Shakespeare Twelfth Night: Malvolio

Malvolio

By Sandra Gaton

Now you have read Act 2, scene 3, think about who’s in the wrong in the dispute between Malvolio and Sir Toby and his friends in Olivia’s house. Are Sir Toby and his friends right to have a party, Sir Toby is after all related to the owner of the house, Olivia, and is only having a bit of fun over the holiday period. However, on the other hand, Malvolio is the steward of the house and is doing his job as he should do – Who’s argument do you think is the strongest? Copy the table below into your exercise books and list the points for and against the two sides of the disagreement.

	Points in favour of their actions/words	Points against their actions/words
Sir Toby and Friends
Malvolio

MALVOLIO'S CHARACTERISTICS

What impression do you get of Malvolio in the play so far? Copy the diagram below and fill the spaces with words that describe his character.

Malvolio:

My masters, are you mad? or what are you? Have ye
no wit, manners, nor honesty, but to gabble like
tinkers at this time of night? Do ye make an
alehouse of my lady's house, that ye squeak out your
coziers' catches without any mitigation or remorse
of voice? Is there no respect of place, persons, nor
time in you?

Sir Toby:

We did keep time, sir, in our catches. Sneck up!
Read lines 90-130 again and answer these questions:

What play on words is Sir Toby performing in the conversation underlined opposite?
Make a list of all the ways that Sir Toby and his friends ridicule Malvolio.
What warning does Malvolio give to Sir Toby?
What warning does Malvolio give to Maria?
Which other character is Malvolio most concerned about in the play? Why?