Character in Twelfth Night Essay

This play Twelfth Night is written by William Shakespeare and is about how a sister and brother lose each other after a storm.

This essay will discuss the changes between scenes of Malvolios character from a puritanical steward to a gullible figure of ridicule who is sick of self love.

Malvolios name means bad wisher bad which is Mal and Wisher that is Volio. This infers that he is a bad wisher, he kills joy.

Maria is looking out for sir Toby threatening him with Malvolio. What a caterwauling do you keep here if my lady have not called up her steward Malvolio and bid him turn you outdoors, never trust me. Here Maria suggests that Malvolio could kick sir Toby out of the house if he makes some noise.

Although Maria says this sir Toby decides to ignore it and reminds Maria Am I not of her blood? Here sir Toby tells Maria that she is my niece and I am her kinsman.

Malvolio makes a dramatic entrance My masters are you mad? This is ironic because they say he is mad later in the plan. This states that Malvolio is looking down on them and is forgetting his position as a steward. He enters and chastises them. Furthermore sir Toby reminds Malvolio that he is no longer than a puritanical steward. Art any more than a steward? Dost thou thinks because thou art virtuous there shall be no more cakes and ale? This line suggest that sir Toby is telling Malvolio since you are a puritanical figure and you dont drink nor celebrate does that mean we cant too.

As sir Toby says this he asks Maria for more wine and this is where Malvolio decides to threaten Maria. Mistress Mary if you prized my ladys favour at anything more than contempt you would not give means for this uncivil rule; she shall know of it by this hand although Malvolio tells Maria if you get the wine and do wrong I shall tell lady Olivia what youve been up to, her reaction to him is careless and she goes and gets the wine. This shows that Malvolio is not high after all he is just a steward.

As soon as Malvolio exits the room Maria comments Go shake your ears this goes to show that Maria is scared of Malvolio and wouldnt have the guts to say it to his face. She only insults him while he is not there.

To get revenge on Malvolio, Maria decides to concoct a plan to trick him with a love letter. I will drop in his way some obscure epistles of love later they decide to make him look as if he is possessed.

The puritanical steward Malvolio is very efficient but also very self-righteous, and he has a poor opinion of drinking, singing, and fun. His attitude earns him hatred of sir Toby, Maria and Sir Andrew, who play cruel tricks on him, making him believe that lady Olivia is in love with by dropping in his way some obscure epistles of love.

Lady Olivia wants to see Malvolio because Malvolio is usually sad and puritanical. He is sad and civil Here Lady Olivia suggests that Malvolio is sad steward so why should he be smiling.

Malvolios entrance is extremely amusing because he is smiling which is very unusual.Sweet lady hoho! when Malvolio says this Lady Olivia is extremely confused she quotes, Smilst Thou? I sent for thee upon a sad occasion Here Lady Olivia says to Malvolio why are you smiling I thought you were sad, so Lady Olivia likes to see him in a sad occasion.

Malvolio changes as soon as he gets the letter, he begins to smile and he shows himself as a hypocrite. Wilt though go to bed Malvolio Here Lady Olivia says to Malvolio why dont you go to bed because she thinks he is sick the way he is acting but hypocritically Malvolio misconstrues her meaning and says To bed? Ay sweetheart and Ill come to thee! This implies that Malvolio rudely suggests the wrong meaning.

Malvolio is convinced that Lady Olivia is in love with him and is falling for the letter. He really thinks its true and that Lady Olivias written the letter.

Malvolio is extremely arrogant and believes that Lady Olivia told sir Toby to look after him because she loves him and doesnt want him sick but Lady Olivia is caring for him as her steward. He also believes that because she called him fellow and not Malvolio he thinks he is special. Let this fellow be looked after-fellow not Malvolio; nor after my degree but fellow. He also quotes nothing can come between me and my hopes Here he is saying Lady Olivia loves him and that she does not love anyone but him and no other man will come between them.

Malvolio also believes that he has caught Lady Olivias eyes. I have limed her this is ironic because he hasnt caught Lady Olivias eye. Here Malvolio is being dramatic because limed is the definition for when a bird is caught to you which suggest that he has lady Olivia trapped to himself which is also ironic.

As soon as Lady Olivia leaves the room, Malvolios pretend happy face fades and he turns into his normal self. Just then Maria, Sir Toby and Fabian hit back to their plan and pretend that he is possessed by the devil. Which way is he in the name of sanctity here sir Toby and the others are acting in a scared manner. Maria sarcastically says god he may not bewitched here she is saying oh god please may he not be possessed. Maria in the end says Tell him to say his prayers Malvolio is confused and refuses (since he doesnt know whats going on) as soon as he refuses they all pretend that because of the devil inside him he wont say his prayers.

Malvolio tells them all to get lost and says that he is not of his element, he is not their type i.e. He is higher than them (as in when he gets married to Lady Olivia, he will be higher than them). Their reaction to Malvolio is being scared in a pretend way as if Malvolio is possessed by the devil. Their reaction is trying to be careful with Malvolio since he has a devil inside, and Malvolio doesnt notice that its all a nasty joke.

Malvolio is Olivia's steward. Just as there is a downside to Sir Toby, there is an upside to Malvolio. To be sure, Olivia's steward is a self-inflated, pompous man, and it is precisely these character traits that make him vulnerable to the joke set up by Toby, Maria and the others. Malvolio is a puritanical figure only when he serves to be.