Twelfth Night: What makes Act two, Scene five funny?
Twelfth Night: What makes Act two, Scene five funny?
There are many elements of this scene that make it humorous:
The basic framework is about Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, Fabian and Maria playing a trick on Malvolio. They decide to write a letter that Malvolio would think was from Olivia proclaiming her love to him. They do this to get their own back on him for being a killjoy.
There is a lot of dramatic irony in this scene. This means the audience and characters are sharing a secret, this being that the audience knows the letter is a hoax. Also a character, in this case Malvolio, does not know the full significance of what he is saying. For instance; 'these are her very C's, her U's and her T's and thus makes her great P's. In those days 'cut' was a slang word for the female genitals but he doesn't realise he is saying these particular letters.
Depending on your humour you will find different things funny. You may or may not find dirty jokes funny but there are a lot of sexual implications in Twelfth Night. There is the 'cut' joke which has been explained above, the puns on the letters 'I', 'O' and 'eye' which if arranged in certain ways resemble the male and female genitals, the toilet humour used; '...and thus makes her great P's.' and Malvolio's fantasies of sleeping with Olivia; 'having come from my day bed where I left Olivia sleeping-'.
Metaphors not only add to the wit of the scene but also help to get the joke across. They really help audiences such as myself to understand the comedy. Here are a few metaphors explained...
'If I lose a scruple of this sport, let me be boiled to death with melancholy.'
'Melancholy' is the coldest of the four humours. Fabian is saying that he would rather die than miss even a tiny bit of Malvolio reading the letter. It would be almost impossible to be boiled with melancholy, as it is cold so he is saying he definitely won't miss a thing.
'The cur is excellent at faults.'
A 'cur' is a nickname for a worthless dog that follows the wrong trail. Malvolio is actually being compared to a 'cur'.
'Contemplation makes a rare turkey cock of him: how he jets under his advanced plumes.'
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'Melancholy' is the coldest of the four humours. Fabian is saying that he would rather die than miss even a tiny bit of Malvolio reading the letter. It would be almost impossible to be boiled with melancholy, as it is cold so he is saying he definitely won't miss a thing.
'The cur is excellent at faults.'
A 'cur' is a nickname for a worthless dog that follows the wrong trail. Malvolio is actually being compared to a 'cur'.
'Contemplation makes a rare turkey cock of him: how he jets under his advanced plumes.'
Here Fabian is comparing Malvolio to a male turkey. He is saying that Malvolio's excessively high opinion of himself will make a fool out of him. Fabian then goes on to prove his point by observing the way he struts around all high and mighty as if he is superior.
Puns also play a big part in the comic of this scene. Puns are plays on words, in this case on 'M.O.A.I.': -
Malvolio: 'M' -But there is no consonancy in the sequel; that suffers under probation: 'A' should follow, but 'O' does.'
Fabian: 'And O shall end I hope.'
Sir Toby: 'Ay, or I'll cudgel him, and make him cry 'O'!'.
Malvolio: 'And then 'I' comes behind.'
Fabian: 'Ay, an'you had any eye behind you, you might more detraction at you heals than fortunes before you.'
The style of this scene is done in a theatrical manner. I have seen two versions of Twelfth Night. In both, they added in extra little actions. For instance, trying to smile, turning around where the letter says 'If this fall into thy hand, revolve', and where it says 'M.O.A.I' he says it as a word.
The scene has also been performed in a very exaggerated pantomime style. One example is Fabian, Sir Toby and Sir Andrew trying to hide behind a ridiculously small tree. It was also on wheels and they'd move it every time Malvolio moved. It was plainly obvious they were there and they kept nearly getting caught out.
This section was probably written not only to add comedy to the scene but also to illustrate how nieve Malvolio is. It is obvious now that he will believe this letter, after all, he already thinks Olivia likes him:
'Maria once told me she did affect me and I have herself come thus near, that should come thus near, that she should fancy, it should be one of my complexion.'
Malvolio was making a fool out of himself before he even fell for the letter. He was fanaticising about being married to Olivia and toying with the idea of being 'Count Malvolio':
'Having been three months married to her sitting in my state- Calling my officers around me in my branched velvet gown...'
He then goes on, after imagining being rich and royal, coming across the idea of power:
'I extend my hand to him thus, quenching my familiar smile with a austere regard of control- Saying 'Cousin Toby, my fortunes having cast me on your niece give me this prerogative of speech. You must amend your drunkenness'
Malvolio, being the self-obsessed person he is, assumes that the line 'M.O.A.I doth sway my life' is some 'clue' that indicates the letter is to him. All the letters are in his name but in no pacific order. This seems to baffle him.
'M' -but then there is no consonancy in the sequel.'
He than reassures himself that this isn't a false lead, as he wants the letter to be to him.
'This simulation is not as the former: and yet, to crush this a little, it would bow to me, for every one of these letters is in my name.'
Little does he know that there is a perfectly good explanation for there letters; the initials if the four elements in Latin; Mare (sea), Orbis (earth), Aer (air) and Ignis (fire). This 'riddle' was cleverly chosen as not only does it have letters in Malvolio's name, but when said aloud, also resembles the French word 'Maui' meaning 'me'. -Another indication that the letter is to Malvolio.
It's quite amusing that Maria added a few more things to the letter to make Malvolio look even more foolish. He is asked to wear yellow cross-gartered stockings and to smile. Not only will he look ridiculous but also it will go against his beliefs. He is supposed to be a puritan. They belief in living very simple lives, wearing plain black and white clothes, not drinking or partying and generally not having any fun! His is a great comparison to Malvolio, who wishes for materialistic things, royalty and control! Sir Toby and his friends suspect this and decide to uncover his true self. Another funny thing as that Olivia hates the colour yellow. A nice touch to one production is when Maria tells Sir Andrew, Sir Toby and Fabian this. Sir Andrew realises they are all staring and follows their eyes. He looks down and he's wearing yellow! -It was hilarious!
Sir Andrew's stupidity makes me laugh; he is constantly the 'butt' of jokes. He is also very innocent and simple minded and never understands the rude comments.
'Her C's, her U's and he T's; why that?'
He also looks up to Sir Toby as a child would to an older child role model, copying everything he does.
Sir Toby: 'I could marry this wrench for this device'
Sir Andrew: 'So could I too'
Sir Toby: 'And ask no other dowry with her but such another jest'
Sir Andrew: 'Nor I either'
(Enter Maria)
Sir Toby: 'Wilt thou set thy foot o my neck?'
Sir Andrew: 'Or o mine either?'
-And it goes on like this.
Each character in this scene is funny in a different way, here are a few examples: Malvolio's behaviour is funny and we (the audience) tend to laugh at him not with him. Fabian is the fool so it is only logical that he cracks the most jokes. Sir Andrew is 'the thick one' (for reasons why, see above paragraph).
To conclude; one of the things that I personally find most funny is the fact that the whole set-up is so far fetched! Not only is Malvolio a servant whereas Olivia is a Lady but from the way Malvolio is described, he seems rather unattractive compared to pretty elegant Olivia. It's not even as if Malvolio has a nice personality! -He is just a wishful thinker. He even says himself that he won't let his imagination run away from him yet that is exactly what he is doing!
'I do not now fool myself, to let imagination jade me; for every reason exites to this, that my lady loves me.'
The whole scene is one big farce!
Aisling Knight 94
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