Act III, Scene 3

Sebastian, Viola's twin brother, has now reached the capital of Illyria and runs into Antonio who has followed him secretly in order to protect him. Antonio does not want to accompany Sebastian on a sightseeing trip around the town as he has many enemies in Illyria because he had taken part in a battle at sea against the Duke. Though he did not kill any men, the cause of the enmity is that Antonio is the only one from his town who did not make good the material loss that Orsino suffered when his ships were attacked. He decides to book rooms for them at an inn called The Elephant and gives Sebastian his purse in case Sebastian wants to buy anything.

The complications, which have been an important part of the main plot, now intensify as Sebastian arrives at the capital of Illyria. Viola, disguised as a man, resembles her twin brother to such an extent that this resemblance will result in mistaken identities. Antonio's giving the purse to Sebastian anticipates such complications, as Antonio will mistake Viola for her brother in a future scene. AntionioÂ’s sincerity and love for Sebastian is obvious as he is willing to face all types of dangers for Sebastian's sake, including the wrath of his sworn enemy, Duke Orsino. This selfless love is contrasted with the self-love of characters like Malvolio and even Duke Orsino. This scene prepares the ground for the ending of the play and the final resolution of the misunderstanding and misconceptions present in the main plot.

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