Olivia (Twelfth Night Character)
Encyclopedia
Olivia is a fictional character from William Shakespeare
's play Twelfth Night, believed to have been written around 1600 or 1601. She is at the center of the various plots, both the comedic and the romantic. She has various suitors, but ends the play with Sebastian, the brother of the protagonist, Viola. Olivia is a character who allows her emotions to control her.
. Before the play begins, she has recently lost her brother who was her guardian after her father died. This loss has made her grief stricken and she has refused to see anyone who does not reside in her household, and declared that she will be in mourning for the next seven years.
She is therefore surrounded by her young serving lady Maria, her uncle Sir Toby Belch
, her steward
Malvolio
, the jester Feste
, and Sir Toby's friend Sir Andrew Aguecheek.
Because of her wealth and beauty Olivia attracts various men who wish to marry her. The play begins with the Duke of Illyria, Orsino, pining away over his love for Olivia while she refuses to accept him as a suitor. Sir Andrew has been invited to her household by Sir Toby, and Andrew hopes to use his stay to make Olivia his bride. Malvolio uses his position as steward to gain her affections.
Despite all of the rumpus going on at her home, Olivia refuses all visitors until Orsino sends his new page, the protagonist of the play, Viola
, to call on her.
Viola has been recently shipwrecked and she has taken on the disguise of a boy so that she may work for Orsino with no one knowing her true identity. During the shipwreck, Viola lost her brother, Sebastian
, and she believes that he has died.
Olivia quickly falls in love with the witty Cesario (Viola's name when she is in disguise) because Cesario is unafraid of saying what he/she is thinking. Cesario also compliments Olivia on her beauty, something that helps heal Olivia's heart from the losses she has recently incurred.
Olivia attempts to woo the young Cesario/Viola and repeatedly asks/lures him to come back to her estate by using various tricks and problems. Olivia eventually comes to the conclusion that she must marry him. However, in a case of mistaken identity, she marries Viola's twin brother, Sebastian. All ends well however, because Sebastian and his sister are extremely similar.
The climax of the play takes place at Olivia's estate. It is here that Olivia and Sebastian are hastily married, Viola and Sebastian rediscover each other, Malvolio is rescued, and Orsino proposes to Viola.
Olivia falls in love with Cesario very quickly and decides that, despite her previous declaration of mourning, she will marry him.
put on a production starring Anne Hathaway
as Viola and Audra McDonald
as Olivia.
Helena Bonham Carter
played Olivia in Trevor Nunn
's film, Twelfth Night
.
In 2006 the play was adapted into a modern retelling titled She's the Man
, starring Amanda Bynes
as Viola and Laura Ramsey as Olivia.
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
's play Twelfth Night, believed to have been written around 1600 or 1601. She is at the center of the various plots, both the comedic and the romantic. She has various suitors, but ends the play with Sebastian, the brother of the protagonist, Viola. Olivia is a character who allows her emotions to control her.
Role in the play
Olivia is a beautiful lady of noble birth who lives in IllyriaIllyria
In classical antiquity, Illyria was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by the Illyrians....
. Before the play begins, she has recently lost her brother who was her guardian after her father died. This loss has made her grief stricken and she has refused to see anyone who does not reside in her household, and declared that she will be in mourning for the next seven years.
She is therefore surrounded by her young serving lady Maria, her uncle Sir Toby Belch
Toby Belch
Sir Toby Belch is a character in William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. He is considered one of William Shakespeare's finest comic characters, an ambiguous mix of high spirits and low cunning. He first appears in the play's third scene, when he storms onto the stage the morning after a hard night...
, her steward
Stewardship
Stewardship is an ethic that embodies responsible planning and management of resources. The concept of stewardship has been applied in diverse realms, including with respect to environment, economics, health, property, information, and religion, and is linked to the concept of sustainability...
Malvolio
Malvolio
Malvolio is the steward of Olivia's household in William Shakespeare's comedy, Twelfth Night, or What You Will.-Style:Malvolio's ethical values are commonly used to define his appearance.In the play, Malvolio is defined as a "kind of" Puritan...
, the jester Feste
Feste
Feste is a jester in the Shakespeare comedy Twelfth Night or: What You Will. He is attached to the household of the Countess Olivia. Apparently he has been there for some time, as he was a "fool that the Lady Olivia's father took much delight in"...
, and Sir Toby's friend Sir Andrew Aguecheek.
Despite all of the rumpus going on at her home, Olivia refuses all visitors until Orsino sends his new page, the protagonist of the play, Viola
Viola (Twelfth Night character)
Viola is a fictional character from the play Twelfth Night, written by William Shakespeare around 1599 or 1600.Viola's actions produce all of the play's momentum. She is a young woman of Messaline, a fictional country invented by Shakespeare, although some believe that this country really did exist...
, to call on her.
Viola has been recently shipwrecked and she has taken on the disguise of a boy so that she may work for Orsino with no one knowing her true identity. During the shipwreck, Viola lost her brother, Sebastian
Sebastian
Saint Sebastian was a Christian saint and martyr, who is said to have been killed during the Roman emperor Diocletian's persecution of Christians. He is commonly depicted in art and literature tied to a post and shot with arrows...
, and she believes that he has died.
Olivia quickly falls in love with the witty Cesario (Viola's name when she is in disguise) because Cesario is unafraid of saying what he/she is thinking. Cesario also compliments Olivia on her beauty, something that helps heal Olivia's heart from the losses she has recently incurred.
Olivia attempts to woo the young Cesario/Viola and repeatedly asks/lures him to come back to her estate by using various tricks and problems. Olivia eventually comes to the conclusion that she must marry him. However, in a case of mistaken identity, she marries Viola's twin brother, Sebastian. All ends well however, because Sebastian and his sister are extremely similar.
The climax of the play takes place at Olivia's estate. It is here that Olivia and Sebastian are hastily married, Viola and Sebastian rediscover each other, Malvolio is rescued, and Orsino proposes to Viola.
Character interpretation
Olivia is involved in all three of the main plots of the play: Orsino's love for her brings Cesario to her estate, Olivia's love for Cesario pleads her into marriage with Sebastian, and the entire plot with Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and Malvolio revolves around Andrew and Malvolio's supposed love for her.Olivia falls in love with Cesario very quickly and decides that, despite her previous declaration of mourning, she will marry him.
Depictions in film and on stage
One of Shakespeare's most popular plays, Twelfth Night has been produced for both the stage and film multiple times.Stage
In 2009, Shakespeare in the ParkShakespeare in the Park
Shakespeare in the Park is a concept used across the world, as a form of free public presentation of William Shakespeare's works. Such performances exist in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America....
put on a production starring Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway (actress)
Anne Jacqueline Hathaway is an American actress. After several stage roles, she appeared in the 1999 television series Get Real. She played Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries...
as Viola and Audra McDonald
Audra McDonald
Audra Ann McDonald is an American actress and singer. She currently stars in the ABC television drama Private Practice as Dr. Naomi Bennett. She has appeared on the stage in both musicals and dramas, such as Ragtime and A Raisin in the Sun...
as Olivia.
Film
In the first film version of the play, made in 1910, Julia Swayne Gordon depicted Lady Olivia.Helena Bonham Carter
Helena Bonham Carter
Helena Bonham Carter is an English actress of film, stage, and television. She made her acting debut in a television adaptation of K. M. Peyton's A Pattern of Roses before winning her first film role as the titular character in Lady Jane...
played Olivia in Trevor Nunn
Trevor Nunn
Sir Trevor Robert Nunn, CBE is an English theatre, film and television director. Nunn has been the Artistic Director for the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Royal National Theatre, and, currently, the Theatre Royal, Haymarket. He has directed musicals and dramas for the stage, as well as opera...
's film, Twelfth Night
Twelfth Night: Or What You Will (1996 film)
Twelfth Night or What You Will is a 1996 British film adaptation of William Shakespeare's play, directed by Trevor Nunn and featuring an all-star cast. The adaptation is given a northern Central European feel, set in the late 19th century, with Orsino and his followers shown wearing Czapka...
.
In 2006 the play was adapted into a modern retelling titled She's the Man
She's the Man
She's the Man is a 2006 American romantic comedy film directed by Andy Fickman, based on Twelfth Night, a play by William Shakespeare. The film stars Amanda Bynes, Channing Tatum, Laura Ramsey and Vinnie Jones....
, starring Amanda Bynes
Amanda Bynes
Amanda Laura Bynes is an American actress, comedian, singer, and fashion designer. Bynes appeared in several successful television series, such as All That and The Amanda Show, on Nickelodeon in the mid to late 1990s and early 2000s, and in 2002, she starred in the TV series, What I Like About You...
as Viola and Laura Ramsey as Olivia.