If anyone ever has to study Twelfth Night (I'm having to study it twice in one semester) here are some of the most important quotes in the play (ordered chronologically)
1. Quote:
“ If music be the food of love,
play on;
Give me excess of it, that,
surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken, and so
die.”
Who said it: Orsino
To whom: C
: Orsurio and other Lords
Contextino is comparing his desire for love to an appetite. This is
where we first see how he enjoys the notion of himself as the “romantic lover”
2. Quote:
“…He plays o' the
viol-de-gamboys, and speaks three
or four languages
word for word without book, and
hath all the good
gifts of nature.”
Who said it: Sir Toby Belch
To Whom: Maria
Context: Sir Toby is talking about Sir Andrew Aguecheek. He is
trying to exalt Andrew in any way he can, even if he’s completely lying, so
there would be a chance Olivia may marry him. This would give Toby an in-house
drinking buddy.
3. Quote:
“I'll do my best
To woo your lady.
(aside)
Yet, a barful strife!
Whoe'er I woo, myself would be
his wife.”
Who said it: Viola
To whom: Orsino
Context: Viola realizes she has fallen in love with Orsino, but he
is asking her (as Cesario, of course) to woo Olivia for him. This is
complicated and frustrating to her to have to try to hook her love up with
someone else.
4. Quote:
“I marvel your ladyship takes
delight in such a
barren rascal: I saw him put down
the other day
with an ordinary fool that has no
more brain
than a stone. Look you now, he's
out of his guard
already; unless you laugh and
minister occasion to
him, he is gagged. …”
Who said it: Malvolio
To whom: Olivia
Context: He is chastising and talking down about Feste (the Fool)
for being lowly. It shows us Malvolio’s true character as a holier-than-thou,
stick-in-the-mud, whistleblower.
5. Quote:
“Run after that same peevish
messenger,
The county's man: he left this
ring behind him,
Would I or not: tell him I'll
none of it.”
Who said it: Olivia
To whom: Malvolio
Context: She wants to give Cesario a reason to come back to woo
her, so Olivia creates a fake scenario about Cesario leaving a ring that he
must then retrieve.
6. Quote:
“I have many enemies in Orsino's
court,
Else would I very shortly see
thee there.”
Who said it: Antonio
To whom: Sebastian
Context: Antonio is informing Sebastian of his criminal status in
Illyria because he had fought against Orsino and his men in battle.
7. Quote:
“O time! thou must untangle this,
not I;
It is too hard a knot for me to
untie!”
Who said it: Viola
To whom: herself/Time
Context: She is resigning herself to her fate, since she put
herself in the position she is in. Having disguised herself, she cannot be open
and true about her feelings or else her disguise would be broken, so she
decides to let fate play itself out however it will.
8. Quote:
“Dost thou think, because thou
art
virtuous, there shall be no more
cakes and ale?”
Who said it: Sir Toby
To whom: Malvolio
Context: After Malvolio chastises Toby, Feste, Fabian, Andrew, and
Maria for being too jolly and noisy, Toby basically informs Malvolio that he is
no better than they are and that just because he is high and mighty and no fun
doesn’t mean no one else can have fun.
9. Quote:
“…it is
his grounds of faith that all
that look on him love
him; and on that vice in him will
my revenge find
notable cause to work.”
Who said it: Maria
To whom: Toby, Andrew, Feste
Context: They are plotting revenge
against Malvolio for being such a prick. They intend to use his own delusional
idea about himself against him. He thinks, or wants to believe that everyone
likes him and they plot to write a letter that is seemingly from Olivia (but it
is not) to convince him to act crazy.
10. Quote:
Who said it: Orsino
To whom: Cesario (Viola)
Context: He is once again defining himself as the “romantic lover”
and relishes the pain and beautiful anguish of such a state.
11. Quote:
Who said it: Cesario (Viola)
To whom: Orsino
Context: She is defending a woman’s capacity to love as a man does
and also dropping hints that she is, in fact, a woman.
12. Quote:
Who said it: Maria
To whom: Olivia
Context: Maria is planting the seeds of suspicion on Olivia that
Malvolio is mad. This is part of her “revenge” on Malvolio.
13. Quote:
Who said it: Antonio
To whom: Andrew
Context: Andrew is fighting Cesario, and Antonio stumbles upon
them. Thinking Cesario is actually Sebastian, Antonio defends Cesario (Viola).
This is one of the first instances of mistaken identity.
14. Quote:
Who said it: Feste
To whom: Malvolio
Context: Malvolio has been imprisoned in the darkroom due to his
perceived madness. Feste, disguised as the priest, goes to visit him,
continuing the “trick” on Malvolio.
15. Quote:
Who said it: Toby
To whom: Maria and Feste
Context: Due to a combination of his constant drunkenness and his
fight with Sebastian, who he and Olivia both think was Cesario, Olivia is very
unhappy with him. He is, in this instance, talking about the deal with Malvolio
and now worries that if Olivia finds out what they have done the situation will
get worse.
16. Quote:
Who said it: Orsino
To whom: His guards
Context: Antonio has been arrested, having been caught while
defending Cesario (who he thinks is Sebastian) and has been brought before
Orsino for a verification of identity. Orsino affirms that he knows the man and
remembers his face from that last meeting; but in that instance, Antonio’s face
was blackened in the smoke of battle.
17. Quote:
Who said it: Antonio
To whom: Orsino
Context: Antonio sees Cesario and thinks it is Sebastian. Antonio
tries to explain that he had saved Sebastian from death at sea and now believes
Sebastian has forsaken him, even though it is really Cesario.
18. Quote:
Who said it: Andrew
To whom: Cesario and everyone else who is present.
Context: Having just been beaten by Sebastian, Andrew, thinking it
was Cesario, points the finger at Cesario in front of everyone. He claims that
if Toby hadn’t been drunk, the fight would have gone the other way (ha ha).
19. Quote:
Who said it: Sebastian
To whom: No one, really/ himself
Context: Sebastian has just seen Cesario/Viola and can’t believe
his eyes since Cesario/Viola is dressed just like him and looks just like him.
He tries to wrap his head around what he sees.
20. Quote:
Who said it: Orsino
To whom: Olivia, Sebastian, anyone within earshot
Context: Orsino has discovered that Cesario is actually Viola and
all his confusing feelings are resolved. He is delighted to learn she is a
woman.
21. Quote:
Who said it: Orsino
To whom: Viola
Context: He sort of proposes/commands they will be married/live
happily ever after.
22. Quote:
Who said it: Feste
To whom: Olivia and others.
Context: He is explaining his part in the cruel trick on Malvolio
and suggests the “wheel of fortune” or “karma” has given Malvolio what he
deserved for being so pompous.
23. Quote:
“I’ll be revenged on the whole
pack of you.”
Who said it: Malvolio
To whom: Everyone who tricked him (Maria, Fabian, Toby, Andrew,
Feste)
Context: He’s very upset (I think understandably so) that this has
been done to him and he declares revenge on the lot of them (even though it is
never seen carried out)
