Feste Character Traits

For instance, when he finds the love letter that is supposedly written by Olivia, confessing her love for him, and telling him to smile, wear yellow stockings and go cross-gartered, he says, “I will smile, I will do every thing that thou wilt have me.” (2, 5, 165-6). He thinks the letter is from countess Olivia, who he is in love with, and believes that the greatness of being her husband is about to be given to him. Before finding the letter, he wanders around in Olivia’s garden and dreams about himself “To be Count Malvolio!” (2, 5, 32). He imagines how the other characters of the play would serve him, which again shows that Malvolio thinks he stands above everyone. In addition, when Malvolio is hailed by Olivia, he arrives smiling, wearing yellow stockings and cross-gartered, which makes Olivia think he has gone insane: “Why, this is very midsummer madness.” (3, 4, 51). Consequently, in this part of the play Malvolio’s inside does not match his outside. Throughout the play he is a grave character, that detests other persons having fun, so his actions of smiling and wearing strange dress make him look like a madman, which is why he gets locked up in Olivia’s basement. Towards the end, he returns to his initial manner, and declares that he will “be reveng’d on the whole pack of you!”, referring to the characters that tricked him into believing that the letter was

Although he does not make any profound remarks, he seems to be the wisest person of all the characters in the comedy. Viola remarks this by saying, "This fellow's wise enough to play the fool"(III.i.61). Since Feste is a licensed fool, his main role in Twelfth Night is to speak the truth. This is where the humor lies, his truthfulness. In one example he proves Olivia to be a true fool by asking her what she was mourning about. The point Feste tried to make was that Olivia was mourning for a person whose soul is in heaven.

   In most Shakespearean romantic comedies, there is a character that plays the part of a truth-teller.  And in William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night it is no different. Feste, a clown, through his mixed up words and songs enlightens the other characters whilst playing the role of the truth-teller.  Through aiding the Duke with his patience, helping Viola with her love problems, and having a major role in Malvolio's downfall, Feste holds one of the primary parts of the play.

“better a witty fool, than a foolish wit” (1.5.327). Here, Shakespeare uses Feste to articulate his

This compassion for Olivia is extended throughout the film to include two other female characters; Viola and Maria. He cares for these women and envisions them in a happier state. It’s evident that there is more than meets the eye when Feste’s status is concerned. He may be labelled as a fool, but indeed his unique intelligence makes the individuals around him the fools. His title of “fool” gives him employment in order to survive, and nothing more. However, as stated above, it does not describe who he is truly by mind, heart and soul. He is intelligent, gentle, and empathetic especially with his lady Olivia. In her court Feste is more than an average jester; he is a member of her family who, unlike the rest of her servants, has the freedom to roam as he pleases. After she suffers the loss of her father and brother, Feste is the most important figure in her life. He became her father and brother, caring and watching over her. For this reason, when he takes advantage of his freedom, remaining absent for days, Olivia becomes furious with him. This is particular in scene one-act five, when Feste attempts to regain her trust with his intelligent humour. Clown. Good madonna, why mourn’st though? Olivia. Good Fool, for my brother’s death Clown. I think his soul is in hell, madonna Olivia. I know his soul is in heaven, fool Clown. The more fool, madonna, to mourn for your brother’s soul, being in heaven. Take away

Characterization is a critical component of William Shakespeare’s writing and is intricately developed in his play Hamlet. As the protagonist, Hamlet deals with the tragedy of his father’s death, and vows to get revenge when the ghost of his late father informs him the murderer was his Uncle, King Claudius, currently married to his mother, Queen Gertrude. Although Hamlet appears to be set on his deadly vengeance, his indecisiveness and major flaw of procrastination becomes evident when compared to his foils in the play, Prince Fortinbras and Laertes. The literary significance of a foil is to highlight a key component of the protagonist’s character through comparison. Prince Fortinbras and Laertes take action to avenge the death of their fathers,

The most interesting character of “Twelfth Night” is Feste. He has such a double character that shows at different times of the play. His first ‘character’ or ‘personality’ is his wise and humorous one:

This makes the prank look very cruel. Malvolio is falling for it despite the lack in realism, and is shown to be very submissive allowing the reader to connect with him. In conclusion, the prank Maria and her friends

Throughout William Shakespeare's Elizabethan comedy, Twelfth Night, Malvolio’s character further developed throughout the plot “Maria’s Prank” as he was pranked, tricked into acting as a fool, and locked in a darkroom trying to be convinced he has gone mad. The plot “Maria’s Prank,” begins with Maria’s idea to play a practical joke on Malvolio, who is known as a gullible character with a high ego. Considering his personality, Maria knew he would fall for her forged letters that implied Olivia was in love with him, but did not want others to know. Malvolio came across the letter Maria had left for him to find and fell for the trick as she predicted, “M, O, A I. … for everyone of these letters are in my name” (Shakespeare I. iv.140).

In William Shakespeare's comedy Twelfth Night, it is ironic how many times the fool is said to be dishonest, when, in fact, his role proves entirely opposite. Though sometimes the characters do not realize his hidden messages, the reader can instantly comprehend Feste's figurative language, which is evident in every scene in which the fool appears. Whether he is singing to Orsino, arguing with Malvolio, or playing around with Viola, Feste always manages to sneak in a few symbolic foretokens before his exit. His keen eye and fast wit help him to actively partake in the portrayal of the story, however, the fool is merely present to express that which cannot be fully expressed through the

Maria and the conspirators decide to mislead Malvolio into thinking that Olivia is in love with him. Maria decides to lead him on by writing a letter, but means to be from Olivia. This love letter is meant to instruct Malvolio to do actions that Olivia despises. Maria is able to mislead Malvolio because she has the same print and seal as Olivia. Shakespeare is able to trick the characters and create many portrayals of them.

Disguise in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night has many purposes. Even though disguising one's gender is a common theme in Shakespeare, some say it is instates bonding and allows a way for it to happen. It is known that it is used as a necessity for survival. In Twelfth Night, Disguise and Identity is shown in feelings, appearances and decisions. Disguise is an occasionally seen force which drives one’s mind into believing in something unrealistic. Disguise and Identity get mixed up which causes confusion. Both factors are compared in the meaning of Truth.

In Shakespeare’s play, Malvolio and Maria both wish to do this; one by courting Olivia, and the other by trying to get closer to Sir Toby. The main difference between the two characters is Malvolio’s self-adulation and lust for power in comparison of Maria’s cleverness and her willingness to put her immediate wants aside to ultimately satisfy her craving for a better social standing at a later time. Malvolio’s immediate addiction to power and wish to get revenge on others overcomes any will he could have to play a part to access a higher social status.

The Carnival setting in the play gives the characters a freedom, particularly sexual freedom, they would not otherwise possess. When asked by her governess what she will do at Carnival, Hellena replies, ‘That which all the World does, as I am told, be as mad as the rest, and take all innocent Freedom.’ (Owens, 1996: 268) In the play, the madness and freedom of Carnival is produced by the masquerading element of the festival. As Belville points out about the masks he and Willmore are wearing, ‘Whatever Extravagances we commit in these Faces, our own may not be oblig’d to answer ‘em.’ (Owens, 1996: 275) This kind of environment is especially dangerous for a licentious character like Willmore. In fact, Willmore’s sexual desire threatens to become violent almost immediately after he comes ashore at Naples. A woman dressed like a courtesan shuns Willmore’s advances and Willmore quickly becomes aggressive, his sexual desire restrained only by the more honorable Belville who beseeches him to ‘use no Violence here.’ The masquerade setting in

Through the play each character’s behavior is changed. The biggest change in behavior was that of Malvolio who began to believe in his own delusion. This delusion made him believe that the fair Lady Olivia loved him. His delusional state got him locked up in a shackles and isolated. This state of mind is an effect of love for him. Then the Lady Olivia’s behavior when she is not in love is a melancholy state. She had just lost her brother and her