Shakespeare as You Like It
Katrina Chen Professor Sun Shakespeare Paper One 2 May 2013
Malvolio, the Party Pooper in Twelfth Night In Shakespeare’s comedy, Twelfth Night, we can see the romance among several couples. For instance, Viola with Orsino, Olivia with Sebastian and Maria with Sir Toby Belch, they are all ended up with a joyful relationship with each other. It is a convention that endings of the comedies are always combined with happy elements. Even if not falling in love with anyone else, the clown, Feste, still sings songs and entertains everyone throughout the play. However, there’s one who seems not to be satisfied with his story－Malvolio. Unlike the protagonist, Viola, Malvolio doesn’t disguise himself in an opposite gender in the play. Still, he stands out in a much more different way. Being in a cozenage set by Maria, the tricky woman, Malvolio turns from the detestable party pooper into an overacting party king. Being treated badly, Malvolio encounters the humiliating situation in his life, which arouses the readers’ sympathy. However, his puritan manner and speech truly spoil the gleeful atmosphere, which makes him a mocking target. Not knowing the fraud already being set, Malvolio steps into the trap. After taking the deceitful love letter made by Maria, he follows the commands made in the letter. With cross-gartered and yellow stockings, Malvolio goes to Olivia and wears a droll smile. The following is the scene excerpted from the play:
OLIVIA
Why, how dost thou, man? what is the matter with thee?
MALVOLIO
Not black in my mind, though yellow in my legs. It did come to his hands, and commands shall be executed: I think we do know the sweet Roman hand.
OLIVIA
Wilt thou go to bed, Malvolio?
MALVOLIO
To bed! ay, sweet-heart, and I'll come to thee.
OLIVIA
God comfort thee! Why dost thou smile so and kiss thy hand so oft? (3.4.23-31)
Obviously, everyone is able to tell the bizarre behavior of Malvolio, except himself. Even though Olivia reacts to
Malvolio, the Party Pooper in Twelfth Night In Shakespeare’s comedy, Twelfth Night, we can see the romance among several couples. For instance, Viola with Orsino, Olivia with Sebastian and Maria with Sir Toby Belch, they are all ended up with a joyful relationship with each other. It is a convention that endings of the comedies are always combined with happy elements. Even if not falling in love with anyone else, the clown, Feste, still sings songs and entertains everyone throughout the play. However, there’s one who seems not to be satisfied with his story－Malvolio. Unlike the protagonist, Viola, Malvolio doesn’t disguise himself in an opposite gender in the play. Still, he stands out in a much more different way. Being in a cozenage set by Maria, the tricky woman, Malvolio turns from the detestable party pooper into an overacting party king. Being treated badly, Malvolio encounters the humiliating situation in his life, which arouses the readers’ sympathy. However, his puritan manner and speech truly spoil the gleeful atmosphere, which makes him a mocking target. Not knowing the fraud already being set, Malvolio steps into the trap. After taking the deceitful love letter made by Maria, he follows the commands made in the letter. With cross-gartered and yellow stockings, Malvolio goes to Olivia and wears a droll smile. The following is the scene excerpted from the play:
OLIVIA
Why, how dost thou, man? what is the matter with thee?
MALVOLIO
Not black in my mind, though yellow in my legs. It did come to his hands, and commands shall be executed: I think we do know the sweet Roman hand.
OLIVIA
Wilt thou go to bed, Malvolio?
MALVOLIO
To bed! ay, sweet-heart, and I'll come to thee.
OLIVIA
God comfort thee! Why dost thou smile so and kiss thy hand so oft? (3.4.23-31)
Obviously, everyone is able to tell the bizarre behavior of Malvolio, except himself. Even though Olivia reacts to