Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare stands as one of his greatest romantic comedies, revered for his stunning use of disguised identity. Taking place in Illyria, the comedy centers around the protagonist Viola who disguises herself as a male for her safety, but to also win the affections of Duke Orsino who is hopelessly in love with Countess Olivia. Various love triangles form, resulting in unrequited love throughout the band of characters. The play ends with an unfortunate group of characters each a tragically unsatisfactory lover. The characters of Orsino, Olivia, and Caesario are presented as characters who have emotional implications that hinder their abilities as lovers. While Malvolio and Sir Andrew Aguecheek are victims to their unsatisfactory
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Malvolio’s intentions were spotted at the beginning of the play as being selfish, but his narcissism expands through the play into a reputation of being easily manipulated as well. His naivety is displayed in his susceptibility of Maria’s prank, “She did commend my yellow stockings of late, she did praise my leg, being cross-gartered, and in this she manifests herself to my love, and with a kind of injunction drives to these habits of her liking,” (II.V.166-170). Malvolio’s character being so self-interested he cares only about the status that he would gain upon a marriage Oliva, he does not even consider the possibility of Olivia not being the author to the letter. It is his selfish nature and eventual imprisonment that surmises Malvolio’s bizarre personality. While Malvolio is implicated by his selfishness, Sir Andrew Aguecheek’s downfall is his own foolishness and cowardice. Sir Andrew stumbles through the play, often being poked fun of by the Shakespeare, or the characters within it. In the scene in which Maria makes a fool of Sir Andrew the reader is able to see how his lack of sense is pertinent to his lack of love, “An you part so, mistress, I would I might never draw sword again. Fair lady, do you think you have fools in hand? MARIA Sir, I have not you by th ' hand. ANDREW Marry, but you shall have, and here 's my hand,” (I.III.62-67). Sir Andrew not only acts foolish but unsuccessfully boasted himself by lying about his abilities, “What is 'Pourquoi '? Do or not do? I would I had bestowed that time in the tongues that I have in fencing, dancing and bearbaiting. O, had I but followed the arts!” (I.III.91-94) as having previously said he could speak multiple languages, Sir Andrew was caught in his own lie. His lack of concern with the more serious aspects of life, and dabbling in bear baiting
Malvolio’s intentions were spotted at the beginning of the play as being selfish, but his narcissism expands through the play into a reputation of being easily manipulated as well. His naivety is displayed in his susceptibility of Maria’s prank, “She did commend my yellow stockings of late, she did praise my leg, being cross-gartered, and in this she manifests herself to my love, and with a kind of injunction drives to these habits of her liking,” (II.V.166-170). Malvolio’s character being so self-interested he cares only about the status that he would gain upon a marriage Oliva, he does not even consider the possibility of Olivia not being the author to the letter. It is his selfish nature and eventual imprisonment that surmises Malvolio’s bizarre personality. While Malvolio is implicated by his selfishness, Sir Andrew Aguecheek’s downfall is his own foolishness and cowardice. Sir Andrew stumbles through the play, often being poked fun of by the Shakespeare, or the characters within it. In the scene in which Maria makes a fool of Sir Andrew the reader is able to see how his lack of sense is pertinent to his lack of love, “An you part so, mistress, I would I might never draw sword again. Fair lady, do you think you have fools in hand? MARIA Sir, I have not you by th ' hand. ANDREW Marry, but you shall have, and here 's my hand,” (I.III.62-67). Sir Andrew not only acts foolish but unsuccessfully boasted himself by lying about his abilities, “What is 'Pourquoi '? Do or not do? I would I had bestowed that time in the tongues that I have in fencing, dancing and bearbaiting. O, had I but followed the arts!” (I.III.91-94) as having previously said he could speak multiple languages, Sir Andrew was caught in his own lie. His lack of concern with the more serious aspects of life, and dabbling in bear baiting