# Feste — Twelfth Night character guide

> Feste in Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Clown, Clown Good Sir Toby, Clown Sir Toby, Clown Master Malvolio, Clown Sings, Clown Ay, Clown Singing, Clown Troth, Clown The, Clown Fie, Clown Vent, Clown Marry, Clown Foolery, Clown Madman, Clown Good Master Fabian, Curio Feste

**First appearance:** 0006-act-i-scene-v

## Snapshot

Olivia's licensed fool, who trades songs and riddles with anyone in reach and can say what no one else in Illyria dares.

## Who they are

Feste moves freely between Olivia's house and Orsino's court, answering Malvolio's moralizing with a joke about cakes and ale and matching Sir Toby catch for catch. He is nobody's fool but everybody's mirror, and his wit cuts both ways: he mocks Malvolio's virtue and Toby's drunkenness in the same breath. As the household's licensed truth-teller, he gives the play its music and its melancholy undertow, reminding the audience that pleasure and grief keep close company.

## Relationships

### [Sir Toby Belch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/sir_toby_belch)

_friendship_

Feste and Sir Toby share a boisterous camaraderie, often drinking and jesting together.

### [Viola](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/viola)

_friendship_

Feste and Viola share witty banter and mutual respect, recognizing each other's intelligence and humor.

### [Olivia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/olivia)

_professional_

Feste serves as Olivia's licensed fool, providing entertainment and occasionally offering pointed truths.

### [Maria](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/maria)

_friendship_

Feste and Maria collaborate in the plot against Malvolio, sharing a playful and mischievous alliance.

### [Malvolio](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/malvolio)

_psychological_

Feste torments Malvolio while disguised as a priest, manipulating him in the dark room as part of the revenge plot.

### [Sebastian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/sebastian)

_social_

Feste encounters Sebastian briefly, mistaking him for Cesario, leading to confusion and comic exchanges.

### [Viola](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/viola)

_friendship_

Feste and Viola share witty banter and mutual respect, recognizing each other's intelligence and humor.

### [Maria](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/maria)

_friendship_

Feste and Maria collaborate in the plot against Malvolio, sharing a playful and mischievous alliance.

### [Sir Toby Belch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/sir_toby_belch)

_friendship_

Feste and Sir Toby share a boisterous camaraderie, often drinking and jesting together.

### [Olivia](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/olivia)

_professional_

Feste serves as Olivia's licensed fool, providing entertainment and occasionally offering pointed truths.

### [Sir Toby Belch](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/sir_toby_belch)

_friendship_

Feste and Sir Toby share a boisterous camaraderie, often drinking and jesting together.

## In the story

### [Scene V](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/chapters/act-i-scene-v)

Returns from absence, engages in witty banter with Maria and Olivia, and proves Olivia a fool for mourning.

### [Scene III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iii)

Sings songs including 'O mistress mine' and joins in the catches; engages in witty banter with Sir Toby and Sir Andrew.

### [Scene IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-iv)

The clown is summoned to sing the old song 'Come away, come away, death' for Orsino, and after performing, he delivers a witty farewell comment about Orsino's changeable mind.

### [Act III, Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/chapters/act-iii-scene-i)

Engages in witty wordplay with Viola, demonstrating his role as a clever fool who observes and comments on the action.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-i)

The Clown tries to engage Sebastian in conversation and later leaves to report to Olivia.

### [Scene II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/chapters/act-iv-scene-ii)

Disguises himself as Sir Topas the curate to mock Malvolio, then later agrees to fetch light and paper for him.

### [Scene I](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/chapters/act-v-scene-i)

Delivers Malvolio's letter; sings the closing song.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/feste
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters