Twelfth Night · Character

Olivia

A countess who has sworn seven years of veiled mourning for her dead brother, and who breaks that vow the instant a young messenger speaks — for the wrong person entirely.

major

Also known as fair Olivia, Olivia God, Olivia O, Olivia Ay, the Countess Olivia, Olivia Sir, Olivia Heaven, Olivia Prithee, Olivia Ha, Scene II Olivia, Scene IV Olivia, Olivia Alas, Olivia with Malvolio, the Lady Olivia

First appearance: act i scene i

See Olivia in act i scene i Book page

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Olivia rules her household with a will that surprises everyone, refusing the Duke's suit and managing her drunken uncle, her fool, and her steward with equal authority. Her vow to keep her brother's love 'fresh and lasting' is genuine, but so is her sudden, helpless attraction to Cesario — a desire aimed at a man who is not a man, and who loves someone else. Her pursuit of Cesario puts her at comic cross-purposes with Orsino and makes her the pivot on which the play's love-triangle spins.

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See Olivia in act i scene i

Character Web

12 connections

A slice of how Olivia sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Social
Professional
Romantic
Other

Character groups

Olivia's household conspirators
Protagonist

+7 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point

In this scene, the dramatic climax occurs when Duke Orsino, who has been obsessed with Olivia, unknowingly con…

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Relationships

Sir Toby Belch
social · ambivalent
Feste
professional · ambivalent
Viola
romantic · positive
Malvolio
professional · ambivalent
Sebastian
romantic · positive
Maria
professional · positive
Sir Toby Belch
social · ambivalent
Sir Toby Belch
social · ambivalent
Feste
professional · ambivalent
Maria
professional · positive

Sir Toby Belch
Olivia tolerates her uncle's drunken antics but keeps him at a distance due to his disruptive behavior.
Feste
Feste serves as Olivia's licensed fool, providing entertainment and occasionally offering pointed truths.
Viola
Olivia falls in love with Viola disguised as Cesario, creating a one-sided romantic pursuit.
Malvolio
Malvolio is Olivia's steward, serving her with strict loyalty but also harboring secret romantic ambitions.
Sebastian
Olivia mistakes Sebastian for Cesario and marries him, believing he is the object of her affection.
Maria
Maria serves as Olivia's gentlewoman, managing the household and acting with her mistress's trust.
Sir Toby Belch
Olivia tolerates her uncle's drunken antics but keeps him at a distance due to his disruptive behavior.
Sir Toby Belch
Olivia tolerates her uncle's drunken antics but keeps him at a distance due to his disruptive behavior.
Feste
Feste serves as Olivia's licensed fool, providing entertainment and occasionally offering pointed truths.
Maria
Maria serves as Olivia's gentlewoman, managing the household and acting with her mistress's trust.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Olivia in act i scene i

In the story

Olivia appears across 7 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Scene II
Described as a virtuous maid who has abjured the company of men after her brother's death.
Scene V
Mourning her brother, engages with Feste's fooling, then meets Cesario and becomes captivated.
Act III, Scene I
Openly confesses her love for Cesario, despite his repeated refusals, and struggles with her unrequited passion.
Scene IV
Anxious to entertain Cesario, she is bewildered by Malvolio's strange behavior and orders him looked after.
Scene I
Intervenes to stop the fight, scolds Sir Toby, and invites Sebastian to her house.
Scene III
Urges Sebastian to marry her at once with the priest.
Scene I
Discovers she married Sebastian, not Cesario; orders Malvolio released.

Chapter companion notes

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See Olivia in act i scene i