Act I - Orsino is a guy that likes the idea of being in love. He is in love with Olivia but she is not interest in him. Curio is Orsino’s servant. Viola is in Illyria because of a shipwreck and was separated from her brother Sebastian. She decides to disguise herself as a man named Cesario. Viola, as Cesario, starts to work for Orsino. Sir Toby Belch is Olivia’s uncle who is a drunk and is rude. Maria is a smart and likes dry humor. Sir Andrew is a cocky man that thinks he posses many skills. Orsino is in love with Olivia but she doesn’t want to be with anybody because of her brother’s death. Orsino sends Cesario, who is really Viola, to talk to Olivia in the hopes that she would change her mind. Cesario gets to Olivia’s house but has to wait a while before she is let in. Cesario presents his speech to Olivia tells that she cannot love Orsino and sends Cesario away.
Act II- In this act Shakespeare uses gender bending on the way that Viola is showing some sort of affection towards Viola. Viola is given a ring by Malvolio that was supposedly a ring Cesario left with Olivia. Viola feels weird since Olivia is falling in love with Cesario instead of Orsino. Orsino and Cesario start to talk about love and its flaws however Viola doesn’t like the view Orsino has on women. Viola gets Orsino to accept the fact that Olivia will probably not love him but somebody else will. Orsino believes that women change their mind a lot when it comes to love but Viola doesn’t believe it. Viola makes up a story that she tells Orsino to show that women are true of heart. Orsino then asks Viola to go back with Olivia.
Act III – Olivia causes confusion by giving Cesario the ring and apologizes. Olivia then tells Viola about the feeling she has towards her and wants to know how Viola, who is Cesario, feels about her. Viola says she doesn’t feel the same way about her but then asks if she has any feelings towards Orsino. Andrew figures out that Olivia has feelings towards Cesario instead of him. Fabian tries to convince Andrew that Olivia is trying to make him jealous by pretending to like Cesario. Sir Toby manages to convince Andrew to challenge Cesario to a duel think. Andrew is convinced that if he wins he will get Olivia’s love.
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