THE UNFORTUNATE-UNHAPPY is a blog segment where we discuss Shakespeare’s characters who might have gotten more than they deserved. Today we are talking about Malvolio,
SPOILER ALERT – WE DISCUSS THE PLOT OF TWELFTH NIGHT

Malvolio

Malvolio in William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is depicted as the antagonist…I want to question that with you all. Personally, when I read or watch Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, I never got the impression that Malvolio was a stereotypical evil guy. The antagonist that steals the girl has a wicked agenda towards society or has mixed moral values. In my mind, Malvolio seems like the pretty run of the mill guy who got a lot worse than he deserved. Maybe it’s just me but hear me out…

Who is Malvolio?

Malvolio is Lady Olivia’s steward. In the play, the character is usually represented by a proud astute man. Malvolio is known for having an infatuation for his Lady, to the point he often imagines and re-acts a life where they live together as lovers. As a result, Sir Toby and Fabian play a prank on Malvolio by writing a letter to him from “Lady Olivia” that letter states,

Malvolio
Be
opposite with a kinsman, surly with servants; let thy tongue
tang arguments of state; put thyself into the trick of
singularity: she thus advises thee that sighs for thee.
Remember who commended thy yellow stockings, and
wished to see thee ever cross-gartered: I say, remember. Go
to, thou art made, if thou desirest to be so; if not, let me see
thee a steward still, the fellow of servants, and not worthy to
touch Fortune’s fingers. Farewell. She that would alter
services with thee, THE FORTUNATE-UNHAPPY.’

In my eyes, Malvolio is a character who, in their own right, had the potential of a “Cinderella Story.” In short, in Malvolio’s eyes… He came from nothing – Became a steward for Lady Olivia – Fell in love – Got a makeover for the “ball” – Won the Lady’s heart – And lived happily ever after. Only in this story, Malvolio gets tricked and mistreated over and over for the amusement of others.
Don’t get me wrong Malvolio does sound like a complete ass in parts, but because the character’s fate took a more humiliating toll, it made him more relatable. Which makes you ask the question: did he really deserve all that pain?

This is most evident in the last act and scene of the play, which happens after Malvolio follows the instructions of the “supposed” letter from his Lady and is confused by the reaction he received from his Lady.

Act 5 Scene 1

Malvolio
Lady, you have. Pray you peruse that letter.
[Giving her the letter] You must not now deny it is your hand.
Write from it if you can, in hand, or phrase,
Or say ’tis not your seal, not your invention.
You can say none of this. Well, grant it then,
And tell me, in the modesty of honor,
Why you have given me such clear lights of favor,
Bade me come smiling and cross-gartered to you,
To put on yellow stockings, and to frown
Upon Sir Toby, and the lighter people;
And acting this in an obedient hope,
Why have you suffered me to be imprisoned,
Kept in a dark house, visited by the priest,
And made the most notorious geck and gull
That ere invention played on? Tell me, why?

At this point, Malvolio is confronting what happened to him and is looking for clarity in the Lady’s harsh response towards his actions. In Malvolio’s eyes, he has done everything right (the yellow stalking, smiling, cross guardedness). The prank quickly gets unfolded by the character Fabian. Fabian explains to the Lady that Malvolio has been a victim of a prank and, as a result, has wholly embarrassed himself. When this is realized, all of the characters make fun of Malvolio more (instead of apologizing).

Olivia
[To Malvolio] Alas, poor fool, how have they baffled thee!

Clown
[To Malvolio] Why, “Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and
some have greatness thrown upon them.” I was one, sir, in this interlude, one
Sir Topaz, sir; but that’s all one. “By the Lord, fool, I am not mad!” But do
you 2545remember: “Madam, why laugh you at such a barren rascal? An you
smile not, he’s gagged.” And thus the whirligig of time brings in his
revenges.

Malvolio
I’ll be revenged on the whole pack of you!

THE UNFORTUNATE-UNHAPPY

To me, that’s kind of terrifying. Don’t you agree?

Malvolio is a message and example of how, when you mistreat someone, you ultimately set them on a new life path/ journey. When Malvolio goes after his dreams, he completely embarrasses himself and falls on his ass. I know we live in a very different time compared to Shakespeare Elizabethan England. But looking at all of the modern adaptations of this play, they still support that same theme.
I don’t like or agree with that message. Maybe that was Shakespeare’s intention all along? We’ll never know.

Let us know If you agree.