MALVOLIO critical quotes

Question 1

Bevington (Malvolio), as a target for satire

Answer 1

“Malvolio is a well-suited target for satire.”

Question 2

Carol Thomas Needy - Malvolio as a scapegoat

Answer 2

“Malvolio serves as a scapegoat who is punished for flaws others share”

Question 3

Milton Crane - The gulling of Malvolio

Answer 3

“The baiting of Malvolio is unrelieved in its comic heartlessness”

Question 4

Peter Cash - pity for Malvolio

Answer 4

“Malvolio… becomes the one figure in the play for whom we may feel genuine pity”

Question 5

Peter Cash -Malvolio as a killjoy

Answer 5

‘He is a kill-joy’

Question 6

Barber - Malvolio as a foreign body

Answer 6

Malvolio is ‘a kind of foreign body to be expelled by laughter’

Question 7

Social Status / Class: Malvolio reflecting changing economic values (rising merchant class) Barber

Answer 7

‘Malvolio and Shylock are representative of the rise of capitalism’ (Ros Barber)

Question 8

malvolio wanting to rise social class -Barber

Answer 8

he is or would like to be a rising man, and to rise he uses sobriety and morality.’ (Ros Barber)

Question 9

Malvolio’s affection being based on other ambitions- barber

Answer 9

‘While it is perfectly true that Malvolio’s own desire for Olivia is inextricably caught up with his own ambition, he is as, or more, capable of affection as any character in Illyria’ (Richard Levin)

Question 10

Barber- malvolio representing the puritan spirit

Answer 10

Malvolio is ‘a satirical portrait of the Puritan spirit’ and ‘he is like a Puritan because he is hostile to holiday.’ (Ros Barber)

Question 11

lamb- malvolios accidental comedy

Answer 11

“he becomes comic but by accident”