Twelfth Night by Edith Nesbit (1907)
Orsino, Duke of Illyria, loves Olivia, a Countess who, mourning her dead brother, refuses all suitors and has vowed to veil herself for seven years. A shipwreck off the Illyrian coast separates the twins Viola and Sebastian, each fearing the other drowned. Viola, believing Sebastian lost, disguises herself as a boy, takes the name Cesario, and enters Orsino's service as a page. Orsino sends Cesario to woo Olivia on his behalf. Olivia, charmed by the messenger, falls in love with Cesario and sends Malvolio, her steward, after him with a ring as a pretext. Viola realizes Olivia loves her in disguise, while she herself has fallen in love with Orsino. Questioned by Orsino about love, Viola speaks obliquely of a sister who pined silently for a man, really describing her own feelings. Sent again to Olivia, Viola is met with an open declaration of love, which she deflects. Sir Andrew Aguecheek, a foolish rejected suitor of Olivia's, grows jealous of Cesario, egged on by Olivia's uncle Sir Toby, who engineers a duel for sport. Both Cesario and Sir Andrew are terrified and reluctant, and the fight is interrupted by officers before harm is done. Meanwhile Sebastian, alive, arrives in Illyria and is attacked by Sir Andrew, who mistakes him for Cesario; Sebastian fights back vigorously. Olivia intervenes, mistakes Sebastian for Cesario, and leads him inside; the same day, in haste, they marry. Orsino then visits Olivia with Cesario. Olivia, seeing Sebastian's double, reproaches "her husband" for leaving her, bewildering Orsino. Enraged at what seems Cesario's treachery, Orsino threatens to kill the page out of spite toward Olivia. Olivia calls Cesario "husband," and a priest confirms a marriage—to Sebastian, not Cesario. Sir Andrew then arrives complaining Cesario wounded him and Sir Toby, which Viola denies. Confusion is resolved when Sebastian himself appears; he and Viola, each believing the other dead, recognize one another as twin brother and sister. Viola confirms her true identity. Orsino, moved, claims Viola as his wife, while Sebastian and Olivia remain happily married to each other.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1907 · Genre: Romance, Comedy, Romantic Comedy · 2,357 words
First lines
Orsino, the Duke of Illyria, was deeply in love with a beautiful Countess named Olivia. Yet was all his love in vain, for she disdained his suit; and when her brother died, she sent back a messenger from the Duke, bidding him tell his master that for seven years she would not let the very air behold her face, but that, like a nun, she would walk veiled; and all this for the sake of a dead brother's love, which she would keep fresh and lasting in her sad remembrance.
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Genres
- Romance — The narrative centers on multiple interwoven romantic storylines—Orsino's love for Viola, Olivia's passion for 'Cesario', and the ultimate union between Orsino and Viola—with romantic love as the primary motivating force for all major character actions.
- Comedy — The work is fundamentally comedic in tone and structure, built on mistaken identity, escalating misunderstandings, absurd situations such as the duel between Sir Andrew and Viola, and the foolish behavior of secondary characters.
- Romantic Comedy — The work exemplifies romantic comedy through seamless blending of romantic emotional stakes with comedic situations, humorous dialogue, and farcical moments, culminating in happy romantic resolutions.
- Drama — Beneath the comedic surface lies significant emotional and dramatic tension—love triangles, threats of violence, emotional revelations, and the climactic revelation of Viola's true identity with serious consequences for all parties involved.
Tags
mistaken identity · disguise · cross-dressing · twins · shipwreck · separated siblings · sibling reunion · unrequited love · love triangle · marriage · jealousy · duel
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Twelfth Night is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Nesbit, dated 1907 CE.
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- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1907 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romance, Comedy, Romantic Comedy, Drama, Farce
- Length: 2,357 words
- Structure: 1 section, 60 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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