Malvolio in Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare's most beloved comic characters- the snobby obsequious steward to Countess Olivia who is tricked into wearing ridiculous clothes and acting like a fool. Does he deserve the pranks that are played on him, or is this an example of Elizabethan bullying that shouldn't be tolerated today? I share my insights from playing both this part and the clown Feste, whom Malvolio insults and is later duped by Feste. It's a thoughtful discussion about the relevance of the play, and its themes and ideas.
