now that she is a woman.

7. What characters are left out of the happiness?
Antonio, Andrew, and Malvolio are left out of happiness and Antonio confesses his love to Sebastian only to have him marry Olivia instead. Andrew does not get to marry either Maria or Olivia like he hoped, and while Malvolio is set free, he does not get to marry Olivia like he thought he would get to. “His life I gave him and did thereto add/ My love, without retention or restraint,/ All in his dedication. For his sake/ Did I expose myself, pure for his love,/ Into the dangers of this adverse town” (5.1.78–82). Antonio feels as though he has been cheated out of happiness because not only does he give Sebastian his life, he also gave him his love as well as endangering himself for the sake of Sebastian’s safety. When he finds out that Sebastian married Olivia, he cannot help but feel as though it is not fair to him after all he has done.

8. Is Feste’s song (lines 384–403) a fitting conclusion to the play?
It is a very fitting conclusion to the play because it not only talks about some of what happened in the play, it also tells the reader/audience that the play is over. “But that’s all one, our play is done,/ And we’ll strive to please you every day” (5.1.430–431). Even though it is a bit of an abrupt ending, at least you know it is over. Because it is so abrupt, if the play was not ended like this you may be waiting for another part when in fact there is not one.