Is Viola Older Than Sebastian?

No, Viola is not older than Sebastian.

In William Shakespeare's renowned play Twelfth Night, Viola and Sebastian are presented as twin siblings. As twins, they were born during the same birth, which means they are precisely the same age. While there might be a minor difference in their exact birth times (minutes apart), in all practical and common understandings, neither is considered "older" than the other.

Viola, after being shipwrecked and believing her brother lost, mentions Sebastian early in the play, assuming he has drowned in the sea. Their profound resemblance, a characteristic often associated with twins, plays a pivotal role in the plot, leading to mistaken identities and comedic situations when Viola disguises herself as a male servant named Cesario.

The Age Relationship of Twins

The concept of twins being the same age is fundamental, particularly in their portrayal within literature. Here’s a breakdown of what their twin status implies:

• Simultaneous Birth: Twins share the exact same birth date, marking them as contemporaries in age.
• No Age Hierarchy: Despite one twin potentially being born a few moments before the other, this small time difference does not establish one as significantly "older" than the other in the typical sense of age progression (e.g., years).
• Plot Device in Twelfth Night: Their identical appearance is central to the play's comedic and dramatic elements, facilitating plots of mistaken identity that drive much of the narrative.

Their shared birth and equal age are crucial aspects of their characters, shaping the narrative and the mistaken identity humor throughout the play.