Discussion questions for Wednesday, November 3:

• The title of the play is Twelfth Night, or What you will. What's twelfth night? When is twelfth night? What does it have to do with the action of the play?
  Turns out this is the only play by Shakespeare with a subtitle, so we might want to think twice about what "what you will" means in the context of the play. Hint: what's "will"?

• Who are the characters? Where do they live? How do they live? How are they related? Do you know people like Orsino? Olivia? Viola? Malvolio?

• At what time of year does the play take place? Does the text give any indication?

• Read (carefully, of course) the first speech by Orsino. What is he talking about? What does he want an excess of and why does he want one? Does he want one?

• From the start, it's clear that love is a major theme of the play. What do these main characters (Orsino, Olivia, Viola, Malvolio) have to say about love? Do their actions consistently reflect their words?

• Orsino loves Olivia who doesn't love him. Olivia loves Viola who loves Orsino. Malvolio falls in love with Olivia and really wants to believe she's in love with him. What's going on with these people? Does Orsino really love Olivia? If so, why? Why does Olivia suddenly fall in love with Viola/Cesario? Why is Viola (after only three days) set on Orsino? What's with Malvolio?