Shakespeare explores the key idea of deception in the play including both the dramatic impact and comic relief it provides. Shakespeare creates many comical situations which are caused merely by Maria's deception of Malvolio, Malvolio’s self-deception and Orsino’s exaggeration of feelings to express love. Many of the comical situations that occur throughout the play provide the comedy of dramatic irony to further entertain the audience. Shakespeare’s representation of Malvolio is negative in the way that he portrays him as pompous and arrogant, making him a very dislikable character. Malvolio’s belief that Olivia loves him when she really has no clue adds comedy to this play as we can tell that he assumes himself to be amazing as he thinks
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Even though in the letter the person that Olivia ‘loves’ is represented by the letters M.O.A.I Malvolio concludes that this has to do with him. He says; “yet, to crush this a little, it would bow to me, for every one of these letters are in my name. (Act 2, scene 5) This quote portrays both Malvolio’s self deception as he convinces himself that Olivia loves him without any proper proof, and his ability to jump to conclusions without thinking, thus making himself look like a fool to the audience. This sub-plot also employs dramatic irony, as the audience is aware of Maria’s deception whereas Malvolio is not aware of the prank being played on him. Malvolio is mistaken by Olivia as a mad man because of his strange behavior and she is also seems confused to why he is acting that way whereas the audience who is aware of the reason behind Malvolio’s behavior will find this funny as Malvolio has no clue about the foolish impression he is placing upon Olivia as he actually intends to impress her. Orsino is another character who displays self- deception through the way he expresses his love, which is both exaggerated and hyperbolic which gives the sense that his love is self indulgent and that he is drawn to an emotion which he believes is
Even though in the letter the person that Olivia ‘loves’ is represented by the letters M.O.A.I Malvolio concludes that this has to do with him. He says; “yet, to crush this a little, it would bow to me, for every one of these letters are in my name. (Act 2, scene 5) This quote portrays both Malvolio’s self deception as he convinces himself that Olivia loves him without any proper proof, and his ability to jump to conclusions without thinking, thus making himself look like a fool to the audience. This sub-plot also employs dramatic irony, as the audience is aware of Maria’s deception whereas Malvolio is not aware of the prank being played on him. Malvolio is mistaken by Olivia as a mad man because of his strange behavior and she is also seems confused to why he is acting that way whereas the audience who is aware of the reason behind Malvolio’s behavior will find this funny as Malvolio has no clue about the foolish impression he is placing upon Olivia as he actually intends to impress her. Orsino is another character who displays self- deception through the way he expresses his love, which is both exaggerated and hyperbolic which gives the sense that his love is self indulgent and that he is drawn to an emotion which he believes is