‘Comedy is… an imitation of inferior people.’ (Aristotle). To what extent does Shakespeare’s presentation of Malvolio conform to this idea of comedy?
Throughout Twelfth Night Malvolio is presented as inferior within the social structure of the Elizabethan era. Malvolio is a steward, which was seen as the most senior of the servants during the Elizabethan period. This occupation would not make him completely inferior within the hierarchy of Elizabethan society, however within the play, compared with more noble and powerful characters such as Sir Andrew and Sir Toby, Malvolio can be perceived as a second-rate citizen of the time. Although Malvolio is seen as only a mere servant in Olivia’s household, he takes his role very seriously and also appears to think his role involves a lot more responsibility and power than it actually does. For instance, in act 3 scene 4, Malvolio says to Maria, Fabian and Sir Toby: ‘You are idle shallow things; I am not of your element.’ This quotation brings to light Malvolio’s extreme arrogance and high opinion of himself. The use of the word ‘things’ to describe not only Olivia and Fabian (individuals of similar status to himself), but Sir Toby, a person of much higher authority and importance than his own, shows just how blinded he is by his own condescension. This is comical because although Malvolio sees himself as a person of high significance not only within Olivia’s household as a steward, but in society itself, not only can the audience can see his idiocy, and what a fool of himself he is making, but so can the characters. As said within an analysis of Malvolio on Cliffsnotes ‘It is Malvolio's ultimate egotism which makes him an easy prey for the pranksters’. Throughout the play Malvolio is tormented and ridiculed for his conceited personality by other characters such as Maria and Feste, such as when they lock him in the cellar in act 4 scene 2, and irritate and harass him almost to breaking point. It becomes apparent that many people who come across Malvolio, specifically those working within Olivia’s household, find his supercilious manor irritating and unbearable, and seek to humiliate and torment him. This fits in well with the superiority theory of humour, which dates back as far as from the works of Aristotle, Plato and Thomas Hobbes. This is the theory that laughter arises from the misfortune of others, or any situation in which we feel superior to them. This theory ties in with Malvolio’s character in Twelfth Night as the audience favour other
