Malvolio

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Malvolio is the steward of Olivia's household in William Shakespeare's comedy, Twelfth Night, or What You Will.

[edit] Style

Malvolio is not so well defined in physical shape as characters such as Toby Belch, however his ethical values are commonly used to define his appearance.

In the play, Malvolio is defined as a Puritan. He despises all manner of fun and games, and wishes his world to be completely free of human sin. This leads to major conflicts with characters such as Toby Belch, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, and Maria, mistress of the household.

Much of the play's humour comes from Maria, Feste, Toby Belch, and Andrew Ague-Cheek tormenting Malvolio with drinking, joking, and singing. Then, a nasty prank is played on him by fooling him into thinking that Olivia is in love with him. This letter also makes him wear yellow stockings and cross garters. Later in the story, Feste plays two characters and torments Malvolio by making him swear to heretical texts, for example, Pythagorean precepts.

John Westland Marston notes that the actors of his time often played the role with "contemptuous superiority"; by contrast his favorite Malvolio, William Ferrin, performed it with "lofty condescension." Herbert Beerbohm Tree was another of the actors famous for his performance in the role.

[edit] Famous lines

"Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them." (Although Malvolio says this, he does so while reading from the letter that Maria wrote)