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Why does Malvolio think that the letter is from Olivia to him?

Why does Malvolio think that the letter is from Olivia to him?

She has written a letter, imitating Olivia’s handwriting to make Malvolio believe the letter is expressing Olivia’s love for him. She leaves the letter in the garden where Malvolio will find it and tells Sir Toby, Sir Andrew and Fabian to hide where they can watch Malvolio’s responses.

What did the letter say to Malvolio?

The letter says that he should wear cross-gartered yellow stockings and smile more to show he returns Olivia’s love. Maria explains that Olivia hates these things and so Malvolio will look foolish in front of her. Cesario (Viola) meets with Olivia again.

Who forged the letter that Malvolio thinks is from Olivia?

Maria, Sir Toby, and Sir Andrew deceive Malvolio into believing that Olivia is in love with him by forging love letters from Olivia to Malvolio. Maria comes up with the idea of tricking uptight Malvolio after he threatens to tell Olivia about Sir Toby and Sir Andrew’s drunken fun.

What does Olivia say about Malvolio?

Olivia rebukes Malvolio for his “self-love” and says that Feste’s insults are only “birdbolts” that do no damage (I.v.77–79). Maria arrives with the message that there is a young man at the gate to see Olivia.

What does the letter instruct Malvolio do?

The letter instructs that, if “Olivia’s” beloved finds it, he must indicate that he reciprocates her feelings by being surly with the servants, wearing yellow stockings, crossing his garters at the knee, and smiling all the time. Overjoyed, Malvolio resolves to do all of these things and hurries off.

What happens to Malvolio at the end of Twelfth Night?

Malvolio’s end is similarly unsatisfactory as he becomes enraged at having been tricked with forged love letters, and he storms off the stage, vowing to get revenge. His ending complicates what is otherwise supposed to be a joyful conclusion.

Who spies on Malvolio and knows that he is approaching Olivia’s house?

Maria has written a letter carefully designed to trick him into thinking that Olivia is in love with him. She has been spying on him and knows that he is now approaching. She drops the letter in the garden path, where Malvolio will see it.

What happens to Malvolio at the end of the play?

Malvolio (and the audience) must be content with this self-knowledge, because the play allows Malvolio no real recompense for his sufferings. At the close of the play, he is brought out of the darkness into a celebration in which he has no part, and where no one seems willing to offer him a real apology.

Why does Malvolio marry Olivia?

Why does Malvolio marry Olivia? Malvolio wants to marry Olivia in Twelfth Night primarily because this marriage would give him wealth and social status. Perhaps most importantly, it would make him the head of Olivia’s family, giving him power over Sir Toby Belch, Olivia’s uncle, with whom he has a long-running feud.

Why is Malvolio punished so cruelly?

With this stratification, Shakespeare allocates Malvolio’s vices of pride, usurping the social order, and dour temperament as the worst of character flaws, and that is why Malvolio receives the harshest punishment. …

How is Malvolio rude?

Malvolio is rude for several reasons. First is his innate character. He’s a snob, and thinks he is better than he is. Second, some of the others are rude to him.

Where does Olivia leave the letter in Twelfth Night?

She leaves the letter in the garden where Malvolio will find it and tells Sir Toby, Sir Andrew and Fabian to hide where they can watch Malvolio’s responses. The audience watch Malvolio talking aloud about his dreams of marrying Olivia and then finding the letter that she seems to have written.

Why is Malvolio talking to himself in Twelfth Night?

Malvolio approaches on the path, talking to himself. He speaks of Olivia: it seems that he already thinks it possible that she might be in love with him. He is deep in a fantasy of what it would be like to be Olivia’s husband and the master of her house.

What does Maria do in Scene 5 of Twelfth Night?

In this scene Maria puts into practice her plan to make a fool of Malvolio. She has written a letter, imitating Olivia’s handwriting to make Malvolio believe the letter is expressing Olivia’s love for him.

What did Sir Toby say to Maria after Malvolio left?

After Malvolio leaves, Sir Toby remarks that he “could marry this wench [Maria] for this device. . . . And ask no other dowry with her but such another jest” (II.v. 158–160 ). Maria then rejoins the men, and she, Sir Toby, and Fabian have a good laugh, anticipating what Malvolio is likely to do now.

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Ruth Doyle