Malvolio's Duality and Its Impact on Comedy and Tragedy in Shakespeare’s Play

William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night showcases a character named Malvolio who embodies a fascinating duality, blending puritanical pride with hidden lust, contributing significantly to the play's comedic and satirical elements. This duality not only adds depth to Malvolio’s character but also enriches the overall themes of the play.

The Puritan Ideal and Malvolio’s Pride

Malvolio, as a devoted puritan, takes pride in his adherence to the strict moral and religious codes of the time. His moralistic nature is a result of his upbringing and his desire to maintain an upright status within Olivia’s household. However, his pride is misplaced and comes across as rigid and controlling, particularly when he is critical of Sir Toby Belch’s antics. In one of the play's memorable exchanges, Sir Toby’s famous line, “Because thou art virtuous there shall be no more cakes and ale,” is a direct criticism of Malvolio’s stern and joyless demeanor.

Sir Toby’s jibes highlight the stark contrast between Malvolio’s puritanical pride and his own carefree nature. While Malvolio seeks order and moral correctness, Sir Toby revels in chaos and revelry, suggesting that strict adherence to moral codes can sometimes detract from genuine human happiness and fulfillment.

The Subversion of Puritanism

Malvolio’s pride in being Olivia’s servant, and his belief that he is her favorite, is a testament to his misguided sense of self-importance. His grandiose declaration of "I am the man!” in the presence of Lady Olivia underscores his inflated ego. This is heightened by the humor in his soliloquy, where he imagines himself as the object of Olivia's adoration, unaware of the ploy conceived by Maria and Toby to deceive him.

However, the hidden depths of Malvolio go beyond mere pride; he harbors desires that extend beyond his puritanical facade. This is evident in the eavesdropping scene where he overhears the conversation between Sir Toby and Maria, revealing his lustful desires for Olivia. Malvolio’s hidden lust and his pride in his sanitized version of himself are what make him a prime target for the malicious prank orchestrated by his peers.

The Tragedy and Comedy in Malvolio’s Transformation

Malvolio’s transformation from a rigid puritan to an object of ridicule and scorn serves to both highlight the absurdity of his character and to comment on issues such as hypocrisy and the dangers of self-righteousness. The comedic element lies in the unforeseen consequences of his self-importance and the practical jokes played upon him. His strict adherence to the rules, which seemed so righteous, leads to his humiliation and serves as a satirical commentary on the rigid compliance required by Puritan ideals.

Sir Toby’s trickery, involving the notorious ‘crazy dukedom’ letter, uncovers a more human and less virtuous side of Malvolio. This moment in the play is a turning point, revealing that beneath his polished exterior lies a man full of lust and avarice. This hidden lust and his subsequent humiliation serve to emphasize the play's themes of deception and the fallibility of human nature.

In Conclusion

Malvolio’s character serves as a satirical emblem of the tensions between the public and private selves. His internal and external conflicts are both the source of his tragic downfall and the foundation of the play’s humor. Through Malvolio’s duality—his pride, his hidden lust, and his ultimate humiliation—Shakespeare explores the complexities of human nature, revealing that even those who present themselves as moral exemplars can harbor dark desires and that the world is filled with its own brand of deceit and manipulation.