In Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, Act II, scene iii adds to the comical direction of the play by providing a merry comedy by Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and Feste in their jesting songs, jokes and “unruly” conduct. It also prepares the humiliation of Malvolio at the hands of the others, and the peevishness and conceited nature of Malvolio in great detail. Finally, this scene subtly foreshadows Sir Toby and Fabian’s trick on Sir Andrew by revealing Andrew’s “unrequited” love for Olivia. With these agendas in mind one can proceed to “direct” the moods and actions of the characters. Thus this scene provides a good depiction of the motives, and personalities of Maria, Malvolio, Feste, Sir Toby and Sir Andrew.

Prior to Scene Three, Feste the clown is depicted as an “idiot,” ostracized by Maria, Olivia and Malvolio because of his “ridiculous” actions. However, in this scene he displays his hidden talents more fully by joining Sir Toby in a very skillful repartee replete with amusing, nonsensical dialogue and invented names such as “Pigrogromitus,” “the Vapians,” “Queubus,” “impeticos,” “gratillity” ... “Malvolio’s nose is on whipstock...t

he Myrmidons are no bottle-ale houses” (Lines 24-26). This verbal manipulation redeems Feste’s character from being a complete idiot to one who is in perfect control of his frivolities (and faculties). We also see him as one who is well aware of the consequences of his outward behavior by saying nothing after Malvolio’s parting threat but rather, stands by pensively biding his time to seek revenge. Feste knows if he says anything to Malvolio that he will most likely “lose his job” since Malvolio is on better terms with Olivia than he is at the p!

resent. Therefore, Feste should be portrayed as one who can be the comic “fool” but who is also capable of watching out for his own welfare and eventually seeking vengeance as he does with Sir Toby, Fabian and Maria against Malvolio.

Toby should be regarded as the chief “life of the party”. He gives the lead to Andrew by making him stay up and drink, thereby making it easier for the audience to understand how easily he dupes Andrew later on into believing that Olivia really loves him, and that Viola is trying to steal Olivia’s love away from him. Toby’s strong character is enhanced when he chastises Malvolio and tells him to get out, calling for wine in his presence. Toby is half-drunk which explains one reason for the looseness of his tongue, but his true personality is revealed

Some topics in this essay:
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