Malvolio

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Similar to the inner personality that Olivia’s disguise provided, Malvolio’s disguise displays a glimpse at another side of his character out to the audience. Up until this point of the play, Malvolio is seen as a stiff and formal character who has criticism for everything. However, through this disguise, his arrogant and self-loving character is fully confirmed. After he receives a prank letter from Sir Toby and Maria, Malvolio wears a ridiculous costume in his quest for Olivia, and performs the part of a lordly wooer to secure her affections. He also references the letter and exclaims “Remember who commended thy yellow stockings / And wished to see thee cross-gartered” (3.4. 44-7), all of which Olivia knows nothing about and is a delusion of his own. The forged-letter prank causes him to wear yellow stockings that are cross-gartered (which Olivia abhors) and treat Olivia in a very inappropriate manner. By inflaming the passions of the priggish Malvolio with a well-forged love letter, Toby and Maria expose his hidden vanities and social pretensions. After all, he does not desire Olivia for herself, but for the power and status that marriage to her will bring him. Examples of his self-love and self pride can be seen in various examples throughout the play.

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