William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night The complex plot - full of mistaken identities, misdirected passions, high comedy, mischief and unexpected emotion - begins as a ship, carrying identical twins Viola and Sebastian. shipwrecked off the coast of a fictional country, Illyria. Viola washes up on this alien shore and becomes convinced that her beloved brother is dead. She learns that she is near the home of Olivia, a young countess who is also mourning her recently deceased father and brother. Thus, Olivia has sworn to have no contact with men for seven years, and she notably rejects the amorous advances of the young Duke Orsino. Desperate to know how to survive, and to keep the spirit of her twin brother alive, Viola decides to disguise herself as a woman. boy. She transforms into "Cesario", enters Orsino's service and is soon sent to woo Olivia on behalf of the Duke. Olivia remains unmoved by Orsino's attentions but instead finds herself attracted to the young "Cesario", who in turn begins...