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Shakespeare’s romantic comedy Twelfth Night is known for its unusual ending which is arranged by Malvolio. Malvolio’s last speech consists of angry, upset and desperate tones displaying his feelings after he’s been victimized making his vengeful exit appropriate, and allowing the play’s rare ending.
Malvolio is upset because his fantasy did not come true. He loves Olivia and believes she will “fancy…one of [his] complexion” (Twelfth Night Act II, Sc. 5, 23). Malvolio wants to marry Olivia and become “Count Malvolio” (Twelfth Night Act II, Sc. 5, 32) as he displays while acting like he is married to Olivia and wants his love to be returned. Malvolio makes drastic inferences about the letter’s content to “make that resemble something in” (Twelfth Night Act II, Sc. 5, 114) him just so his fantasy can appear a reality. Him giving up his traditional ways and being “point-devise the very man” (Twelfth Night Act II, Sc. 5, 154) that is described in the letter by wearing “yellow stockings and cross-gartered” (Twelfth Night Act II, Sc. 5, 170) and smiling all the time shows how much he wants his fantasy to come true. However, when he feels Olivia is rejecting his love and abusing him even when he believes she coaxed him to act in this manner he becomes upset.
During this speech Malvolio is desperate. He has just been delivered from being “in a dark room and bound” (Twelfth Night Act III, Sc. 4, 128) because he was accused of being mad. Sir Toby is in charge of Malvolio and uses the situation for his “pleasure” (Twelfth Night Act III, Sc. 4, 130) and Malvolio’s punishment. Therefore Malvolio is desperate to end being tormented and leave the “hideous darkness” (Twelfth Night Act IV, Sc. 2, 30). He also wants to plead his case to Olivia about how she has “abused” (Twelfth Night Act IV, Sc. 2, 46) him and prove he is “not mad” (Twelfth Night Act IV, Sc. 2, 40). Malvolio expresses his desperation by begging Feste to bring him “a candle, and pen, ink, and paper” (Twelfth Night Act IV, Sc. 2, 78) numerous times so he can tell Olivia he is not mad. His confinement has made him desperate.
Anger is one of Malvolio’s most prominent emotions at this time. His belief that he has been wronged by Olivia and his claim “the world shall know it” (Twelfth Night Act V, Sc. 1, 294) conveys anger and bitterness. He wants to slander her name by telling how she has treated him unjust by condemning him to a dark room and accusing him of being mad when he has “the benefit of [his] senses as well as” (Twelfth Night Act V, Sc. 1, 296) she does and this is an act out of anger. Malvolio is also angry because he has been “made the most notorious geck and gull” (Twelfth Night Act V, Sc. 1, 333). Malvolio now knows that he has been made a fool of by wearing the clothing described in the letter and smiling only to be locked away and abused. He is even more angered when Olivia admits that it “is not [her] writing” (Twelfth Night Act V, Sc. 1, 335) but instead “tis Maria’s hand” (Twelfth Night Act V, Sc. 1, 337) as it becomes clearly evident that he has been tricked and therefore claims revenge in the end stating “I’ll be revenged on the whole pack of you” (Twelfth Night Act V, Sc. 1, 368).
Malvolio is not seen as out of order in his remarks and feelings in the end, but instead is often pitied, allowing the abnormal ending for a comedy to be accepted leaving a deal of uncertainty at the end.
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