Twelfth Night—a comedy

Setting - the coast of Illyria Twelfth Night is the only one of Shakespeare’s plays to have an alternative title: the play is actually called Twelfth Night, or What You Will

Viola/ Cesario A twin. Shipwrecked. Disguises herself as a boy. Falls in love with Orsino. Sebastian A twin. Shipwrecked. Friends with Antonio. Falls in love with Oliv- ia. Orsino Duke. In love with Olivia. Marries Viola. Olivia Countess. In mourning for her dead brother. Refuses Orsino’s love. In love with Cesario. Marries Sebastian. Feste Clown which serves both Olivia and Orsino Malvolio Servant to Olivia. Unpleasant and bossy to Sir Toby. Victim of a practical joke which humiliated him. Maria Servant of Olivia. Comes up with the plan to humiliate Malvolio. Antonio Best friend to Sebastian. Enemy to Orsino Sir Andrew Sir Toby’s best friend who wants to marry Olivia. Sir Toby Olivia’s uncle. A drunk who uses friends for money and entertainment.

Plot summary

Viola and Sebastian are shipwrecked and separated. Both think the other has died. Orsino is in love with Olivia. Olivia is in mourning for her brother and refuses his attentions. Viola disguises herself as a boy (Cesario) and works for Orsino.

Sebastian and Antonio are firm friends. Olivia falls in love with Cesario. Viola falls in love with Orsino. Maria, Sir Toby, Feste and Sir An- drew play a practical joke on Malvolio for spoiling their fun.

Olivia declares her love for Cesario which is rejected. Malvolio is humiliated by the practical joke and locked up. Sir Andrew prepares to fight Cesario but is interrupted by Antonio who thinks it is Sebastian. Antonio is arrested. Viola realises Sebastian might be alive.

Sebastian arrives and fights Sir Toby. Olivia stops the fight and tells Sebastian she loves him, thinking that it is Cesario. She asks him to marry her. He agrees. Meanwhile the others continue to torment Malvolio.

Orsino arrives at Olivia’s house with Antonio. Antonio lashes out at Cesario thinking it is Sebastian. Olivia and Sebastian appear. True identities revealed. Orsino marries Viola and Malvolio is released. Macbeth—a tragedy

Setting—11th century Scotland

Plot Summary:

Act 1: Macbeth and Banquo meet the witches; Cawdor is executed; Lady Macbeth reads the letter and taunts Macbeth; Duncan arrives.

Act 2: Macbeth kills Duncan; Malcolm flees; Macbeth is crowned.

Act 3: Banquo suspects Macbeth; Banquo is murdered but Fleance escapes; Macbeth is haunted by Banquo’s ghost at the banquet.

Act 4: The Witches show Macbeth future kings – sons of Banquo; Macduff’s family is murdered; Malcolm tests Macduff’s loyalty.

Act 5: Lady Macbeth sleepwalks, dies; Macduff kills Macbeth, Malcolm restored as King.

Characters: Born: April 1564 (possibly 23rd as he was bap- Macbeth: One of King Duncan’s generals. He loves power; the witches tempt him into mur- der. Originally Thane of Glamis, he becomes the Thane of Cawdor, then King of Scotland. tised on the 26th)

Died: 23rd April 1616 (aged 52) Lady Macbeth: Macbeth’s wife. She is ambitious and drives him to murder but is driven mad by conscience. Lived: Stratford-upon-Avon and London during the Tudor period (Queen Elizabeth I and King Three Witches: Sinister ladies of witchcraft who tempt Macbeth to do dark deeds. James I) Married: Anne Hathaway in 1582 (at the age of 18) Banquo: A general and friend of Macbeth. The prophecy does not corrupt him. He is murdered by Macbeth as he is considered a threat. His ghost haunts Macbeth. Children: Susanna, Judith and Hamnet (twins) Career: King Duncan: The good and noble King of Scotland, murdered by Macbeth.

 Playwright, actor and poet Macduff: Thane of Fife. He opposes Macbeth and supports Malcolm. He kills Macbeth in  Wrote around 37 plays for the theatre revenge for the murder of his family. and over 150 poems Malcolm: Duncan’s son. He flees with his brother after the murder of Duncan but returns with  Part of a theatre company called Lord Cham- English support to challenge Macbeth. berlain’s Men. Changed their name to the King’s Men in 1603 after King James I patron- Fleance: Banquo’s son. Macbeth tries and fails to murder him. He flees Scotland but it’s im- age plied he will return one day to fulfil the prophecy and become King.

Also known as: The Bard of Avon. Hecate: Queen of the Witches.