Maria’s handwriting is almost identical to that of Olivia’s. So Maria comes up with the idea of a letter, a letter from Olivia to Malvolio. In the letter to Malvolio, Maria will pretend that Olivia is in love with Malvolio. And if Malvolio is in love with Olivia he will have to prove his love by carrying out simple tasks. Maria drops hints for Malvolio. ‘M O A I doth sway my life’ (Act Two Scene Five line 98), and ‘I may command where I adore;’ (Act Two Scene Five line 95), implying that Olivia is in love with Malvolio.
The letter is placed on the path where Malvolio takes his daily walk. Sir Andrew, Sir Toby and Fabian hide behind a large bush just as Malvolio comes by. He sees the letter and curiosity gets the better of him. He picks the letter up and reads on the front the letters M O A I and presumes that these letters represent his name. He opens up the letter and reads it out loud. All the while the three friends are listening behind the bush and by the time that Malvolio has finished reading the letter they can’t stop laughing. The letter stated to wear ‘yellow stockings,’ and to be ‘ever cross-gartered’. (Act Two Scene Five line 36-37). This would cause a lot of upset to Olivia as her brother had only just passed away and the whole household was meant to be mourning for her loss, wearing the traditional black clothing. The letter also stated for Malvolio to have a big smile on his face. This would make him look foolish as he is a very solemn character who usually has a very long grumpy looking face.
Meanwhile Olivia is waiting for Cesario who she is in love with. She is very nervous about meeting him again and she does not want to give off the wrong impression so she calls upon Malvolio who is bound to impress Cesario because he always has something clever to say. Maria however advises her against it explaining that ‘He’s coming, madam; but in very strange manner. He is sure possessed, madam.’ (Act Three Scene Four line 8-9). Malvolio is wearing yellow stockings and cross-gartered sandals. When Olivia asks if he needs to have a lie down, he replies ‘Ay sweetheart, and I’ll come to thee.’ (Act Three Scene Four line 30). Olivia is naturally offended and calls upon Sir Toby to take him away. Malvolio plays along, because ‘this concurs directly with the letter: she sends him on purpose, that I may appear stubborn to him;’ (Act Three Scene Four line 62-64). Sir Toby leads Malvolio to a dark room where he will have to think about his actions and the consequences of what he has just done.
Malvolio eventually gets a visit from Feste who is pretending to be Sir Topas the priest. This could only mean one thing for Malvolio. Olivia thinks he has a mind illness. Malvolio can not take much more and pleads to be let out. Feste agrees, but only if he can answer some of his questions. When Malvolio answers each of Feste’s questions, Feste would say that he was mad with an answer like that however honest and sensible the answer was. This questioning was more like an interrogation for Malvolio. He can see his life falling apart.
Sir Toby feels that the joke has gone on long enough, and out of compassion for Malvolio says to Feste ‘I would we were well rid of this knavery’, (Act Four Scene Two line 64) and tells Feste to go back in and speak ‘To him in thine own voice’, (Act Four Scene Two line 63) Feste then goes back into Malvolio’s dungeon like room as his normal self but also pretending that Sir Topas is in the room with them. He then starts a conversation with Sir Topas but also answering as Sir Topas. Because the room is so dark Malvolio doesn’t have a clue what is going on. Finally Malvolio is given a piece of paper and a pen to write down a letter to Olivia to explain what he thinks might have happened.
Feste doesn’t deliver the letter until right at the end of the play. He reads the letter out loud for Olivia emphasising his reading to make Malvolio look foolish. Malvolio is called upon by Olivia, sees that she has already married and says, ‘Madam, you have done me wrong, notorious wrong.’ (Act Five Scene One line 315) He then storms out promising, ‘I’ll be revenged on the whole pack of you.’ (Act Five Scene One line 364).
