Twelfth Night is a romantic comedy written by William Shakespeare in 1601-02. It is believed to have been first performed on January 6, 1601, which is the twelfth night after Christmas. The play is set in the mythical land of Illyria and follows the story of a young woman named Viola who becomes shipwrecked and decides to disguise herself as a man named Cesario. The play explores themes of love, gender roles, and identity, and is one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies.
Act I
The play opens with Duke Orsino of Illyria listening to music and lamenting about his unrequited love for the Countess Olivia. He sends his servant, Curio, to go and fetch Olivia, but she refuses to see him. Meanwhile, Viola is shipwrecked on the Illyrian coast and believes her twin brother, Sebastian, is dead. She decides to disguise herself as a man named Cesario and begins working for Duke Orsino.
Act II
Viola, now disguised as Cesario, meets Olivia and is immediately struck by her beauty. Olivia, however, is grieving the recent loss of her brother and is not interested in Duke Orsino's advances or those of any other man. She sends her steward, Malvolio, after Cesario with a ring as a token of her affection.
Act III
Meanwhile, Sebastian, who was thought to be dead, arrives in Illyria and is mistaken for Cesario by Sir Toby Belch, Olivia's uncle, and Sir Andrew Aguecheek, a wealthy gentleman who is hoping to woo Olivia. They challenge him to a duel, but the fight is broken up by Antonio, a sea captain who has befriended Sebastian.
Act IV
Olivia becomes infatuated with Cesario, who is actually Viola in disguise, and sends him/her a letter professing her love. Viola, who is in love with Duke Orsino, is torn between her loyalty to him and her growing affection for Olivia.
Act V
In the final act, the confusion caused by the mistaken identity is resolved when Viola's true identity is revealed. Duke Orsino realizes that he is in love with Viola, not Olivia, and they become engaged. Olivia, who is now aware that Cesario is actually a woman, falls in love with Sebastian, and they also become engaged. The play ends with Feste, the jester, singing a song about the nature of love.
Overall, Twelfth Night is a classic Shakespearean comedy that explores the themes of love, gender roles, and identity. The mistaken identities and confusion caused by the disguises worn by the characters create a sense of hilarity and absurdity that is characteristic of Shakespeare's comedies. The play is also notable for its strong female characters, particularly Viola, who is able to navigate the social norms and expectations of the time through her cleverness and wit.