A Room in Olivia's House
Feste and Maria
Summary
In order to fully appreciate this scene, you should
recall that Olivia gave Sir Toby and the household staff orders to take care of
Malvolio and the "midsummer madness" that turned him into a grinning
zany, tightly cross-gartered, and garbed in yellow stockings. They locked him
in a dark room, and now Maria and Feste prepare to pull a few more pranks on
the supercilious, overbearing Malvolio. Feste disguises himself as a parson and
plans to make a "mercy call" on the "poor mad prisoner." He
will assume the role of Sir Topas, the curate. The interview is a masterpiece
of low, broad comedy.
Feste, as Sir Topas, knows just enough Latin phrases to
lace them into his interview, along with pedantic nonsense and
pseudo-metaphysical drivel concerning the philosophy of existence. The
imprisoned steward, of course, is extremely relieved to hear what he believes
to be the parson's voice, for he fondly imagines that his deliverance from this
darkened room of a prison is near. This is not the case, however; he will "remain
in his darkness" for some time to come.
When Feste slips out for a moment, Sir Toby suggests that
Feste use his natural voice to speak with Malvolio; things have taken a turn
for the worse, and he wants to release Malvolio and end this charade. He is afraid
that Olivia might turn him out of the house, and he "cannot pursue with
any safety this sport to the upshot."
Feste is having too much fun, though, to pay much
attention to Toby's fears; he enters Malvolio's room, assumes his
ecclesiastical voice, and tries to convince the steward that there are two
visitors in the room instead of one. Malvolio pleads that he is not insane, and
finally Feste is persuaded to bring Malvolio some ink, a pen, and some writing
paper so that he can "set down to [his] lady" proof of his sanity.
Analysis
Once again, disguise is used to create comic effect. This
time, Feste disguises himself as a parson and appears before Malvolio. The
disguise utilizes a black gown, the same type of gown that Malvolio had worn
earlier. The comedy is multifold: Malvolio thinks that with the appearance of
the parson some light will be shed upon his insanity, but actually, Malvolio
will have to remain in darkness for some time to come. As Feste says:
"There is no darkness but ignorance," and certainly Malvolio was
ignorant to think that Olivia could ever be attracted to him.
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