MovieChat Forums > Twelfth Night or What You Will (1996) Discussion > Why does Antonio leave?

Why does Antonio leave?

posted 15 years ago by vox-sane
4 replies | jump to latest

At the end of Nunn's "Twelfth Night" all the troublemakers leave Olivia's household.

Andrew Aguecheek, as a disappointed suitor, naturally has to go. He couldn't very well stay.

In other productions I've seen, Toby Belch and Maria (now Belch) remain (Olivia is related to him, after all, and she's put up with him this long). Perhaps they're just going on a long honeymoon. But they are divisive characters -- Maria can be particularly nasty and spiteful -- and I can see why Nunn chose to take them out.

Textually, it seems like Malvolio might be staying on (the way Hawthorne plays him, you wonder how the household will run without him). But he, too, is, in a way, a disappointed suitor. And his pride probably drives him from the house (unlike the others, he seems to be sneaking out)

But I don't understand why Antonio is leaving. Nicholas Farrell has been sympathetic since "Chariots of Fire", and his Horatio is the only character worth saving in Branagh's wonderful "Hamlet." Antonio has shown nothing but kindness to Sebastian, and Orsino seems to be forgiving him. Why doesn't Sebastian have him hang around for the party? The chap who saved Viola is there.

Since Nunn did not do a commentary on his decisions on this play, I have to rely on your helpful suppositions.

[–] stargazer61988 15 years ago

Antonio still has enemies there (from the naval battle with Orsino's men), and it's probably not safe or wise to stay any longer.

Take a look at banner, Michael!

[–] cecimino 13 years ago

I agree. It's not a friendly place for Antonio. I expect once they were settled Sebastian would seek him out and visit him if possible.

[–] Suzume-san 14 years ago

Would you stay at a party to celebrate the engagement of the person you loved - loved so much you were literally prepared to die for him - to marry someone else? Would you be happy to sit and watch them kiss and court - twice over, if we accept the convention of the story that the twins are identical and indistinguishable? No, there's nothing here for Antonio, what can he do but go away and try to forget.

As you've noticed, all the outsiders, the losers, the rejects, leave at the end of the play. They are not wanted in the inner circle of Orsino's and Olivia's Illyria. A melancholy touch to the ending of a bittersweet comedy. The rain it raineth every day.

[–] bron-tay 10 years ago

Antonio was pardoned in a moment of general festivity and good-feeling. He's best to be thankful, to get away while the going's good, and never show his face in Illyria again.

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