Twelfth Night - Character of Olivia and her arrogant steward Malvolio.

Twelfth Night In this play there are many characters, but for this piece I am mainly going to concentrate on Olivia and her arrogant steward Malvolio. Olivia is the daughter of a very rich and powerful man. She is very intelligent, witty and refined. The Duke Orsino is madly in love with Olivia but, unfortunately for Orsino, Olivia is mourning her dead brother and swears to herself that she well continue this mourning for seven years and will have no relation until that time is up. Malvolio, as stated above, is the steward to Olivia. It's his job to make sure that everyone in the house of Olivia is fulfilling their required duty and, in Malvolio's mind, to keep them from having fun! All the employees who are under Malvolio's keep all think that he is arrogant, conceited and patronising, some have gone as far as to say that he is a puritan "The devil the puritan that he is". Malvolio thinks he is perfect in everyway and fails to see his own faults but takes delight in finding faults in others. He has a particular grudge against the family fool Feste. Feste was employed by Olivia's father along time back and has been entertaining the family ever since. He is known to take unexpected trips for long periods of time and this annoys Olivia to the utmost extreme. He has just returned from a long, but for him, an enjoyable trip. When he steps through the court gates he is greeted

  • Word count: 1668
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Twelfth night was written

GCSE English Shakespeare Assignment Question-a close analysis of Act 2 Scene 5, with particular reference to dramatic effects. All references to the text must be supported with relevant quotations. Twelfth night was written by William Shakespeare in 1601, it was one of the last comedies he wrote. Twelfth Night is seen by many people as a traditional romantic comedy. It includes devices of gender confusion, mistaken identity and speaks about the madness of love, resulting from a shipwreck involving twins that both think the other one is dead. The subplot features a very vain, self centred character, Malvolio. Malvolio is brought to humiliation when a cruel trick is played on him by a very drunken Sir Toby Belch. Two of the main characters in the play are Sir Toby Belch and Andrew Aguecheek who throughout the play always appear to be drunk. Sir Toby is Olivia's (a rich countess) uncle. Viola is another main character in the play you will also hear of her being Cesario as she dresses up as him and pretends to be man in order to get a job working for Duke Orsino. Viola also has a twin, Sebastian, who she thinks has died in the shipwreck that separated them, but he hasn't and is still alive. Maria is Olivia's lady in waiting and doesn't like the way Malvolio talks to her. Duke Orsino is obviously the Duke of Illyria who is madly in love with Olivia. Malvolio has been

  • Word count: 879
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Twelfth night - Act 3, Scene 4 - How would I play Malvolio?

Act 3, Scene 4 - How would I play Malvolio? First impressions are always very important and Malvolio's must set his character for the whole scene. Socially during Twelfth Night's era the maid would enter a room before the guest that showed them where the room was and they often renounced the visitor the master/mistress. But given Malvolio's current mood he would be so eager to speak to Olivia he may want to enter the room first. Upon my entrance I will have a sort of "pushing contest" with Maria in the doorframe so that I could get through first. When I actually manage to get in front of Maria I will brush my clothes haughtily with quick movements to show that Maria is below me. I will then raise my head up high to make sure that Maria understands her place. On Malvolio's first line I will bend down on one knee in front of Olivia and kiss her hand twice to exaggerate my inappropriate behaviour; Malvolio is Olivia's butler and does not carry the status to kiss her hand. Soon as I hear Olivia say "sad occasion" I will beam at her because Malvolio would think she was being sarcastic due to the letter that he received. I will raise my eyebrows on my next line and almost laugh while speaking. At the words "I could be sad" I will pout a bit while speaking to notify Olivia that I understand her 'sarcasm'. I will get up then and stand facing the audience. I will also

  • Word count: 946
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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William Shakespeare's play, Twelfth Night

Karl Bowers 11Bu Wednesday 10th November 2004 English Coursework William Shakespeare's play, Twelfth Night is based around disguise and deception, both mental and physical. The deception leads to a lot of misunderstanding and subsequently, a lot of humor. The tale begins in Illyria with the Duke Orsino, who is suffering due to his unrequited love for the Lady Olivia. The Lady is also suffering from the recent loss of her brother and father, and currently wants nothing to do with the equally mournful Duke. A disguise is used for safety when a young character named Viola becomes shipwrecked in Illyria. She has been warned of the dangers of being alone in Illyria and so disguises herself as Cesario, a male eunuch and goes to work for the Duke Orsino, whom she has heard well off. The Duke accepts her service, under the impression that she is a he, and wishes Cesario to attempt to woo the Lady Olivia, thinking she will be taken in by his youthful looks. However, Viola has fallen in love with the Duke Orsino, 'I'll do my best to woo your lady (Aside) yet, a barful strife! Whoe'er I woo, myself would be his wife'. Unfortunately for Viola, the Lady Olivia is not interested in The Duke, 'Your lord does know my mind, I cannot love him' and even worse for Viola, the Lady Olivia has taken a liking to her! 'I cannot love

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Compare and contrast the role of two minor characters from two different plays.

Compare and contrast the role of two minor characters from two different plays In the play Twelfth Night Maria is a waiting gentlewoman for Lady Olivia. She mainly plays the part of a catalyst and shows an interest in playing jokes particularly on Malvolio. Another waiting gentlewoman is Charmian in the play Antony and Cleopatra. She can best be described as a loyal servant and friend to Cleopatra. Both of these women play significant roles in their respective plays although they do not serve for the same purpose. Maria role in Twelfth night is to stir up trouble. Although she is a servant to Olivia she is not genuinely thinking of Olivia when she tries to enforce the rules. This is shown when Maria says "My lady will hang thee for thy absence." (Act I Sc. 5 Line 3). She is exaggerating but it is interesting how instead of saying, "You are supposed to be here!" she says, "My lady will kill you when she sees you". It more seems like Maria is trying to tell Feste how much trouble he is in then to scold him. This is in contrast to how I believe Charmian would have handled the situation. Charmian is portrayed as a friend to Cleopatra and therefore is truly thinking about pleasing Cleopatra. In the same situation Charmian would have been angrier that Feste left and that he did not think about Olivia. This shows the different ways that Maria and Charmian feel about serving their

  • Word count: 669
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Twelfth Night Act 3 Scene 4 (line 80 – 133) A modern Version.

Modern Version SIR TOBY Where is he, in the name of God? He may be possessed by every devil in hell but I want to see him. FABIAN Here he is, how are you sir? SIR TOBY What is wrong with you man? MALVOLIO Go away, I want to enjoy my privacy MARIA The devil speaks within him, didn't I tell you? My lady wants Sir Toby to look after you. MALVOLIO Ah, Ha! Does she! SIR TOBY Calm down, we must deal with him carefully, leave me alone. How are you Malvolio? What's wrong with you? MALVOLIO Watch what you are saying! MARIA Pray to God that he is not possessed by the devil! FABIAN Take his water to the wise woman! MARIA If I live through this, my lady will not lose him for more than I'll say. MALVOLIO What was that Maria? Feelings/Actions Uptight because he can't find Malvolio. Delight as he has found him. Curious. Annoyed as he has been interrupted. Annoyed, as Malvolio has not obeyed her. Confused why. Confused, as he doesn't know what's wrong with Malvolio. He's insulted. Scared that Malvolio is possessed by the devil. Try's to say how to fix the problem. He's insulted again. MARIA O, Lord SIR TOBY This is not the way to cure him, leave him alone with me. FABIAN Be gentle, because the devil is rough and should not be roughly treated. SIR TOBY What do we do then Chuck? MALVOLIO Sir! SIR TOBY Come with me man! You need to play in a sand

  • Word count: 521
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Dear Mr Shakespeare, I am just writing to congratulate you on your most recent successful play, "Twelfth Night".

Lisa Percival 10ni 10th December 2002 "Twelfth Night" Act 3 scene 4 48 Sharps close, North London, NN15 9SE Dear Mr Shakespeare, I am just writing to congratulate you on your most recent successful play, "Twelfth Night" my Family and I saw it last night and thought it was amazing! Wherever the inspiration for this play came from was truly amazing, and I certainly would be very curious as to where else these inspirations may lead, maybe into a sequel to Twelfth Night or another play of this genre. My wife especially enjoyed the roles of Voila/Cesario, she found a woman in the disguise of a man was hilarious. My son and I enjoyed the fight scene the best, where Cesario is set to fight Sir Andrew. The standard in which the fight scene was performed was incredible. It was a great success and was a terrific turning point in the play. I thought the fight scene was a totally different play in itself from all the other scenes because the fight scene stood out and had extremely funny parts yet also serious parts. Sir Toby had deliberately challenged Cesario to fight Sir Andrew because Olivia was in love with Cesario, and Sir Toby convinced Sir Andrew to fight for what was his. Sir Toby wants Sir Andrew to win so he will stay and continue to be his drinking companion, If Sir Andrew's there Sir Toby can get his drinks for free. But if Sir Andrew went home, Sir Toby wouldn't

  • Word count: 1438
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Was Malvolio’s Treatment Justified?

Was Malvolio's Treatment Justified? Malvolio is a steward (servant) for Olivia. He claims to be a puritan, a sect of Christians who have strict moral principles. They are against drinking, merrymaking, theatre and many other forms of entertainment. He dislikes Sir Toby and Sir Andrew as they are drunkards and go against his puritan beliefs. Malvolio himself is very conceited, he loves himself and believes that everyone else loves him too. A classic example of his conceited behaviour is when he is reading the forged letter and thinking that Olivia loves him. "Besides, she uses me with more exalted respect than anyone else that follows here" Even Olivia thinks he is conceited and shows this when Malvolio is being nasty to Feste because he is a fool. "O you are sick of self-love, Malvolio" As Sir Toby ( Olivia's uncle) and Sir Andrew (his drinking companion) love drinking they often come home drunk. They are fed up of Malvolio stopping them drinking and merrymaking and threatening to tell Olivia about what they are doing. Feste (a fool) who occasionally joins them in their merrymaking also dislikes Malvolio as he refers to Feste as a "barren rascal" who "has no more brains than a stone" Maria Olivia's lady in waiting (maid) has a fancy for Sir Toby also does not like Malvolio. The four decide to play a trick on him to bring him down a "peg or two". Maria invents a trick

  • Word count: 1000
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Comparison between the two heroines of the play "Twelfth Night"(by William Shakespeare): Olivia and Viola.

Despite being the two "heroines" of the play, caught up in matters of love, Viola and Olivia could not have been more different. We do not immediately meet Olivia, but are introduced to her through Duke Orsino, who describes her breathtaking beauty. Then, Valentine, who has been sent to woo Olivia for the Duke, comes back with the message that Olivia has gone into mourning for seven years during which time she will veil her face and show it to no man. While it must be remembered that Olivia has lost her entire family within twelve months, it is neither practical nor sensible for a young beauty like Olivia to go into mourning for seven years. Viola is then introduced to the audience, in a completely different scene. She has just landed in an unknown country; she, too believes her brother to be dead, and she has nobody around her who she knows and can rely on. However, Viola is seen acting resourcefully and practically. She immediately tries to find proof of her brother still being alive, and then makes a plan to work in the Duke's court. She does not, like Olivia, go overboard and begin mourning for her brother. Immediately one can see the contrast between the two: Viola is not the damsel in distress that Olivia comes across as. Here, one must admire Viola for her resourcefulness and courage. After all, she is alone in a strange country, but manages to keep her wits about

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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When Shakespeare wrote the 12th night the social mores were very strict. For example servants were not allowed to woo theirmasters but in the 12th night these rules of society werecorrupted for example. Olivia loving cesario but Olivia doesn'tre...

When Shakespeare wrote the 12th night the social mores were very strict. For example servants were not allowed to woo their masters but in the 12th night these rules of society were corrupted for example. Olivia loving cesario but Olivia doesn't realise that cesario is really a man and that links with cesario because she was a very wealthy woman but in an instant she becomes a servant also she is in mourning for her brother but now she is very joyful and in love. Also in this play there is a hierarchical pyramid in place which is been transformed where there is a master and a servant but it seems almost reversed so the servant becomes the master and the master becomes the servant. Even there is servants loving masters there is masters falling in love with servants referring to Olivia loving a servant called cesario. The thing that seemed to attract Olivia to Cesario was her manner of speaking and intelligence. Also the 12th night has a certain comedy to it for example Sir Toby trick on Malvolio. Which is a pivotal point in the play. The letter says that Olivia has feelings for Malvolio. Malvolio showing his pomposity lets his guard down and obeys the instructions on the letter he also remembers the woman from Strace who married her wardrobe master. The instructions that were on the letter are as follows (1) Be opposite with a kinsman, surly with servants; (2) Remember who

  • Word count: 770
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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