Classic Literature

Twelfth NightAct 2, Scene 2

Act 2

Scene II

A street.

	Enter Viola, Malvolio* following.*
Malvolio	Were not you even now with the Countess Olivia?
Viola	Even now, sir; on a moderate pace I have since arrived but hither.
Malvolio	She returns this ring to you, sir: you might have saved me my pains, to have taken it away yourself. She adds, moreover, that you should put your lord into a desperate assurance she will none of him: and one thing more, that you be never so hardy to come again in his affairs, unless it be to report your lord’s taking of this. Receive it so.
Viola	She took the ring of me: I’ll none of it.
Malvolio	Come, sir, you peevishly threw it to her; and her will is, it should be so returned: if it be worth stooping for, there it lies in your eye; if not, be it his that finds it. Exit.
Viola	I left no ring with her: what means this lady? Fortune forbid my outside have not charm’d her! She made good view of me; indeed, so much, That sure methought her eyes had lost her tongue, For she did speak in starts distractedly. She loves me, sure; the cunning of her passion Invites me in this churlish messenger. None of my lord’s ring! why, he sent her none. I am the man: if it be so, as ’tis, Poor lady, she were better love a dream. Disguise, I see, thou art a wickedness, Wherein the pregnant enemy does much. How easy is it for the proper-false In women’s waxen hearts to set their forms! Alas, our frailty is the cause, not we! For such as we are made of, such we be. How will this fadge? my master loves her dearly; And I, poor monster, fond as much on him; And she, mistaken, seems to dote on me. What will become of this? As I am man, My state is desperate for my master’s love; As I am woman⁠—now alas the day!⁠— What thriftless sighs shall poor Olivia breathe! O time! thou must untangle this, not I; It is too hard a knot for me to untie! Exit.

Companion

Previously

Act 2, Scene 1: On the sea-coast, Sebastian tells his rescuer Antonio his true name and mourns the twin sister he believes drowned. He refuses Antonio's offer of service and leaves for Orsino's court. Left alone, Antonio decides to follow despite having enemies there.

Who's who so far

Orsino He trusts his new servant Cesario with his private feelings and sends the youth to press his suit to Olivia.
Curio A lord attending the Duke, who asks whether he will go hunting.
Valentine The Duke's messenger, who has been refused entry to Olivia's house and brings back her handmaid's account of her mourning.
Viola As Cesario she gains a private audience with Olivia and argues Orsino's case, but leaves with Olivia still refusing him.
The Captain A survivor of Viola's shipwreck who saw her brother clinging to a mast, knows Illyria and promises to keep her disguise secret.
Sir Toby Belch Olivia's uncle, who rejects Maria's warnings about his late nights and drinking and persuades Sir Andrew to stay as a suitor.
Maria Olivia's chambermaid, who warns Sir Toby about his disorderly habits and makes jokes that Sir Andrew struggles to understand.
Sir Andrew Aguecheek A wealthy knight hoping to woo Olivia, who misunderstands Maria's jokes and lets Sir Toby persuade him to remain for another month.
The Clown Olivia's fool, who answers criticism with wordplay and wins her defence of his freedom to mock, despite Malvolio's contempt.
Olivia A lady mourning her brother who rejects Orsino but feels drawn to his messenger Cesario and sends Malvolio after the youth with a ring.
Malvolio A servant of Olivia who scorns her fool, fails to turn Cesario away and is sent after the departing messenger with a ring.
Sebastian Rescued from the sea by Antonio, he reveals that he had called himself Roderigo, mourns his twin sister as drowned and leaves for Orsino's court.
Antonio Sebastian's rescuer, who resolves to follow him to Orsino's court out of love despite having enemies there.

Words to know

churlish: rude and unfriendly
fadge: work out or turn out successfully
thriftless: wasted or producing no useful result

Spoiler-free: these notes only cover what you have read.

Act 2, Scene 2 in brief

Malvolio delivers Olivia's ring and repeats her rejection of Orsino, saying that Cesario should return only to report his master's response. Viola refuses the ring, and Malvolio leaves it for her to pick up. Alone on stage, she states that she left no ring and interprets Olivia's distracted behaviour as evidence of attraction. Her soliloquy lets the audience hear her recognise the consequences of a disguise whose success has created a mistaken love. She describes Orsino's desire for Olivia, her own for Orsino and Olivia's for her as a problem in which neither her male appearance nor her concealed womanhood offers an answer. Although she blames disguise and speaks of women's susceptibility, she ends by appealing to time because she cannot solve the knot herself.

Key quotes

I am the man: if it be so, as ’tis, Poor lady, she were better love a dream.

Why it matters Viola recognises herself as the man Olivia desires while knowing that this identity is an appearance. Calling it a dream shows her pity for a love directed at the disguise.

Disguise, gender and identityLove and desire

O time! thou must untangle this, not I; It is too hard a knot for me to untie!

Why it matters The knot gathers three conflicting desires into one image. Viola understands the problem but ends her private reasoning by admitting the limits of her control.

Love and desireDisguise, gender and identity

Themes in this chapter

Disguise, gender and identityLove and desire

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