Example Of Humour In Malvolio

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Malvolio spells out cut which was slang for the female genitalia, the meaning is compounded by referring to P’s. In fact these letters are not even on the outside of the letter. This is an example of both Malvolio’s stupidity and his uncouthness. It’s not certain whether Malvolio was meant to understand or if he is really that dense. Shakespeare, on the other hand, intentionally added the sexual joke because he wanted to undermine the Puritans. The example of the trickery played on Malvolio is several different types of humor in one. It is simple humor in a practical joke. It is clever and witty because of Maria who is the personification of this trait. It is the humor of deception. This is Shakespeare at his best intricately intertwining …show more content…

This play on the surface is funny because of the love triangle and all the mistakes made because of the two twins looking so similar. The audience can really laugh at the hilarity of those involved. Everyone is in love with someone even though they don’t really know them. All of the characters make it very easy to laugh at them. But then on a deeper level Shakespeare is also making fun of the shallowness of humankind. All of these people are saying they are in love with people that they don’t even know. Orsino is in love with Olivia because he thinks she’s beautiful, although he’s never spoken to her. Olivia is in love with Cesario when he is really a she. Viola is in love with Orsino when she is pretending to be a man. Malvolio is in love with Olivia because he wants to move up in station. There is no one who loves anyone because of who they are only their surface aspects and physical appeal. Then to add to the hilarity of this Olivia marries Sebastian without knowing who he really is. In the end everything seems to be happily ever after but Orsino will not marry Viola until she has her own clothes back, which is just another jab from Shakespeare at the absurd shallowness of …show more content…

This happens because it is an aspect of Elizabethan theatre and it must end with heterosexual pairing. Olivia and Sebastian are secretly married even though they don’t know each other. Maria who is the real wit of the play is rewarded by marrying up slightly to Toby. Viola and Orsino are engaged, but Shakespeare can’t let things end that neatly because Viola isn’t dressed like a woman

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