Sunday, October 30, 2011

Malvolio: foolish or pitiable?

In Twelfth Night there are many attacks on the Puritans through the character of Malvolio. Malvolio is an easily fooled character who is constantly being duped by Maria, Sir Toby, and Sir Andrew. His very name means "ill will" which immediately gives his character a bad reputation in the minds of the readers. Maria mocks Malvolio, saying he "will not hear of godliness," (3.4 l 119). Maria implies that despite Malvolio's devout Puritan lifestyle, his spirituality nevertheless is anything but Godly. However, in the fourth act, Malvolio is confined to a dark cell which seems to be taking the light-hearted mockery a bit too far. It seems that Malvolio is suddenly transformed into a sympathetic character rather than a slapstick, comic relief figure. What can account for this change in connotations? What is Shakespeare trying to convey here?
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1 comment:

  1. dsuganoNovember 2, 2011 at 2:45 PM

    Kirsten,
    I think that Shakespeare is mocking Malvolio, just as he is mocking the Purtians. I'm not sure he's to be pitied. But the Puritans will get their revenge in 1642 with the closing of the theatres.

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