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

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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 by a very frustrated Olivia accompanied by a rather malicious Malvolio, who is hoping that the fool will be ejected from the household. Olivia confronts Feste and commands his removal. Feste uses his wit and gets back into Olivia’s good books. Olivia asks Malvolio for his thoughts on the fool “I marvel your ladyship takes delight in such a barren rascal” “unless you laugh and minister occasion to him, he is gagged” Olivia thinks this to be a bit harsh and replies “O, you are sick of self-love, Malvolio, and taste with a distempered appetite” I think this response takes Malvolio by surprise and he is unsure how to reply to such a statement. This also annoys Malvolio, but he is more annoyed with himself than Olivia seeing as he has feelings for his employer and is always trying to be the best he can for her. He thinks he has a real chance with Olivia despite his age and her mourning.

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When Viola (disguised as Cesario) arrives at the gates of Olivia’s house, Malvolio is sent to deal with him “Go you, Malvolio. If it be a suit from the count, I am sick, or not at home – what you will to dismiss it”

When he returns Malvolio gives a report of the young man at the gate “Not yet old enough for a man, nor young enough for a boy”.

From what Malvolio says about Cesario, there is the impression that he finds the messenger rude and stubborn due to his unwillingness to go until he has spoke with ...

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