Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

ANTONIO

in Twelfth Night, or What You Will — Shakespeare, William

Metadata

PlayTwelfth Night, or What You Will
AuthorShakespeare, William
Year (catalogued)1623
First performance1601
Decade1620s
GenreComedy
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyLord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men
Speech prefix(es)Ant.
Words793
Characters4141
Typicality0.24 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA11954.13
BritDrama no.1297
ClusterCluster 5 — Romantic leads (high style)

Important excerpts

No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).

Full speech

Will you stay no longer: nor will you not that I go with you. Alas the day. Pardon me sir, your bade entertainment. If you will not murder me for my love, let me be your servant. The gentleness of all the gods go with thee: I have many enemies in Orsino's Court, Else would I very shortly see thee there: But come what may, I do adore thee so, That danger shall seem sport, and I will go. I could not stay behind you: my desire (More sharp then filed steel) did spur me forth, And not all love to see you (though so much As might have drawn one to a longer voyage) But jealousy, what might befall your rrauell, Being skillesse in these parts: which to a stranger, Unguided, and unfriended, often prove Rough, and unhospitable. My willing love, The rather by these arguments of fear Set forth in your pursuit. To morrow sir, best first go see your Lodging? Would youled pardon me: I do not without danger walk these streets. Once in a sea-fight against the Count his galleys, I did some service, of such note indeed, That were I taken here, it would scarce be answered. That offence is not of such a bloody nature, Albeit the quality of the time, and quarrel Might well have given us bloody argument: It might have since be answered in repaying What we took from them, which for Traffics sake Most of our City did. Only my self stood out, For which if I be lapsed in this place I shall pay deer. It does not fit me: hold sir, here's my purse, In the South Suburbs at the Elephant Is best to lodge: I will bespeak our diet, While you beguile the time, and feed your knowledge With viewing of the Town, there shall you have me. Haply your eye shall light upon some toy You have desire to purchase: and your store I think is not for idle Markets, sir. To the Elephant. Put up your sword: if this young Gentleman Have done offence, I take the fault on me: If you offend him, I for him defy you. One sir, that for his love dares yet do more Then you have herd him brag to you he will. I must obey. This comes with seeking you: But there's no remedy, I shall answer it: What will you do: now my necessity Makes me to ask you for my purse. It grieves me Much more, for what I cannot do for you, Then what befalls my self: you stand amazed, But be of comfort. I must entreat of you some of that money. Will you deny me now, Is't possible that my deserts to you Can lack persuasion. Do not tempt my misery, Least that it make me so unsound a man As to upbraid you with those kindnesses That I have done for you. O heavens themselves. Let me speak a little. This youth that you see here, I snatched one half out of the jaws of death, Relieved him with such sanctity of Jove; And to his image, which me thought did promise Most venerable worth, did I devotion. But o, how vild and idol proves this God: Thou hast Sebastian done good feature, shame. In Nature, there's no blemish but the mind: None can be called deformed, but the unkind. Virtue is beauty, but the beauteous evil Are empty trunks, ore-flourish'd by the devil. Lead me on. Orsino: Noble sir, Be pleased that I shake off these names you give me: Anthonio never yet was Thief, or Pyrate, Though I confess, on base and ground enough Orsino's enemy. A witchcraft drew me hither: That most ingrateful boy there by your side, From the rude seas enraged and foamy mouth Did I redeem: a wrack passed hope he was: His life I gave him, and did thereto add My love without retention, or restraint, All his in dedication. For his sake, Did I expose my self (pure for his love) Into the danger of this adverse Town, Drew to defend him, when he was beset: Where being apprehended, his false cunning (Not meaning to partake with me in danger) Taught him to face me out of his acquaintance, And grew a twenty years removed thing While one would wink: denied me mine own purse, Which I had recommended to his use, Not half and hour before. To day my Lord: and for three months before, No intrim, not a minutes vacancy, Both day and night did we keep company. Sebastian are you? How have you made division of your self, And apple cleft in two, is not more twin Then these two creatures. Which is Sebastian?

Plot summary

Plot — Twelfth Night, or What You Will
Orsino is in love with Olivia, but she is in mourning and has renounced the company of men. Shipwrecked in Illyria and believing her twin brother dead, Viola enters Orsino’s service posing as a eunuch, ‘Cesario’. She falls in love with him, but is sent to woo Olivia on his behalf. Olivia in turn falls in love with ‘Cesario’. Olivia’s uncle, Sir Toby, is trying to marry her off to his idiot acquaintance, Sir Andrew. After her steward Malvolio interrupts their raucous nocturnal sing-song, and unjustly accuses her gentlewoman Maria of complicity, the offended parties plot to humiliate him. Maria writes a letter, in handwriting similar to Olivia’s, and leaves it for him to find. It encourages him to believe possible his fantasies of marrying his mistress, and induces him to behave and dress inappropriately in her presence. Olivia thinks he is mad or possessed, and has him confined in Sir Toby’s charge. Sir Toby and his accomplices take the opportunity to mock him. Sebastian, Viola’s brother, is alive after all: he was rescued from drowning by Orsino’s enemy Antonio. They too come to Illyria, and Antonio entrusts Sebastian with his purse. Sir Toby encourages Sir Andrew to challenge ‘Cesario’ to a duel, and makes each afraid of the other. They are on the point of fighting when Antonio intervenes to help the youth, believing him to be Sebastian. When he is arrested by Orsino’s officers, Viola is unable to return the purse he gave to Sebastian; he reproaches ‘Sebastian’s’ ingratitude, and Viola realizes her brother has survived. Taking ‘Cesario’ for a coward, Sir Andrew and Sir Toby renew the quarrel when they encounter Sebastian, but Olivia intervenes. After arranging for a priest, she contracts to marry Sebastian, thinking him “Cesario’. Orsino realizes that ‘Cesario’ has become an obstacle in the pursuit of his love, and considers killing ‘him’ until it emerges that Olivia is now married. Sir Toby and Sir Andrew are wounded after attacking Sebastian, whose arrival on stage resolves all confusions. Orsino transfers his affections to Viola. Malvolio is released, but goes away swearing vengeance. Feste sings.