Twelfth Night: Acts IV and V

Before I look at the last two acts, I have to say that I really enjoyed this play. I really understood this and found it entertaining. I don't know if it was just that this play was easier or if it was due to reader error on my part with every other bit of Shakespeare I've read. Honestly I would lean towards reader error. This play was fairly cheesy but that's to be expected when you have a happy ending to such an out-there story.

In Act IV scene i Sebastian has arrived in Illyria. The clown mistakes him for Cesario, Viola, and asks him to come to Olivia. Sebastian gets hit by Andrew and hits him back but is then held by Toby. Let me just say that if I were in a new country and this happened to me, I would not go off with some girl I just met. I would get my bags and leave. I hope this hasn't ever happened to someone in real life because that would be one bad day. "I am mad, or else this is a dream." (IV, i, line 61).

Maria Toby and the Clown have one more joke in scene ii. They decide to convince Malvolio that the clown is actually a goofy hero from a storybook. This is of course Maria's idea. They convince Malvoilio of this then tease him by saying he is insane. "I am not mad, Sir Topas. I say to you this house is dark." (IV, ii, lines 41-42). This joke not only gives Maria, Toby and the Clown a laugh; it also gives them some 'proof'' that Malvolio is crazy.

In scene iii Sebastian and Olivia get married. Surprise. Surprise. People falling in love in rediculously small time frames...No! Sebastian does sound a bit more reasonable in his reasoning than any of the others though. "Or else the lady's mad. Yet, if 'twere so, she could not sway her house, command followers, take and give back affairs and their dispatch with such a smooth, discreet, and stable beating as I perceive she does." (IV, iii, lines 16-20).

Act V is one scene. It's long for a reason though. It's kind of like watching a car crash. You know what's happening and who has said what to who, but the charactors don't. You know that it's ending but you don't quite know whats going to happen until it does.

First Viola comes in with the Duke and some other guys. All of whom have a specific view point of Viola, or Cesario. Then Antonio comes in thinking that Viola is acctually Sebastian. Antonio confuses everyone present by saying that Viola has only been there for a day. When asked when Viola came into town he said, "Today, my lord." (V, i, line 94). Cesario has been working for Orsino for nearly three months now. Olivia then comes in to share with the group that she is now married to Cesario. This continues to go down the line with every point of the play laid out and set right until everyone is happy. Unsurprisingly Orsino decides to ditch Olivia and that he loves Viola only just after finding out that she's a woman. I think most people at any point in history or place in the world would have more of an issue adjusting to that.