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Toby Scares Andrew About the Duel, Explained

Twelfth Night · 2012

Capítulo 19 de 25 · 2'42"

Fabian and Toby describe Andrew's opponent as a monster, feeding a duel Andrew never wanted. "He is indeed... the most skillful, bloody, and fatal opposite," they claim, while Andrew panics: "I'll not meddle with him." The scene is a machine for turning vanity into sheer terror.

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Key moments

Start here, then watch the full scene
  1. ❝ Monólogo · 8 frases Toby Terrifies Sir Andrew

    0:31–1:12
    42s
  1. ❝ MonólogoAndrew's cowardly boast8 frasesPracticar ↗

Toby Scares Andrew About the Duel, explained

What happens

On Olivia's grounds, Toby and Fabian work on Sir Andrew, describing the man he is supposed to fight as the most deadly opponent in Illyria. They claim he has been a fencer to the Sophy. Terrified, Andrew tries to back out. Meanwhile, Viola — the other half of the duel — is just as frightened, but must keep up the appearance of a man.

What's really going on

The joke of the duel is that both men are cowards, and the scene is built on that symmetry. Toby and Fabian inflate Cesario into a legend — a fencer to the Sophy, 'the most skillful, bloody, and fatal opposite' — purely to enjoy Andrew's panic. Andrew, meanwhile, wants only to be talked out of it; his real line, 'I'll not meddle with him,' is the most honest sentence in the scene. The comedy also carries a satiric edge: knights who boast of honour are revealed as frightened, and the one who actually shows dignity is the disguised woman they think is a soft young man. Viola's aside, 'how much I lack of a man,' lets the audience in on the double truth: she is not a man, and she is braver than either of them.

Key lines & what they mean

“I am one that would rather go with sir priest than sir knight.”
A joke about cowardice: this person would rather keep company with a peaceable priest than a fighting knight.
“A little thing would make me tell them how much I lack of a man.”
Viola nearly confesses she lacks a man's courage. It's an aside that hints at her disguise and her fear.
“And on the answer, he pays you as surely as your feet hit the ground they step on.”
Fabian claims the opponent always returns a blow as certainly as a foot meets the ground — pure exaggeration to frighten Andrew.
“I know the youth is incensed against you, even to a mortal arbitrament, but nothing of the circumstance more.”
Fabian says he knows the quarrel has reached a deadly challenge, but pretends not to know why, keeping Andrew nervous.
“He is indeed, sir, the most skillful, bloody, and fatal opposite that you could possibly have found in any part of Illyria.”
The inflated warning about Cesario: the deadliest opponent anyone could find in the whole country. It is designed to terrify.

Theme

  • Courage — Both duelists are terrified; the scene measures courage by who can hide their fear best.
  • Identity — Viola must play the fearless man in a duel, joking that she 'lacks a man' in front of others.

Qué aprendes en este capítulo

Puntos de enseñanza

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Mi nivel0/7

A1–C2 es la escala MCER. Las tarjetas por encima del nivel elegido se atenúan y la reproducción no se pausa en ellas.

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Ideas clave

Lo que te llevas
  1. Would rather A than B states a clear preference
  2. Give ground means to back off in a fight
  3. Fencer to the Sophy means a ruler's sword master
  4. Lack of a man is old talk for lacking nerve

Preguntas frecuentes

La pregunta, luego la frase
Why do Toby and Fabian frighten Andrew?

They are gulling him for their own amusement. By inflating his opponent into a deadly swordsman, they enjoy his panic and push him toward a duel he cannot handle.

Is Andrew actually going to fight Cesario?

He is trapped by his own challenge and his oath. He tries to back out and offer his horse to be excused, but Toby and Fabian keep pressing him.

What does "a pox on't" mean?

It is an old curse meaning 'a plague on it' — roughly 'to hell with it.' Andrew uses it to express disgust and dread at the whole situation.

Why is Viola afraid of the duel?

She is a disguised woman who has never fought, and the man she is supposed to duel is said to be a deadly swordsman. She must hide her fear to keep up the disguise.

What does "lack of a man" refer to?

Viola's aside admits she is not a man and lacks a man's courage. It is a private joke to the audience about her disguise during the duel scene.