Duke Orsino of Illyria was deeply in love with a beautiful and noble lady, Countess Olivia. But she refused to meet him, for she was mourning the death of her brother. She said that she would not come out without a veil for seven years! The Duke was very sad and longed for someone to talk to.
A ship was wrecked on the coast of Illyria. Its Captain reached the shore with one of his passengers, a beautiful young lady named Viola. She thanked him but grieved for her twin brother, Sebastian, who she feared had been drowned. He looked exactly like her, she said. But the Captain assured her that he must be safe somewhere, for he had seen him tie himself to a strong mast during the storm.
Viola learnt that the Duke of Illyria was known to be wise and noble. For her safety, she disguised herself as a young man, calling herself Cesario, and offered to work for the Duke. The Duke was charmed to have a young companion who would listen to the stories of his love for Lady Olivia. Viola felt great sympathy for the Duke and slowly fell in love with him!
Duke Orsino sent young Cesario with his message of love to Lady Olivia. Reluctantly, Cesario (Viola) went but was stopped by Malvolio, Olivia’s pompous steward. Cesario (Viola), however, refused to go back. When Olivia heard about the argument, she called the young man. Cesario told her about Orsino’s love and his complaints. Olivia fell in love with the charming Cesario!
Olivia sent her ring as a token of her love to Cesario. She was miserable at the tangle! She loved the Duke, who loved Olivia, who in turn loved Cesario who was not a man at all! Orsino spent hours with Cesario sharing his troubles but Cesario only said that she would have loved a person like him if she were a woman.
He once again sent Cesario (Viola) with a message and a jewel for Olivia. Olivia declared that she was deeply in love with Cesario. Cesario didn’t ever wish to go to Olivia’s house, but when she received a message calling
her, she had to go again! This roused the jealousy of Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Olivia’s foolish suitor whom she had rejected.
In Olivia’s house lived her uncle, Sir Toby Belch. He was a mischievous old fellow who enjoyed getting drunk, playing pranks on others and flirting with Olivia’s lady-in-waiting! He egged on Sir Andrew, who was a coward, to fight a duel with Cesario (Viola)! But he didn’t know that ‘Cesario’ was equally terrified! They were saved when the officers of the court stopped the duel! Cesario ran away.
Meanwhile, Sebastian, Viola’s twin brother, had reached the shore of Illyria and decided to go to the court of the Duke. Passing by Lady Olivia’s house, he ran into Sir Toby and Sir Andrew. Sir Andrew, mistaking him for the cowardly Cesario (Viola), hit him. Sebastian retorted by thrashing him soundly, till Sir Toby separated them. But Sebastian drew his sword to deal with both of them!
Hearing the noise, Olivia came running out. She too mistook Sebastian for Cesario and sweetly invited him into her house. Sebastian was so charmed by her beauty and love that he went along, dazed. Before he could recover, Olivia married him!
Cesario (Viola) had reported all the news to the Duke and he decided to visit Lady Olivia himself. He took young Cesario along. When Olivia saw Cesario, she thought that he was her husband and scolded him for leaving her. And she told the Duke Orsino that his declarations of love were completely useless!
The Duke was so angry that he decided to punish Cesario (Viola) with death. Olivia followed him for she was willing to die for her love. Olivia called out, “Cesario, my dear husband, stay!” Duke Orsino was shocked to hear her call Cesario, my dear husband! But Cesario said that he was not married to Olivia. The priest who had solemnized the marriage was called.
Cesario (Viola) pleaded that she was innocent, but no one believed her! Suddenly, Sebastian arrived there and spoketo his wife, Olivia, “My dear, I have injured your kinsman because he hit me without any reason! I’m sorry to have done this!” Everyone stared in stunned silence!
“The same face, the same voice, the same kind of dress, and yet they are two people!” exclaimed the Duke as he looked at Sebastian and Cesario. A person who knew Sebastian was present there and even he wondered which of them was Sebastian!
Sebastian looked at Cesario (Viola) and said, “I never had a brother, but I did have a sister who was drowned! If you were a woman, I would weep with joy at finding my sister!” Cesario cried out finally that she was indeed Sebastian’s twin sister, Viola!
When he heard the whole story, Duke Orsino realised that Viola, as Cesario, had always said she loved him. His heart melted for the brave girl and he announced that he would marry her. Viola was delighted. And so Duke Orsino and Viola lived as happily as Olivia and Sebastian!
