Character study: Malvolio: Did he deserve the punishment that he received?

The character Malvolio (meaning literally “I mean ill will) is immediately affected by the implications of his name. His personage is implied directly to be one of negative and somewhat disagreeable nature, which is continued and supported throughout the play, leading to his downfall and mockery which both initially seem to be thoroughly deserved, due to his numerous defects of personality.

The first evidence of Malvolio’s undesirable disposition comes with his own first appearance in the play during which he makes a point of insulting the wit and intelligence of Feste “I marvel your ladyship takes delight in such a barren rascal”. Through doing this he shows himself to be man who condescends to those that he believes to be lower than him in any way, by acting on his own personal belief of superiority, and this later becomes a major player in his downfall.

Initial impressions are supported by further vices in Malvolio’s general character and these lead to further aversion to him. He shows himself to be a strict puritan and this is also suggested by the opinion of Maria “The devil a puritan

In order to try at pleasing Olivia and through doing so attempting at gaining her admiration and love, he carries out deeds at the expense of others. Malvolio is in many ways a “time pleaser” and he shows this when in the ways of a sycophant, he reports to Olivia the “misdemeanors” of his superior Sir Toby “this uncivil rule; she shall know of it by this hand”. Thus he does well in conjuring up further resentment from Sir Toby and the servants, while making his punishment both more justified and more craved by those that he wrongs.

Malvolio suffers a great injustice at the hands of his tormentors and is “notoriously abused” beyond the brink of mere teasing. He does not deserve his latter treatment, as his only crime is his undesirable character and the fact that he wronged his peers with words alone. Ironically, after having been released from his cell it becomes clear that his ways have not improved in the slightest and that he is now filled with resentment for his abusers, as well as for Olivia. He departs at the end, promising to be “revenged on the whole pack of [them]”. No rewards are gained and no lessons learnt from his great, unnecessary suffering.

The letter written by Maria in “[her] lady’s hand” refers subliminally to each of Malvolio’s character weaknesses and thus ensures that he is fooled by its meanings. His vanity and value of appearance are both fed by the order to wear “yellow stockings…ever cross gartered”, while his lack of humor and puritan philosophies are tormented by the request for continuous smiles, which apparently “become [him] well”. He finds his quest for excellence fulfilled by Olivia’s supposed declaration that “[he] will have grea

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