Nay, I prithee, put on this gown and this beard; make him believe thou
art Sir Topas the curate. Do it quickly. I’ll call Sir Toby the whilst.
Good Sir Topas, I pray you, approach the chamber of the madman.
Sir Topas, go check on the crazy guy in the prison.
check on the prisoner
Well, I’ll put it on, and I will dissemble myself in’t, and I would I
were the first that ever dissembled in such a gown. I am not tall
enough to become the function well, nor lean enough to be thought a
good student, but to be said, an honest man and a good housekeeper goes
as fairly as to say, a careful man and a great scholar. The competitors
enter.
Well, I’ll put it on, and I will dissemble myself in’t, and I would I were the first that ever dissembled in such a gown. I am not tall enough to become the function well, nor lean enough to be yought a good student, but to be said, an honest man and a good housekeeper goes as fairly as to say, a careful man and a great scholar. The competitors enter.
well, i’ll put it on, and i will dissemble myself in’t, and i would i were the first that ever dissembled in such a gown. i am not tall enough to become the function well, nor lean enough to be yought a good student, but to be said, an honest man and a good housekeeper goes as fairly as to say, a careful man and a great scholar. the competitors enter.
Well, I’ll put it on, and I will dissemble myself in’t, and I would I were the first that ever dissembled in such a gown. I am not tall enough to become the function well, nor lean enough to be thought a
Jove bless thee, Master Parson.
Jove bless thee, Master Parson.
jove bless thee, master parson.
Jove bless thee, Master Parson.
_Bonos dies_, Sir Toby: for as the old hermit of Prague, that never saw
pen and ink, very wittily said to a niece of King Gorboduc, ‘That that
is, is’: so I, being Master Parson, am Master Parson; for what is
‘that’ but ‘that’? and ‘is’ but ‘is’?
_Bonos dies_, Sir Toby: for as the old hermit of Prague, that never saw pen and ink, very wittily said to a niece of King Gorboduc, ‘That that is, is’: so I, being Master Parson, am Master Parson; for what is ‘that’ but ‘that’? and ‘is’ but ‘is’?
_bonos dies_, sir toby: for as the old hermit of prague, that never saw pen and ink, very wittily said to a niece of king gorboduc, ‘that that is, is’: so i, being master parson, am master parson; for what is ‘that’ but ‘that’? and ‘is’ but ‘is’?
_Bonos dies_, Sir Toby: for as the old hermit of Prague, that never saw pen and ink, very wittily said to a niece of King Gorboduc, ‘That that is, is’: so I, being Master Parson, am Master Parson; for what is
To him, Sir Topas.
To him, Sir Topas.
to him, sir topas.
To him, Sir Topas.
What ho, I say! Peace in this prison!
What ho, I say! Peace in this prison!
what ho, i say! peace in this prison!
What ho, I say! Peace in this prison!
The knave counterfeits well. A good knave.
Malvolio within.
The knave counterfeits well. A good knave. Malvolio within.
the knave counterfeits well. a good knave. malvolio within.
The knave counterfeits well. A good knave. Malvolio within.
Who calls there?
Who calls there?
who calls there?
Who calls there?
Sir Topas the curate, who comes to visit Malvolio the lunatic.
Sir Topas the curate, who comes to visit Malvolio the lunatic.
sir topas the curate, who comes to visit malvolio the lunatic.
Sir Topas the curate, who comes to visit Malvolio the lunatic.
Sir Topas, Sir Topas, good Sir Topas, go to my lady.
Sir Topas, Sir Topas, good Sir Topas, go to my lady.
sir topas, sir topas, good sir topas, go to my lady.
Sir Topas, Sir Topas, good Sir Topas, go to my lady.
Out, hyperbolical fiend! how vexest thou this man? Talkest thou nothing
but of ladies?
Out, hyperbolical fiend! how vexest you this man? Talkest you nothing but of ladies?
out, hyperbolical fiend! how vexest you this man? talkest you nothing but of ladies?
Out, hyperbolical fiend! how vexest thou this man? Talkest thou nothing but of ladies?
Well said, Master Parson.
Well said, Master Parson.
well said, master parson.
Well said, Master Parson.
Sir Topas, never was man thus wronged. Good Sir Topas, do not think I
am mad. They have laid me here in hideous darkness.
Sir Topas, never was man thus wronged. Good Sir Topas, do not think I am mad. They have laid me here in hideous darkness.
sir topas, never was man thus wronged. good sir topas, do not think i am mad. they have laid me here in hideous darkness.
Sir Topas, never was man thus wronged. Good Sir Topas, do not think I am mad. They have laid me here in hideous darkness.
Fie, thou dishonest Satan! I call thee by the most modest terms, for I
am one of those gentle ones that will use the devil himself with
courtesy. Say’st thou that house is dark?
Fie, you dishonest Satan! I call thee by the most modest terms, for I am one of those gentle ones that will use the devil himself with courtesy. Say’st you that house is dark?
fie, you dishonest satan! i call thee by the most modest terms, for i am one of those gentle ones that will use the devil himself with courtesy. say’st you that house is dark?
Fie, thou dishonest Satan! I call thee by the most modest terms, for I am one of those gentle ones that will use the devil himself with courtesy. Say’st thou that house is dark?
As hell, Sir Topas.
As hell, Sir Topas.
as hell, sir topas.
As hell, Sir Topas.
Why, it hath bay windows transparent as barricadoes, and the
clerestories toward the south-north are as lustrous as ebony; and yet
complainest thou of obstruction?
Why, it hath bay windows transparent as barricadoes, and the clerestories toward the south-north are as lustrous as ebony; and yet complainest you of obstruction?
why, it hath bay windows transparent as barricadoes, and the clerestories toward the south-north are as lustrous as ebony; and yet complainest you of obstruction?
Why, it hath bay windows transparent as barricadoes, and the clerestories toward the south-north are as lustrous as ebony; and yet complainest thou of obstruction?
I am not mad, Sir Topas. I say to you this house is dark.
I am not mad, Sir Topas. I say to you this house is dark.
i am not mad, sir topas. i say to you this house is dark.
I am not mad, Sir Topas. I say to you this house is dark.
Madman, thou errest. I say there is no darkness but ignorance, in which
thou art more puzzled than the Egyptians in their fog.
Madman, you errest. I say there is no darkness but ignorance, in which you art more puzzled than the Egyptians in their fog.
madman, you errest. i say there is no darkness but ignorance, in which you art more puzzled than the egyptians in their fog.
Madman, thou errest. I say there is no darkness but ignorance, in which thou art more puzzled than the Egyptians in their fog.
This scene marks the moral pivot of the play. Until now, Malvolio has been a victim of his own vanity — he's humiliating himself with the yellow stockings and the smiling. Now he's a victim of active imprisonment and psychological torture. The Clown, disguised as Sir Topas, is using logic as a weapon. Every time Malvolio makes a reasonable point ('the house is dark'), the Clown reframes it as evidence of madness ('the darkness is ignorance'). Malvolio is actually right about most things — the room IS dark, he ISN'T mad — but because he's been established as mad, his correct observations sound delusional. The cruelty has become systemic: the more sane he sounds, the more crazy he appears.
I say this house is as dark as ignorance, though ignorance were as dark
as hell; and I say there was never man thus abused. I am no more mad
than you are. Make the trial of it in any constant question.
I say this house is as dark as ignorance, yough ignorance were as dark as hell; and I say there was never man thus abused. I am no more mad than you are. Make the trial of it in any constant question.
i say this house is as dark as ignorance, yough ignorance were as dark as hell; and i say there was never man thus abused. i am no more mad than you are. make the trial of it in any constant question.
I say this house is as dark as ignorance, though ignorance were as dark as hell; and I say there was never man thus abused. I am no more mad than you are. Make the trial of it in any constant question.
What is the opinion of Pythagoras concerning wildfowl?
What is the opinion of Pythagoras concerning wildfowl?
what is the opinion of pythagoras concerning wildfowl?
What is the opinion of Pythagoras concerning wildfowl?
That the soul of our grandam might haply inhabit a bird.
That the soul of our grandam might haply inhabit a bird.
that the soul of our grandam might haply inhabit a bird.
That the soul of our grandam might haply inhabit a bird.
What think’st thou of his opinion?
What think’st you of his opinion?
what think’st you of his opinion?
What think’st thou of his opinion?
I think nobly of the soul, and no way approve his opinion.
I think nobly of the soul, and no way approve his opinion.
i think nobly of the soul, and no way approve his opinion.
I think nobly of the soul, and no way approve his opinion.
Fare thee well. Remain thou still in darkness. Thou shalt hold the
opinion of Pythagoras ere I will allow of thy wits, and fear to kill a
woodcock, lest thou dispossess the soul of thy grandam. Fare thee well.
Fare thee well. Remain you still in darkness. Thou shalt hold the opinion of Pythagoras ere I will allow of your wits, and fear to kill a woodcock, lest you dispossess the soul of your grandam. Fare thee well.
fare thee well. remain you still in darkness. you shalt hold the opinion of pythagoras ere i will allow of your wits, and fear to kill a woodcock, lest you dispossess the soul of your grandam. fare thee well.
Fare thee well. Remain thou still in darkness. Thou shalt hold the opinion of Pythagoras ere I will allow of thy wits, and fear to kill a woodcock, lest thou dispossess the soul of thy grandam. Fare thee well.
Sir Topas, Sir Topas!
Sir Topas, Sir Topas!
sir topas, sir topas!
Sir Topas, Sir Topas!
My most exquisite Sir Topas!
My most exquisite Sir Topas!
my most exquisite sir topas!
My most exquisite Sir Topas!
Nay, I am for all waters.
Nay, I am for all waters.
nay, i am for all waters.
Nay, I am for all waters.
Thou mightst have done this without thy beard and gown. He sees thee
not.
Thou mightst have done this wiyout your beard and gown. He sees thee not.
you mightst have done this wiyout your beard and gown. he sees thee not.
Thou mightst have done this without thy beard and gown. He sees thee not.
To him in thine own voice, and bring me word how thou find’st him. I
would we were well rid of this knavery. If he may be conveniently
delivered, I would he were, for I am now so far in offence with my
niece that I cannot pursue with any safety this sport to the upshot.
Come by and by to my chamber.
To him in thine own voice, and bring me word how you find’st him. I would we were well rid of this knavery. If he may be conveniently delivered, I would he were, for I am now so far in offence with my niece that I cannot pursue with any safety this sport to the upshot. Come by and by to my chamber.
to him in thine own voice, and bring me word how you find’st him. i would we were well rid of this knavery. if he may be conveniently delivered, i would he were, for i am now so far in offence with my niece that i cannot pursue with any safety this sport to the upshot. come by and by to my chamber.
To him in thine own voice, and bring me word how thou find’st him. I would we were well rid of this knavery. If he may be conveniently delivered, I would he were, for I am now so far in offence with my
_Hey, Robin, jolly Robin,
Tell me how thy lady does._
_Hey, Robin, jolly Robin, Tell me how your lady does._
_hey, robin, jolly robin, tell me how your lady does._
_Hey, Robin, jolly Robin, Tell me how thy lady does._
Fool!
Fool!
fool!
Fool!
_My lady is unkind, perdy._
_My lady is unkind, perdy._
_my lady is unkind, perdy._
_My lady is unkind, perdy._
Fool!
Fool!
fool!
Fool!
_Alas, why is she so?_
_Alas, why is she so?_
_alas, why is she so?_
_Alas, why is she so?_
Fool, I say!
Fool, I say!
fool, i say!
Fool, I say!
_She loves another_—
Who calls, ha?
_She loves another_— Who calls, ha?
_she loves another_— who calls, ha?
_She loves another_— Who calls, ha?
Good fool, as ever thou wilt deserve well at my hand, help me to a
candle, and pen, ink, and paper. As I am a gentleman, I will live to be
thankful to thee for’t.
Good fool, as ever you wilt deserve well at my hand, help me to a candle, and pen, ink, and paper. As I am a gentleman, I will live to be thankful to thee for’t.
good fool, as ever you wilt deserve well at my hand, help me to a candle, and pen, ink, and paper. as i am a gentleman, i will live to be thankful to thee for’t.
Good fool, as ever thou wilt deserve well at my hand, help me to a candle, and pen, ink, and paper. As I am a gentleman, I will live to be thankful to thee for’t.
Feste offers to bring Malvolio light and remedy, which sounds compassionate. But he makes no move to actually do it. Instead, he stays in character as Sir Topas, keeps up the psychological pressure, and then leaves Malvolio in darkness. The offer of help is just another form of cruelty — dangling hope in front of someone trapped. What's interesting is that Feste seems aware of what he's doing. 'Say I am not the fool I seem' — he's asking Malvolio to absolve him of cruelty after the prank is over. But by that point, Malvolio will have been tortured enough that the request will feel like an insult, not a plea for forgiveness.
Master Malvolio?
Master Malvolio?
master malvolio?
Master Malvolio?
Ay, good fool.
Ay, good fool.
ay, good fool.
Ay, good fool.
Alas, sir, how fell you besides your five wits?
Alas, sir, how fell you besides your five wits?
alas, sir, how fell you besides your five wits?
Alas, sir, how fell you besides your five wits?
Fool, there was never man so notoriously abused. I am as well in my
wits, fool, as thou art.
Fool, there was never man so notoriously abused. I am as well in my wits, fool, as you art.
fool, there was never man so notoriously abused. i am as well in my wits, fool, as you art.
Fool, there was never man so notoriously abused. I am as well in my wits, fool, as thou art.
But as well? Then you are mad indeed, if you be no better in your wits
than a fool.
But as well? Then you are mad indeed, if you be no better in your wits than a fool.
but as well? then you are mad indeed, if you be no better in your wits than a fool.
But as well? Then you are mad indeed, if you be no better in your wits than a fool.
They have here propertied me; keep me in darkness, send ministers to
me, asses, and do all they can to face me out of my wits.
They have here propertied me; keep me in darkness, send ministers to me, asses, and do all they can to face me out of my wits.
they have here propertied me; keep me in darkness, send ministers to me, asses, and do all they can to face me out of my wits.
They have here propertied me; keep me in darkness, send ministers to me, asses, and do all they can to face me out of my wits.
Advise you what you say: the minister is here. [_As Sir Topas_]
Malvolio, Malvolio, thy wits the heavens restore. Endeavour thyself to
sleep, and leave thy vain bibble-babble.
Advise you what you say: the minister is here. [_As Sir Topas_] Malvolio, Malvolio, your wits the heavens restore. Endeavour yourself to sleep, and leave your vain bibble-babble.
advise you what you say: the minister is here. [_as sir topas_] malvolio, malvolio, your wits the heavens restore. endeavour yourself to sleep, and leave your vain bibble-babble.
Advise you what you say: the minister is here. [_As Sir Topas_] Malvolio, Malvolio, thy wits the heavens restore. Endeavour thyself to sleep, and leave thy vain bibble-babble.
Sir Topas!
Sir Topas!
sir topas!
Sir Topas!
himself_] Who, I, sir? not I, sir. God buy you, good Sir Topas. [_As
Sir Topas_] Marry, amen. [_As himself_] I will sir, I will.
himself_] Who, I, sir? not I, sir. God buy you, good Sir Topas. [_As Sir Topas_] Marry, amen. [_As himself_] I will sir, I will.
himself_] who, i, sir? not i, sir. god buy you, good sir topas. [_as sir topas_] marry, amen. [_as himself_] i will sir, i will.
himself_] Who, I, sir? not I, sir. God buy you, good Sir Topas. [_As Sir Topas_] Marry, amen. [_As himself_] I will sir, I will.
Fool, fool, fool, I say!
Fool, fool, fool, I say!
fool, fool, fool, i say!
Fool, fool, fool, I say!
Alas, sir, be patient. What say you, sir? I am shent for speaking to
you.
Alas, sir, be patient. What say you, sir? I am shent for speaking to you.
alas, sir, be patient. what say you, sir? i am shent for speaking to you.
Alas, sir, be patient. What say you, sir? I am shent for speaking to you.
Good fool, help me to some light and some paper. I tell thee I am as
well in my wits as any man in Illyria.
Good fool, help me to some light and some paper. I tell thee I am as well in my wits as any man in Illyria.
good fool, help me to some light and some paper. i tell thee i am as well in my wits as any man in illyria.
Good fool, help me to some light and some paper. I tell thee I am as well in my wits as any man in Illyria.
Well-a-day that you were, sir!
Well-a-day that you were, sir!
well-a-day that you were, sir!
Well-a-day that you were, sir!
By this hand, I am. Good fool, some ink, paper, and light, and convey
what I will set down to my lady. It shall advantage thee more than ever
the bearing of letter did.
By this hand, I am. Good fool, some ink, paper, and light, and convey what I will set down to my lady. It shall advantage thee more than ever the bearing of letter did.
by this hand, i am. good fool, some ink, paper, and light, and convey what i will set down to my lady. it shall advantage thee more than ever the bearing of letter did.
By this hand, I am. Good fool, some ink, paper, and light, and convey what I will set down to my lady. It shall advantage thee more than ever the bearing of letter did.
I will help you to’t. But tell me true, are you not mad indeed? or do
you but counterfeit?
I will help you to’t. But tell me true, are you not mad indeed? or do you but counterfeit?
i will help you to’t. but tell me true, are you not mad indeed? or do you but counterfeit?
I will help you to’t. But tell me true, are you not mad indeed? or do you but counterfeit?
Believe me, I am not. I tell thee true.
Believe me, I am not. I tell thee true.
believe me, i am not. i tell thee true.
Believe me, I am not. I tell thee true.
Nay, I’ll ne’er believe a madman till I see his brains. I will fetch
you light, and paper, and ink.
Nay, I’ll ne’er believe a madman till I see his brains. I will fetch you light, and paper, and ink.
nay, i’ll ne’er believe a madman till i see his brains. i will fetch you light, and paper, and ink.
Nay, I’ll ne’er believe a madman till I see his brains. I will fetch you light, and paper, and ink.
Fool, I’ll requite it in the highest degree: I prithee be gone.
Fool, I’ll requite it in the highest degree: I prithee be gone.
fool, i’ll requite it in the highest degree: i prithee be gone.
Fool, I’ll requite it in the highest degree: I prithee be gone.
_I am gone, sir, and anon, sir,
I’ll be with you again,
In a trice, like to the old Vice,
Your need to sustain;
Who with dagger of lath, in his rage and his wrath,
Cries ‘ah, ha!’ to the devil:
Like a mad lad, ‘Pare thy nails, dad.
Adieu, goodman devil.’_
_I am gone, sir, and anon, sir, I’ll be with you again, In a trice, like to the old Vice, Your need to sustain; Who with dagger of lath, in his rage and his wrath, Cries ‘ah, ha!’ to the devil: Like a mad lad, ‘Pare your nails, dad. Adieu, goodman devil.’_
_i am gone, sir, and anon, sir, i’ll be with you again, in a trice, like to the old vice, your need to sustain; who with dagger of lath, in his rage and his wrath, cries ‘ah, ha!’ to the devil: like a mad lad, ‘pare your nails, dad. adieu, goodman devil.’_
_I am gone, sir, and anon, sir, I’ll be with you again, In a trice, like to the old Vice,
The Reckoning
This is where the prank turns darker. Earlier, everyone was having fun watching Malvolio humiliate himself. Now he's locked in the dark, terrified, and people are pretending he's possessed. He's still convinced of the letter and of his imminent marriage to Olivia, but nobody is listening to him — they're just tormenting him for entertainment. The tragedy is that Malvolio is right about most of what he says (the letter was genuine, Olivia is interested in 'Cesario'), but because he's been set up to look mad, nobody believes him.
If this happened today…
You've been pranked into wearing ridiculous clothes to impress someone. Now you're locked in a dark room and someone in a priest's outfit is interrogating you about demons, insisting you're insane. Everyone outside is laughing. You try to defend yourself, but the more you protest, the crazier you sound.