In Twelfth Night we come across a plethora of complex characters that entertain us through out the romantic play. Yet there is one that stuck to me from beginning to end, Malvolio. Although at the beginning Malvolio seams to be a simple type character with his religious and proper ways, we see how he evolves throughout Twelfth Night. We will see everything Malvolio has to offer from his flaws and his interaction with other characters, to his central conflict, to our opinion of him, even to his character evolution. Malvolio is introduced into the play as a proper, puritan, head servant to Lady Olivia. His flaws are quite obvious as he is a stiff, judgmental and critical to those around him, as well as never enjoying himself like most people do. Some examples of his flaws are seen when he interacts with other characters as he criticizes Toby's lifestyle of partying, and Feste's licensed fooling. It is these interactions that lead him to his central conflict in the play. .
Malvolio is in love with Countess Olivia, but we see that it is not so much for love but more of social status as he wants to see himself as "Count Malvolio". With the knowledge of his love in everyone's head, Maria, Sir Toby, and Sir Andrew decide to put him to the test as a reaction of Malvolio's interactions with them. Malvolio believes and is convinced Olivia is in love with him after he finds the forged love letter from Olivia, actually made by Maria. It is here where Malvolio also begins to change his characters attitude. Now Malvolio's central conflict is clear as he believes the women he loves, loves him as well, forcing Olivia to believe that Malvolio's behavior is nothing but the behavior of a madman. Malvolio in his new joyful state seems normal to him as he pursues his dream of being with Olivia, yet completely mad to everyone else. This cruel joke continues through out the entire play as we see him get locked in a room with Maria and Toby in scene IV.
