# Malvolio — Twelfth Night character guide

> Malvolio in Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Count Malvolio, Malvolio Sir, Malvolio Madam, Enter Malvolio, Malvolio Fool, Malvolio Ay, Malvolio M, Malvolio M⁠—Malvolio, Malvolio Lady, Malvolio Mistress Mary, Monsieur Malvolio, Exit Malvolio, Yond gull Malvolio, Sir Topas, good Sir Topas, Topas, Malvolio the lunatic

**First appearance:** 0004-act-i-scene-iii

## Snapshot

Olivia's steward, who polices other people's pleasures with such self-satisfied gravity that his household decides to teach him a lesson.

## Who they are

Malvolio runs Olivia's household with a steward's exacting propriety, scolding Sir Toby's midnight drinking and lecturing the company on respect for place and time. He is a time-pleaser crammed, as Maria sees it, with the belief that all who look on him love him — a vanity that makes him the perfect target. When Maria proposes to drop a forged love letter in his path, the play's comic engine shifts into gear, and Malvolio's fantasy of rising above his station begins to steer the subplot.

## Relationships

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

_professional_

Malvolio is Olivia's steward, serving her with strict loyalty but also harboring secret romantic ambitions.

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

_rivalry_

Malvolio and Sir Toby are bitter antagonists, with Sir Toby leading a cruel prank to humiliate the steward.

### [Feste](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/twelfth_night_se/characters/feste)

_psychological_

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

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

_rivalry_

Malvolio and Sir Toby are bitter antagonists, with Sir Toby leading a cruel prank to humiliate the steward.

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

_rivalry_

Malvolio and Sir Toby are bitter antagonists, with Sir Toby leading a cruel prank to humiliate the steward.

## In the story

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

Scolds Feste and reports Cesario's persistence at the gate; Olivia criticizes his self-love.

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

Acts as Olivia's churlish messenger, returning the ring and delivering her command.

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

Confronts Sir Toby and the others for their disorderly behavior, threatening to report them to Olivia; becomes the target of Maria's revenge plot.

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

Finds the letter, interprets it as a declaration of love from Olivia, and resolves to follow its instructions.

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

Mentioned as having been deceived by Maria's letter, now behaving bizarrely in yellow stockings and cross-garters.

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

Appears in yellow stockings and cross-garters, smiling and quoting the forged letter, convinced Olivia loves him.

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

Imprisoned in darkness, insists he is sane and pleads for writing materials to appeal to Olivia.

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

Released from imprisonment; confronts Olivia about the forged letter and vows revenge.

## Links

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