The casting of Richard Briers in Branagh's production of Twelfth Night draws attention to the character of Malvolio.
What makes him tick? What does his name mean, how do critics describe him? How do the characters in the play treat him?
Is her treated cruelly for any reason that makes sense historically?
Have a think and give your opinion.
Mal......Ill
Volio....Volition, Free-Will, Will
Malvolio = Ill WillNote that Malvolio is almost an anagram for Olivia and Viola. Both ladies have ill will, even though they never intended their wills to be ill. Viola deceives Orsino to survive, and Olivia deceives Orsino by indirectly leading him on (because she wants Cesario, and because she's unwilling to tell Orsino face-to-face that she doesn't love him).
Like everybody else in the play and in the world, love, desire, and loneliness make Malvolio tick. He doesn't want to be alone. He desires someone to love, and desires to be loved in return.
Toby, Andrew, and Maria, treated him cruelly. What started out as mockery evolved to cruelty when the trio rejoiced in Malvolio's humiliation and locked him up.
It's human nature to mock people. The play itself is full of mockeries - Viola mocks being a man, Olivia mocks being a desirable, single woman, Orsino mocks himself, Toby mocks Andrew, Maria mocks Andrew, Feste mocks the mockers.
It never makes sense to treat people cruelly, and cruelity itself simply exists. Thus Twelfth Night's harmonious, picturesque ending is contrasted against their cruel treatment of Malvolio. It leaves the viewer feeling ill-at-ease. It's a reminder that only on the surface are things festive. Beneath the surface, tempests abound.
Olivia describes Malvolio the best - You are sick of self-love, Malvolio, and taste with a distempered appetite.
Her words to Malvolio also describe herself, and everyone else in the play. Everyone is so sick with self-love, they fail to understand the people they think they love.
Malvolio's humiliation is the humilation of them all. There's ill will in all of us, and many times, there is no recompensation for our humiliations, both inflicted and endured.
Hey Temporary One: Your comments on Malvolio are remarkably perceptive. I've read 12th night many times and seen several productions but have never heard or read anything as clear and concise as your comments here.
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Thank You! I love Shakespeare, and I love Twelfth Night. Well, I love all of Shakespeare's plays. Please feel free to add your own comments and/or corrections.
Has anyone noticed that Malvolio and Feste resemble Steptoe and Son?
Marlon, Claudia and Dimby the cats 1989-2005, 2007 and 2010.