Jul 26, 2008

Twelfth Night | Sebastian (Character Analysis)

Sebastian is Viola's twin brother. The two of them were victims of a shipwreck, and each believes the other has been drowned at sea. Unlike his sister, Sebastian makes only a few, short appearances in the play. He is essentially a minor character whose nature as a "good young man" is subordinated to the demands of the plot. He first enters in II.i accompanied by his devoted rescuer, Antonio. Mourning the apparent death of Viola and feeling aimless in the foreign country of Illyria, Sebastian initially decides to head for Duke Orsino's court but then in III.iii opts instead for touring the...