Viola, disguised as Cesario, receives a ring from Malvolio, sent by Olivia. Viola realizes Olivia has fallen in love with 'Cesario' and is distraught by the complicated love triangle that has emerged, as she loves Orsino, who loves Olivia.
Were not you even now with the Countess
Olivia?
VIOLA
Even now, sir. On a moderate pace I have since
arrived but hither.
MALVOLIO
She returns this ring to you, sir. You might
have saved me my pains to have taken it away
yourself.
Create a free account to explore more
Upgrade to Pro for full access — £6.99/month
Director's Notes
Want expert coaching on this scene?
Browse our curated list of acting coaches, dialect specialists, and more.
Need representation?
Browse verified agents and casting directors in our directory.
How well does this scene match you?
Save your casting profile to see match scores on every scene.
Try Headshot AnalyserGo Pro
£6.99/mo
- ✓ Unlimited scene reading
- ✓ PDF downloads
- ✓ Director's Notes
- ✓ Headshot Analyser
- ✓ Cover Letter Generator
- ✓ Practice Mode
- ✓ Agent Connect
- + 1,000+ scenes
More from Twelfth Night
Act II, Scene 1 — Sebastian's Revelation
from Twelfth Night
Antonio tries to convince Sebastian to let him accompany him, but Sebastian insists on traveling alone, fearing his bad luck will affect Antonio. Sebastian then reveals his true identity and the tragic loss of his twin sister, Viola, to Antonio.
Act II, Scene 2 — Viola's Confusion of Love
from Twelfth Night
Viola realizes that Olivia has fallen in love with her male disguise, Cesario, after being sent a ring under false pretenses. She reflects on the complications of her deception and the messy love triangle involving herself, Olivia, and Duke Orsino.
Act I, Scene 5 — Viola and Olivia
from Twelfth Night
Viola, disguised as the page Cesario, arrives at Olivia's estate to deliver a message of love from Duke Orsino. The two engage in a witty battle of words as Olivia remains unimpressed by the rehearsed speech, eventually leading to Olivia unveiling her face.
Act IV, Scene 3 — Sebastian's Soliloquy
from Twelfth Night
Sebastian reels from a whirlwind encounter with Olivia, who has mistaken him for his twin sister Viola in disguise. He attempts to rationalize his sudden good fortune and the lady's apparent sanity despite her erratic behavior toward him.
Similar Scenes
Gwendolyn's Jealousy
from The Importance of Being Earnest
Gwendolen expresses her sudden insecurity and polite jealousy upon discovering that her fiancé, Ernest, has a young and beautiful ward. She attempts to maintain a mask of high-society decorum while suggesting that Cecily's physical charms might be a threat to Ernest's moral fortitude.
Rosalind Scolds Phoebe
from As You Like It
Disguised as the youth Ganymede, Rosalind delivers a sharp-witted rebuke to the shepherdess Phoebe for her cruel treatment of the devoted Silvius. She humbles Phoebe's vanity by critiquing her appearance and urges her to accept a good man's love while she has the chance.
Act I, Scene 3 — Helena's Confession
from All's Well That Ends Well
Helena kneels before the Countess to confess her secret and unrequited love for the Countess's son, Bertram. She articulates the purity of her devotion despite the social disparity between them, likening her hopeless adoration to a religious ritual.
Act III, Scene 1 — Claudio's Fear of Death
from Measure for Measure
Claudio expresses his visceral and overwhelming terror of death to his sister, Isabella. He vividly imagines the physical decay of the body and the potential spiritual torments of the afterlife, concluding that even the most miserable life is preferable to the unknown horrors of the grave.