# Sir Toby Belch — Twelfth Night character guide > Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Sir Toby, Toby, Enter Sir Toby, Sir Toby Sweet Sir Andrew, Sir Toby Sir, Sir Toby Bolts, Sir Toby Gentleman, Sir Toby Ay, good Sir Toby, Sir Toby Belch, Andrew Sir Toby Belch, Enter Sir Toby Belch, Exeunt Sir Toby, Sir Toby O knight, Sir Toby O, Sir Toby Reads, Sir Toby Fire, Sir Toby Fire and brimstone, Sir Toby Peace, Sir Toby Marry **First appearance:** 0004-act-i-scene-iii ## Snapshot Olivia's hard-drinking uncle, who keeps late hours, mocks the virtuous, and turns his niece's house into a tavern while plotting to marry his dim-witted friend into the family. ## Who they are Sir Toby lives on his niece's charity and repays it with noise, wine, and 'cakes and ale' at all hours. When Malvolio the steward threatens to report his disorder, Toby answers with a drinking song and a challenge: 'Dost thou think, because thou art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes and ale?' He eggs on Sir Andrew Aguecheek's hopeless suit for Olivia and eagerly joins Maria's scheme to gull Malvolio. He is the play's engine of misrule, and its funniest menace. ## Relationships ### [Olivia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/olivia) _social_ Olivia tolerates her uncle's drunken antics but keeps him at a distance due to his disruptive behavior. ### [Feste](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/feste) _friendship_ Feste and Sir Toby share a boisterous camaraderie, often drinking and jesting together. ### [Viola](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/viola) _social_ Sir Toby interacts with Viola (as Cesario) as a fellow participant in the household's chaotic social scene. ### [Maria](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/maria) _romantic_ Maria and Sir Toby share a flirtatious and eventually romantic relationship, culminating in marriage. ### [Sebastian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/sebastian) _social_ Sebastian is drawn into Sir Toby's schemes and fights, leading to a brief but volatile acquaintance. ### [Malvolio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/malvolio) _rivalry_ Malvolio and Sir Toby are bitter antagonists, with Sir Toby leading a cruel prank to humiliate the steward. ### [Olivia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/olivia) _social_ Olivia tolerates her uncle's drunken antics but keeps him at a distance due to his disruptive behavior. ### [Olivia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/olivia) _social_ Olivia tolerates her uncle's drunken antics but keeps him at a distance due to his disruptive behavior. ### [Viola](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/viola) _social_ Sir Toby interacts with Viola (as Cesario) as a fellow participant in the household's chaotic social scene. ### [Feste](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/feste) _friendship_ Feste and Sir Toby share a boisterous camaraderie, often drinking and jesting together. ### [Feste](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/feste) _friendship_ Feste and Sir Toby share a boisterous camaraderie, often drinking and jesting together. ### [Maria](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/maria) _romantic_ Maria and Sir Toby share a flirtatious and eventually romantic relationship, culminating in marriage. ## In the story ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/chapters/act-i-scene-iii) Defends his drinking and Sir Andrew, persuades Sir Andrew to stay for revels. ### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/chapters/act-i-scene-v) Appears drunk at the gate, briefly interacts before exiting. ### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iii) Leads the late-night revelry, singing and drinking with Sir Andrew and Feste; mocks Malvolio and encourages Maria's plot against him. ### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-v) Leads the plot to humiliate Malvolio, expressing delight in the scheme. ### [Act III, Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i) Appears briefly to usher Viola into Olivia's presence, continuing his role as a boisterous instigator. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-ii) Encourages Sir Andrew to challenge Cesario and later joins Maria to see Malvolio's antics. ### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iv) Plays along with the deception, plans to have Malvolio bound in a dark room, and later intimidates Viola into a duel. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-i) Restrains Sebastian and is scolded by Olivia. ### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-ii) Participates in the deception, praising Feste's performance, but later expresses concern about the consequences. ### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/chapters/act-v-scene-i) Injured in a fight; married Maria. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/sir_toby_belch - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters