Twelfth Night (Folger Shakespeare Library)

In Twelfth Night, shipwrecked Viola disguises herself as a man and enters the service of Duke Orsino, sparking a chain of romantic mix-ups with Countess Olivia. Amidst the comedy of errors, including pranks on the self-important Malvolio, themes of identity and desire unfold in Shakespeare's enchanting world of Illyria. This Folger edition enhances the timeless play with scholarly insights.

Twelfth Night, or What You Will, is one of William Shakespeare's most beloved comedies, written around 1601-1602. The play unfolds on the fictional island of Illyria, where shipwrecked twins Viola and Sebastian become entangled in a web of disguises and deceptions.

Viola, believing her brother dead, disguises herself as a young man named Cesario to serve Duke Orsino. She soon finds herself caught between Orsino's love for the Countess Olivia and Olivia's growing affection for Cesario, leading to hilarious confusions.

Meanwhile, Olivia's household is disrupted by the antics of her drunken uncle Sir Toby Belch, his friend Sir Andrew Aguecheek, and the clever servant Maria, who outwits the pompous steward Malvolio with a forged letter.

The Folger Shakespeare Library edition provides a fully annotated text, making the Elizabethan language approachable for modern readers while preserving the original's poetic beauty and humor.

Shakespeare's exploration of love, gender roles, and folly continues to captivate audiences, blending farce with poignant moments of longing and reconciliation.