# Maria — Twelfth Night character guide

> Maria in Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Maria Sir, Maria Sir Toby, Maria Sweet Sir Toby, Maria Ay, Maria O Lord, Maria Madam, Maria Ass, Maria Peace, Good Maria, Exit Maria, Mary, good Mistress Mary, Marian

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

## Snapshot

Olivia's sharp-tongued waiting-gentlewoman, who can match the fool at wit, forge her mistress's handwriting, and bring down a steward with a single planted letter.

## Who they are

Maria runs Olivia's household with a brisk competence that makes Sir Toby's chaos bearable and Malvolio's pomposity unbearable. When Malvolio threatens to tell the lady about the drinking, Maria coolly diagnoses him as 'an affectioned ass' who believes everyone loves him, and vows to make him 'a common recreation.' Her scheme — dropping love letters in her mistress's hand — is the play's most ingenious plot, and she is its most underrated intelligence.

## Relationships

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

_romantic_

Maria and Sir Toby share a flirtatious and eventually romantic relationship, culminating in marriage.

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

_friendship_

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

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

_professional_

Maria serves as Olivia's gentlewoman, managing the household and acting with her mistress's trust.

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

_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)

_romantic_

Maria and Sir Toby share a flirtatious and eventually romantic relationship, culminating in marriage.

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

_professional_

Maria serves as Olivia's gentlewoman, managing the household and acting with her mistress's trust.

## In the story

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

Chides Sir Toby for his late hours and drinking, criticizes Sir Andrew as a fool.

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

Announces Cesario's arrival and later exits with attendants to give Olivia and Cesario privacy.

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

Reprimands the revelers for their noise; devises the scheme to trick Malvolio by forging a love letter from Olivia.

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

Devises the trick with the forged letter and instructs the others to observe Malvolio.

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

Present during the initial encounter, she exits with Sir Toby and Sir Andrew as Olivia requests privacy.

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

Reports that Malvolio has fallen for her trick, appearing in yellow stockings and cross-garters.

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

Feigns concern for Malvolio's madness, orchestrates his confinement, and encourages the plot against him.

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

Initiates the plot to disguise Feste as Sir Topas and calls Sir Toby.

## Links

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