character sketch
...lf and where he stands among the other characters, including the other servants, whom he is one of. Malvolio’s persona is haughty and cocky. When Malvolio enters in act III, scene iv he is confident to automatically win over Olivia, according to the false information in the letter from Maria pretending to be Olivia, if he wears yellow stockings and smiles consistently. Since Maria wrote the letter she sets Malvolio up to look like a fool by asking him, "Why appear you with this ridiculous boldness?" (III.iv.40). Malvolio, unaware of her trick replies by saying, "Be not afraid of greatness,…" (III.iv.42). While Maria is indirectly calling him an idiot, he is saying that he is great. A further example of Malvolio’s attitude is when Olivia says to Malvolio "Wilt thou go to bed, Malvolio" (III.iv.31) to which he replies, "To bed? Ay Sweet heart, and I’ll come to thee." (III.iv.32-33). He takes her comment out of context purposely because of his own self-absorption. One more example ...