with chaos, which is a major theme in the play. For example, Feste the fool is able to outwit those of a higher status than him, instead of it being, conventionally, the other way around. Malvolio acts as the
actions before acting. Harming others to satisfy one’s self is not ethical; in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Malvolio, Viola, and Feste learn this in many ways. Malvolio behaves in a way that causes others to despise him. He hates everything, and everyone ― he criticizes anything
point-devise the very man” (II. v. 165-167). This statement is not one that a strict Puritan like Malvolio should be saying. Malvolio is talking about all the things he would be and do if he married Olivia. Puritans were against all things frivolous and flippant. Here Malvolio is daydreaming about bossing Sir Toby around and becoming a more educated and respected person. A Puritan should not wish these things. Malvolio makes a mockery of the people of his religion. Shakespeare may have done this to poke fun
Throughout ‘Twelfth Night’ Malvolio is vilified by Shakespeare, portrayed as a snide character who looks down on the fun, debauchery and excess of the play despite his low status. Shakespeare uses the vilifying of Malvolio to manipulate audiences into disliking the character, which in turn enables the treatment of Malvolio to be viewed as rather comical. However, it is debatable as to what extent this treatment is funny and to what extent it is cruel. For example, the general thesis is that
The title Twelfth Night suggests that there will be ticks and jokes as the twelfth night of Christmas was full of jokes and tricks that would be led by ‘The Lord of Mis-rule’, this role could be associated with Maria as she organised the trick on Malvolio.