Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare | Act 2, Scene 3 | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Sir Toby plots revenge on the sanctimonious Malvolio, while the fool sings a love song and Sir Andrew laments his misfortune.

Key Insights

• 🎑 Sir Toby and Sir Andrew's rowdy behavior adds a comedic element to the scene.
• 🇲🇵 Maria's cleverness in tricking Malvolio showcases her ingenuity.
• 🪜 Malvolio's sternness and threat to blame Maria adds to his unlikability.
• 🥰 The fool's love song highlights the fleeting nature of love and adds a touch of melancholy.
• 🥰 Sir Andrew's complaints about money and love foreshadow his eventual fate.
• 😒 The use of sexual innuendo in the song lyrics adds to Sir Toby's style of humor.
• 😘 The scene reveals the contrast between low comedy and a more somber undertone.

Transcript

in act 2 scene 3 of Twelfth Night that night at Olivia's house Sir Toby and Sir Andrew are boisterously drinking and partying hard they invite the fool to join them and he serenades them with a love song followed by a loud drunken catch a catch is a song sung in rounds for example one person starts singing a moment later the second person joins in ... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: Who is plotting revenge on Malvolio and why?

Sir Toby is plotting revenge on Malvolio because he finds him sanctimonious and wants to teach him a lesson for scolding their partying behavior.

Q: What is the purpose of the fool's love song?

The fool's love song emphasizes the passing of time and adds a melancholic tone to the scene, contrasting with the drunken revelry.

Q: How does Maria trick Malvolio?

Maria writes a love letter supposedly from Olivia that implies Olivia is in love with Malvolio. She uses her similar handwriting style to make it more convincing.

Q: How does Sir Andrew feel about his situation with Olivia?

Sir Andrew feels sorrowful and complains about spending too much money and having no luck with Olivia. He believes he is not adored by her.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• In Act 2 Scene 3 of Twelfth Night, Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and the fool engage in rowdy drinking and singing.

• Maria suggests tricking Malvolio by writing a love letter supposedly from Olivia.

• The scene ends with a mix of humor and melancholy as Sir Andrew complains about his luck.