# Viola — Twelfth Night character guide

> Viola in Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Cesario, Viola Orsino, good Cesario, Viola Ay, Viola Cesario, Viola Aside, Viola Madam, Viola Of Messaline, Master Cesario, dear Cesario

**First appearance:** 0003-act-i-scene-ii

## Snapshot

Shipwrecked and grieving a twin she fears drowned, she binds her hair in man's dress and becomes Cesario, the Duke's most trusted messenger — and the play's most tangled heart.

## Who they are

Viola washes ashore in Illyria with nothing but her wit and a captain's hope that her brother lives. To survive, she serves Duke Orsino as the eunuch-voiced Cesario, a role so convincing that Orsino confides the 'book of his secret soul' to her. The tension is exquisite: sent to woo Olivia on the Duke's behalf, Viola finds herself wishing 'Whoe'er I woo, myself would be his wife.' Her disguise sets the play's whole engine of mistaken love in motion.

## Relationships

### [Sir Toby Belch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/sir_toby_belch)

_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 Viola share witty banter and mutual respect, recognizing each other's intelligence and humor.

### [Olivia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/olivia)

_romantic_

Olivia falls in love with Viola disguised as Cesario, creating a one-sided romantic pursuit.

### [Sebastian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/sebastian)

_family_

Sebastian and Viola are twin siblings, separated by shipwreck, whose reunion resolves the play's confusions.

### [Feste](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/feste)

_friendship_

Feste and Viola share witty banter and mutual respect, recognizing each other's intelligence and humor.

### [Sir Toby Belch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/sir_toby_belch)

_social_

Sir Toby interacts with Viola (as Cesario) as a fellow participant in the household's chaotic social scene.

## In the story

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/chapters/act-i-scene-ii)

Shipwrecked and grieving for her brother, she resolves to disguise herself as a eunuch to serve Duke Orsino.

### [Scene IV: The Duke's Commission](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/chapters/act-i-scene-iv)

Disguised as Cesario, she is favored by Orsino but inwardly struggles with her own love for him while being sent to woo Olivia.

### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/chapters/act-i-scene-v)

Disguised as Cesario, delivers Orsino's love message to Olivia with wit and charm.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii)

Disguised as Cesario, receives the ring from Malvolio and realizes Olivia has fallen for her.

### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iv)

Disguised as Cesario, she listens to Orsino's music and arguments about love, subtly defending women's constancy and hinting at her own hidden love for Orsino.

### [Act III, Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i)

Disguised as Cesario, she engages in clever banter with Feste and later rejects Olivia's advances, remaining faithful to Orsino.

### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-iv)

As Cesario, receives a jewel from Olivia and is then cornered by Sir Toby and Fabian into facing a duel she wants no part of.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/chapters/act-v-scene-i)

Revealed as Sebastian's sister and Cesario; accepts Orsino's proposal.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/viola
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters