Social Amibition is the Stepping Stone to Humilliation in Shakespeare's Twefth Night

Malvolio looks to marry the Countess for similar reasons as Aguecheek; thus, making flattering Olivia an unlikely concept. Additionally, the Steward

Not only does Malvolio end up embarrassing himself, but he was cruelly set up to make a bad impression of himself in front of Olivia, his employer. Malvolio, dressed in his unpleasant outfit breaks decorum by speaking in a casual manner to Olivia and making unwanted comments regarding cross-gartering: "this does make some obstruction in the blood, this cross-gartering" (III, iv, 19-20), he said. To be speaking with familiarity to somebody of a higher status is perceived as rude and could jeopardize one's job. Maria disregards Malvolio's job and proceeds to play a prank that has the potential of getting him fired, which is cruel and not at all funny. In the end, the prank is taken too far as Malvolio is unjustly imprisoned because he is thought to be possessed. Maria and the others find amusement in his misfortune and they include Feste, who dresses as "Sir Topas the curate", to pay a visit to "Malvolio the lunatic" in the dungeons (IV, ii,

In the play “Twelfth Night”, Malvolio is a steward for Lady Olivia. He’s very in love with her and only she has to deal with it. On the other hand, Olivia is plainly not in love with him; she is in love with Cesario. He tries everything to try and win her love but he also has a negative attitude towards others. Malvolio’s behavior is unacceptable and other people shouldn’t have to deal with it.

The character Malvolio in William Shakespeare’s popular comedy Twelfth Night may seem to be a minor character, but that is not the case. As the play progresses, Malvolio becomes a more interesting and complex character that plays a much larger role, particularly within the subplot of the play. His name literally means “ill will”, and based on its implications, it foreshadows Malvolio’s future. Malvolio is an important character to the play and to the holiday of Twelfth Night.

Next up is the power that Malvolio was given by Olivia. After Malvolio attempted to break up Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and Maria’s fun, they began to plot against him. Malvolio however, was simply trying to keep order in Olivia’s house. Olivia has given Malvolio a position of some power in her house. Judging from different parts of the story and by Olivia’s position as a countess it is safe to assume that being in charge of the affairs of Olivia’s household was no small task. She was obviously wealthy and had a large house with many servants and for Olivia to try and manage all of those things on her own would be a very difficult task, but also a task that she couldn’t trust to just anyone. She obviously trusted Malvolio with running the affairs of her house. Sean Benson touches on this point and argues that, “As Olivia’s steward, Malvolio is in control of the domestic affairs of her household; if he were as inept as […] others have thought, how has he risen to this important managerial

       Twelfth Night is likely one of Shakespeare’s most entertaining and complete comedy. This romance explores a generous wealth of themes and issues. The most recurrent theme is the relationship between misperception and deception. As a result of their environment and immediate circumstances, men are forced into misperceptions. Paradoxically, they are completely trapped by these illusions. Between the bad fortune they encounter and the bad fortune they themselves generate, they become caught between a rock and a hard place; they are victims of deceit as well as their own folly.

Malvolio is the steward of Olivia’s house and lives to serve her. When he plans to tell Olivia of her housemaid Maria’s partaking in the ruckus of with the other character, Maria tricks Malvolio into thinking that she secretly wants to marry him by writing him a note. After being tricked by Olivia’s housemaid, Malvolio slowly starts to cause concern when Olivia sees a change in his normal demeanor. Shocked by his new found affection she is persuaded to believe that he has gone mad. Malvolio too believes he has lost his sanity when he is told by the fool who is dressed as a preist that he is crazy.

Malviolio, who is a low class servant, views himself to be higher class when he portrays arrogance and acts like everyone is beneath him. He pictures himself to be Lady Olivia’s main steward who rules all of the other servants around but, in reality, the other servants are his equals. Malvolio has this dream where he will marry Olivia because he thinks he is in her social class. An example of his huge ego is when the Fool, Maria, and Toby are downstairs past their bedtime. Malvolio orders them to go back to bed and says “if you prized my lady’s favor at anything more than contempt, you would not give means for this uncivil rule” (2.3.120-122).

Because of his rude and bossy actions Maria, Toby, Feste, Andrew, and Fabian made an evil plan. They planned to trick him and make a fool out of the steward. By making him think Olivia loves him and that he is a madman, they would sure get their revenge. Maria first wrote a letter to Malvolio playing as Olivia. The letter is a love poem to Malvolio, claiming she loves him but wishes to keep it a secret.

In the play Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare, Malvolio an ambitious posh servant of the Lady Olivia’s household, is presented as one of the least liked characters. His character traits display him as a very uptight person who is easily angered. Many times throughout the play this character shows his presitence and appreciation of his master, the Lady Olivia. His willingness towards Lady Olivia can be seen when he interrupts the loud partying of Sir Toby and Andrew, and when he dressed up as a fool because he believed that she had asked him to.

They both enjoy wallowing in self-pity, and have shallow emotions-shown when they’re love is transferred between characters at fast paces- and are self-indulgent. We’re then introduced to Viola’s twin brother, Sebastian, who doesn’t add much to the plot and who’s character isn’t as developed, or rounded, as his sister’s. He seems to be there only to add confusion, and to allow Viola’s true identity to be revealed, allowing Osiro to fall in love with her. Malvolio then enters the play as a self-righteous head servant for Lady Olivia. He has no regard for fun, and frowns upon it entirely. When he becomes the target of a cruel practical joke by Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and Maria his character shifts in order to please his love: Lady

In “The Twelfth Night”, by Shakespeare, Malvolio, the steward of Noble Olivia’s household, gets a prank done on him from family and other workers of the countess. The prank originated from Maria, a servant in Olivia’s household, who wants to get revenge on Malvolio because he is always spoiling others fun. Maria “[drops] some mysterious love letters in his path” supposedly written by Lady Olivia but is actually written by Maria(3.1.34). The letter was written saying to Malvolio about what he should do when around Olivia but it is actually saying exactly opposite from what Oliva actually wants. With the help from others, they made a complete fool of Malvolio but was it really necessary, did they go too far?

Shakespeare implies that the character Olivia thinks Malvolio is self-centered ‘O you we sick of self-love Malvolio’. Shakespeare makes it clear to his audience that although Olivia trusts and respects Malvolio his opinions, however outside of business Olivia doesn’t respect Malvolio. Shakespeare also suggests that Olivia is sick of self-love through the way she word her question. Also Shakespeare suggesting that Olivia herself is sick of self-love through way her pride of rejecting her suitors. Shakespeare shows clearly that Malvolio is Olivia’s steward and the she expects and trust him in following her instructions ‘Go you Malvolio. If it be a suit from the count … what you will to dismiss it’. Shakespeare shows that Malvolio is Olivia’s steward and she expects and trusts Malvolio to follow her instruction and to cast away suitors, whatever it takes. Shakespeare insinuates the reason why Malvolio thinks he can woo Olivia,

In our reenactment of scene 2 act 5, Sir Toby Belch, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Maria, and Feste plot a prank on Malvolio in which they use Malvolio’s avarice and greed towards Maria to make a fool of himself. They spoof a letter written by Maria confessing her love towards Malvolio, and laugh and fume at Malvolio as he plans the unlikely theoretical future he and Maria might have together. The comedic drunken knight filled with selfishness and mockery is the character I play in our adaptation of Twelfth Night.

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