Twelfth Night; or, What You Will by Charles Lamb

Name: Twelfth Night; or, What You Will
Author: Charles Lamb

Twins Sebastian and Viola are shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria, leading to Viola's decision to disguise herself as a man, Cesario, to serve Duke Orsino. Orsino is in love with Countess Olivia, who mourns her deceased brother and rejects his advances. Viola, as Cesario, is sent to woo Olivia on Orsino's behalf but finds herself falling for the duke. Olivia, intrigued by Cesario, unexpectedly falls in love with Viola, unaware of her true identity. As misunderstandings unfold, Viola navigates her feelings for Orsino while Olivia pursues her disguised suitor. A series of mistaken identities ensues, including a duel challenge against Cesario, which is averted by the intervention of Antonio, a sea captain who saved Sebastian. Meanwhile, Sebastian, also alive, arrives in Illyria, leading to further confusion as he is mistaken for Cesario. The climax reveals the twins' identities, resulting in Olivia marrying Sebastian, while Orsino realizes his affection for Viola. The play concludes with both couples united, celebrating the resolution of their tangled relationships, highlighting themes of love, identity, and the complexities of human emotions.

By Charles Lamb · First published 1808 · Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance · 5,987 words

First lines

Sebastian and his sister Viola, a young gentleman and lady of Messaline, were twins, and (which was accounted a great wonder) from their birth they so much resembled each other, that, but for the difference in their dress, they could not be known apart. They were both born in one hour, and in one hour they were both in danger of perishing, for they were shipwrecked on the coast of Illyria, as they were making a sea-voyage together. The ship, on board of which they were, split on a rock in a violent storm, and a very small number of the ship's company escaped with their lives.

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Twelfth Night; or, What You Will is listed on Textopian as a play by Charles Lamb, dated 1808 CE.

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Work type: Play
Author: Charles Lamb
Date: 1808 CE
Language: English
Genres: Drama, Comedy, Romance, Classics
Length: 5,987 words
Structure: 1 section, 44 paragraphs
Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)

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Genres

Drama — The book, adapted from Shakespeare's play of the same name, can be classified as drama due to its heavily theatrical origin and storyline concerning mistaken identities and love triangles.
Comedy — The book contains classic elements of comedy such as wit, humor, comedic dialogue, and the happy resolution of conflict, which have been inherited from the original Shakespearean play.
Romance — The storyline of 'Twelfth Night' involves various romantic relationships and explores themes of love and passion, qualifying it for the romance genre.
Classics — Being an adaptation of Shakespeare's work, one of the most celebrated authors in English literature, classifies this book under the 'classics' genre.