The manner of speech that Sir Toby and Sir Andrew use toward him is also disrespectful. ‘We’ll have the bear again, and beat him black and blue’, along with ‘Pistol him, pistol him’ (II.5.32) Sir Toby, by saying this, isn’t suggesting that they literally ‘beat’ Malvolio ‘black and blue’, it is only a metaphorical exaggeration, but the violent connotations from the words show Malvolio to be a victim as opposed to a comic character. They also use animal names to refer to him, with examples like ‘Bear’, ‘Trout’, ‘Turkey’, and ‘Fox’. Trouts and Turkeys are ugly defenceless creatures, and this use of imagery means that the audience may view Malvolio as defenceless with these words being used against him by Sir Andrew ad Sir Toby. This could either sway the audiences view of him more sympathetically, and as a more tragic victim, or alternatively, could be viewed as comic, because name calling would be seen as comic by the …show more content…
In his first entrance, he is quick to insult Feste, and Olivia, in saying ‘I marvel your ladyship takes delight in such a barren rascal.’(I.5.75-76) The verb ‘marvel’ would usually be positive, but given that it is followed by ‘barren rascal’ it presents the insult as more potentthe Given his position as a servant. Also, as he falls prey to Maria’s plot, Malvolio reveals that he isn’t the ‘puritan’ he is said to be. He shows, before reading the letter, that if he had the opportunity to, he would be happy to tell Sir Toby to ‘Amend [his] drunkenness’