Scene II explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Disguise and Deception

  Maria's successful deception of Malvolio is revealed, and Sir Toby and Fabian manipulate Sir Andrew into challenging Cesario.

• Revelry and Disorder

  The chaotic plotting and the anticipation of Malvolio's public humiliation embody the spirit of revelry and disorder.

• Madness and Folly

  Malvolio's absurd behavior in yellow stockings and cross-garters is presented as folly, and Sir Andrew's gullibility is also highlighted.

Characters to notice

• Sir Toby Belch

  Encourages Sir Andrew to challenge Cesario and later joins Maria to see Malvolio's antics.

• Sir Andrew Aguecheek

  Jealous of Olivia's favor toward Cesario and is persuaded to write a challenge for a duel.

• Fabian

  Supports Sir Toby's scheme, convincing Sir Andrew that Olivia's actions were meant to rouse his courage.

• Maria

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

• Malvolio

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

Key passages

• “She did show favour to the youth in your sight only to exasperate you, to awake your dormouse valour, to put fire in your heart, and brimstone in your liver.”

  She showed favor to the young man in front of you just to provoke you, to rouse your sleepy courage, and to ignite your passion and anger.

  Fabian convinces Sir Andrew that Olivia's actions were a deliberate ploy to spur him into action.

• “He does obey every point of the letter that I dropped to betray him: he does smile his face into more lines than is in the new map with the augmentation of the Indies.”

  He follows every instruction in the letter I dropped to trick him, and his smile creates more wrinkles on his face than the new map that includes the East Indies.

  Maria describes Malvolio's gullible compliance with her forged letter, emphasizing his ridiculous appearance.