The steward in charge of the servants at Olivia's house. A stuck-up killjoy, Malvolio annoys the other members of the household by constantly condescending to and scolding them. In revenge, Maria, Sir Toby, and others play a prank on Malvolio that adds comic relief to Twelfth Night, but also reveals Malvolio's ambition, arrogance, and self-love. The play provides a happy ending for all of the characters except Malvolio, reminding the audience that not all love is fulfilled.
Malvolio Quotes in Twelfth Night
The Twelfth Night quotes below are all either spoken by Malvolio or refer to Malvolio. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 1, scene 5
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He is very well-favored and he speaks very shrewishly; one would think his mother's milk were scarce out of him.
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Act 2, scene 5
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Now is the woodcock near the gin.
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I may command where I adore.
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Be not afraid of greatness: Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.
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Act 3, scene 4
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Why, this is very midsummer madness.
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Go hang yourselves all! You are idle shallow things; I am not of your element.
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Act 5, scene 1
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Why have you suffered me to be imprisoned,
Kept in a dark house, visited by the priest,
And made the most notorious geck and gull
That e'er invention played on? Tell me why.
Kept in a dark house, visited by the priest,
And made the most notorious geck and gull
That e'er invention played on? Tell me why.
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I'll be revenged on the whole pack of you.
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Malvolio Quotes in Twelfth Night
The Twelfth Night quotes below are all either spoken by Malvolio or refer to Malvolio. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 1, scene 5
Quotes
He is very well-favored and he speaks very shrewishly; one would think his mother's milk were scarce out of him.
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Act 2, scene 5
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Now is the woodcock near the gin.
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I may command where I adore.
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Be not afraid of greatness: Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.
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Act 3, scene 4
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Why, this is very midsummer madness.
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Go hang yourselves all! You are idle shallow things; I am not of your element.
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Act 5, scene 1
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Why have you suffered me to be imprisoned,
Kept in a dark house, visited by the priest,
And made the most notorious geck and gull
That e'er invention played on? Tell me why.
Kept in a dark house, visited by the priest,
And made the most notorious geck and gull
That e'er invention played on? Tell me why.
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I'll be revenged on the whole pack of you.
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