Twelfth Night In 500 Words
Viola and her identical twin brother Sebastian are on a boat when they are shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria. Viola has survived, becuase she was saved by the captain but believes her brother is drowned. With the help of the ship's captain she disguises herself as a man named Cesario and becomes a servant for Duke Orsino. Orsino is in love with Lady Olivia ("If music be the food of love, play on,"), but Lady Olivia is mourning the deaths of her father and her brother and has sworn not to have fun, date or marry until seven years have passed. He sends 'Cesario' to woo Olivia on his behalf, but Olivia falls in love with 'Cesario', and Viola falls in love with Orsino.
Olivia's uncle, Sir Toby Belch, wants her to marry his friend Sir Andrew Aguecheek, but Malvolio, Olivia's steward, is very strict about Olivia's vow and is making everyone depressed. So Toby, Andrew and Olivia's servant Maria plan to humiliate him. Maria writes a letter in Olivia's handwriting claiming that Olivia loves Malvolio and he should prove his love by visiting her in cross-gartered yellow socks, insulting the servant and smiling like a madman whenever Olivia is near. Malvolio actually believes the letter and, suddenly in love, follows Maria's requests. When Malvolio does not get a response, he quotes the letter ("Be not afraid of greatness, some are born great, some become great and some have greatness thrust upon them,"), causing Olivia to believe that Malvolio has gone mad, so she gets Toby, Andrew and Maria to lock him up. He is visited multiple times by a servant who mocks his insanity, both as himself and disguised as a priest.
Sebastian actually survived the shipwreck and is living with a sea captain named Antonio, who once fought against Orsino. Antonio is such good friends with Sebastian that he agrees to accompany him to Illyria. Olivia mistakes Sebastian for Cesario ands asks him to marry her, to which he agrees, and the two are married in secret. Antonio gives him some money, but when Cesario appears and has no recollection of Antonio, Antonio is arrested and tells Orsino of Sebastian's treachery, but Orsino thinks Antonio is talking about Cesario. Toby mistakes Sebastian for Cesario who supposedly stole Olivia and forces Andrew to duel him, but the fight the next day is actually between Viola and Andrew, and Antonio manages to end the fight, still hoping to redeem Sebastian, not realizing Viola's identity. Orsino confronts Viola about the money but when Sebastian appears, everything becomes clear.
Orsino and Viola, and Toby and Maria both marry, and Malvolio swears revenge.
Funnily enough, Twelfth Night is not about the Twelfth Night of anything. It was written to be performed on the night of the 6th of January, the Twelfth Night of Christmas. This was a special date because it meant people could relax after Christmas.