(1) Be opposite with a kinsman, surly with servants;
(2) Remember who commended thy yellow stockings, and wished to see thee ever cross- gartered:
(3) Therefore in my presence still smile, dear my sweet, I prithee.
This is a classic case of Dramatic Irony and inappropriateness when Olivia is in Mourning. This act of arrogance in Olivia’s case is inappropriate and should be severely punished therefore Malvolio was sent to the Dungeon. Which is also symbolic to his actual position in the house at this point the audience feels empathy for Malvolio. but there is the point of if malvolio is the only person that is not superficial which I believe he actually is because attitude after the letter is superficial and fake and as a result he has been treated inappropriately. Also there is a lot of Superficiality in the Twelfth Night, a prime example of that is Olivia in mourning over her Father and Brother I quote ‘
Clown. Good Madonna, why mournest thou’
Oli. ‘Good fool for my brothers death’
This shows Olivia is in distress emotionally because of her temperament and extreme emotion one-minute shes in mourning for seven years and the next minute she is in love with Cesario which is just as extreme as how she falls in love. Which is like Orsino in the way of loving been in love
‘If music be the food of love play on; this quote shows how he loves himself and his love for Olivia which is superficial because in a second he falls in love with Viola as soon as she unmasks her sexuality.
Another key superficiality is Andrews bravery in the duel with Cesario Andrew gets jealous when Olivia falls for Cesario. And writes him a letter offering a duel but Toby ripped it up and made a extremely convincing letter that petrifies Cesario. When they meet in a remote place Toby starts stirring it up saying that one an other will not back down which is comic in a sense and it gives the audience the element of Dramatic Irony and superficiality and is due to more superficiality from Toby’s exaggeration. Toby manipulates nearly everyone without ant one knowing he manipulates Andrew for his money He manipulates Olivia for a place to live , he manipulates Maria to do the dirty work and he manipulates Cesario in the trick he set up. Subversion is a part of the Twelfth Night also with many people changing roles like Viola changing to Cesario in Order to get a job and move on in life. Other examples of subversion are
(1) Feste as a priest
(2) Olivia in mourning-suddenly in love.
Another trick of Toby’s is when Feste pretends to be a priest and sees malvolio in the dungeon. At that time Malvolo is self est steam is way low and the patronising, pompous attitude has gone he is losing his sanity minute by minute thinking why he’s been put there. He think Olivia is to blame but he doesn’t realise that it is Toby who set him up
Overall the 12th night was one of Shakespeare’s best play and most comic a most enjoyable book to read.