What is your personal opinion of Malvolio and the way he is treated?

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What is your personal opinion of

Malvolio and the way he is treated?

Malvolio is an extremely complicated and difficult character to study because of his mixed, complex personality. At times in the play he seems very reliable and loyal but sometimes he seems foolish and weak, and in many scenes in the play the audience are encouraged to laugh at him, his actions or his words. He is not portrayed as a lovable character, which makes the play funnier. Also, the way that Malvolio seems humourless actually makes him humorous. Just Malvolio’s name can give you some idea of his personality, it means in Latin “evil-wishing!”

Malvolio’s first appearance is in Act I Scene 5. His humourless character can be seen straight away in this scene because he is not amused by Feste’s attempts to cheer up a saddened Olivia. He talks about Feste in a rude way, as if he is higher than the fool:

“I marvel your lady takes delight in such a

barren rascal. I saw him put down the other day

with an ordinary fool, that has no more brain than a

stone. Look you now, he’s out of his guard already!”(Lines 81-84)

Olivia is not happy with this attempt to be unkind and offensive to Feste and is quick to respond in Feste’s defense:

“O you are sick of self-love, Malvolio and taste with

a distempered appetite.”                                        (Lines 89-90)

Later on in the scene Malvolio tells Olivia that Viola/Cesario wishes to see her. He tries to make Viola/Cesario sound worse than what “he” actually is because Malvolio wants to keep “him” away from Olivia. His attempts fail and eventually Olivia talks with Viola/Cesario.

        When Viola/Cesario leaves, Malvolio is instructed by Olivia to give “him” a ring. Malvolio is very obedient and agrees to do this with no trouble. So, from being rude and offensive earlier on in the scene to Feste, he is now obedient and loyal. Malvolio could, at this point, be called two-faced. His personality changes depending on whom he is interacting with.

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        Act II Scene 2 consists of a conversation between Malvolio and Viola/Cesario. Malvolio seems very proud and pleased to be telling Viola/Cesario that Olivia does not want him to bring messages from Orsino any more. Of course he does not realise that the implications of this message are actually the complete opposite! He says:

“And one thing more, that you never be so hardy to

come again in his affairs, unless it be to report your

lord’s taking of this.”                                                (Lines 8-10)

Malvolio is then rude and selfish to Viola/Cesario because he obviously feels that he is more ...

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