Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night is a comedic masterpiece brimming with mistaken identities, unrequited love, and hilarious antics. A key moment in the play occurs after Viola, disguised as the page Cesario, leaves Olivia’s presence after delivering Orsino’s love message. Following this encounter, Malvolio, Olivia’s pompous steward, appears and presents Cesario with a ring. This seemingly simple act carries significant weight, acting as a catalyst for much of the ensuing plot and revealing deeper truths about the characters involved. Let’s examine what this ring symbolizes and its consequences.
The Ring as a Symbol of Olivia’s Sudden Affection
The ring itself isn’t inherently special or described in great detail. Instead, its significance lies in what it represents: Olivia’s unexpected and immediate infatuation with Cesario. Olivia, a countess in mourning, has vowed to shun male company for seven years following her brother’s death. However, Cesario’s arrival and charm quickly shatter this resolution. The ring, ostensibly returned as a “not interested” signal, is actually a ploy.
Malvolio delivers the ring with a fabricated message: Olivia insists Cesario take back the ring he supposedly left behind. This is a complete fabrication. Cesario never gave Olivia a ring. It is a deliberate act on Olivia’s part to engineer another meeting with the captivating young page. The ring, therefore, becomes a symbol of her burgeoning and somewhat impulsive desire.
The Deception Embedded within the Gift
The act of returning the ring under false pretenses is crucial to understanding Olivia’s character at this stage. She is portrayed as intelligent and quick-witted, but also prone to flights of fancy and dramatic gestures. She’s not directly admitting her attraction, but rather creating a situation where Cesario must return, allowing her to see him again without compromising her perceived dignity. It is a calculated risk wrapped in a thin veil of denial. This deception reveals Olivia’s playful nature but also hints at the potential for her affections to be somewhat superficial and driven by immediate attraction rather than deep connection.
Malvolio as the Unwitting Messenger
Malvolio, ever the obedient servant and aspiring social climber, is completely unaware of Olivia’s true motives. He sees himself as simply carrying out his mistress’s orders. This ignorance makes him a figure of fun for the audience. He believes he’s acting with authority and efficiency, while in reality, he’s a pawn in Olivia’s game of love. His pompous delivery and self-importance only amplify the comedic effect. The scene highlights the contrast between Malvolio’s perceived importance and his actual role in the grand scheme of things.
The Consequences of the Ring: Confusion and Complications
The delivery of the ring sets off a chain reaction of misunderstandings and complications that drive the central plot of Twelfth Night. Viola, still disguised as Cesario, is understandably confused by the gesture. She realizes that Olivia has fallen in love with her male persona, a situation that presents numerous challenges.
Viola’s Dilemma: Caught in a Love Triangle
Viola is already in a difficult position, serving Duke Orsino while secretly falling in love with him. Olivia’s unexpected affection adds another layer of complexity. Viola is now caught in a love triangle, or rather, a love square, with Orsino desiring Olivia, Olivia desiring Cesario (Viola in disguise), and Viola desiring Orsino. The ring forces Viola to confront the implications of her disguise and the awkwardness of her situation.
The ring forces Viola to grapple with the moral implications of her disguise. She’s unintentionally leading Olivia on, knowing that a genuine relationship is impossible. It heightens her internal conflict and increases the comedic tension as the audience anticipates the inevitable unraveling of her charade.
The Comedic Misunderstandings
The ring serves as a catalyst for several comedic misunderstandings and situations. For instance, it further fuels Sir Andrew Aguecheek’s jealousy and rivalry towards Cesario, as he perceives the page as a threat to his own (already slim) chances with Olivia. It also contributes to the general atmosphere of confusion and mistaken identity that permeates the play. The humor arises from the audience’s knowledge of the truth, contrasted with the characters’ ignorance and misinterpretations.
Fuelling Malvolio’s Delusions of Grandeur
Although not directly related to him receiving the ring from Cesario, the ring incident is pivotal in shaping the deception that is planned for him later in the play. Malvolio’s later delusion, orchestrated by Maria, Sir Toby Belch, and Sir Andrew Aguecheek, hinges on his belief that Olivia secretly loves him. Olivia’s rash infatuation with Cesario, demonstrated by the ring incident, sets a precedent for such improbable affection, making Malvolio’s gullibility more believable and his subsequent humiliation all the more comedic. The ring incident inadvertently lays the groundwork for Malvolio’s downfall.
The Ring as a Reflection of the Play’s Themes
Beyond its immediate impact on the plot, the ring also serves as a reflection of some of the play’s key themes, including love, deception, and the fluidity of identity.
The Nature of Love: Impulsive and Unpredictable
Olivia’s sudden infatuation and the use of the ring to instigate further contact highlights the often impulsive and unpredictable nature of love. Her affection for Cesario is based solely on appearances and a brief encounter, demonstrating the superficiality that can sometimes accompany romantic attraction. The ring, in this context, becomes a symbol of love’s capriciousness and its potential to disrupt established social norms and personal vows.
Deception and Disguise: The Masks We Wear
The ring episode underscores the importance of deception and disguise in Twelfth Night. Viola’s disguise as Cesario is the central conceit of the play, and Olivia’s manipulation of the ring further complicates the web of deceit. The characters wear masks, both literally and figuratively, concealing their true identities and desires. The ring becomes a prop in this elaborate game of deception, highlighting the distance between appearance and reality.
Identity and Gender: Challenging Conventions
The ring also touches upon the themes of identity and gender that are prevalent in the play. Olivia’s attraction to Cesario challenges traditional gender roles and expectations. She is drawn to what she perceives as a young man, but is in fact attracted to a woman disguised as a man. This blurring of gender lines contributes to the play’s overall sense of ambiguity and subversion of social norms. The ring, as a token of affection exchanged between two individuals of uncertain gender identities, embodies this challenge to conventional understanding.
Shakespeare’s Skillful Use of a Simple Object
Ultimately, the ring is a testament to Shakespeare’s skill in using seemingly simple objects to convey complex emotions and drive the narrative forward. It is more than just a piece of jewelry; it is a symbol of Olivia’s desire, a catalyst for confusion, and a reflection of the play’s central themes.
The delivery of the ring by Malvolio encapsulates much of what makes Twelfth Night such an enduring and beloved comedy. It is a scene filled with humor, irony, and poignant observations about the human condition. The consequences of this small act reverberate throughout the play, shaping the destinies of the characters and contributing to the overall richness and complexity of Shakespeare’s masterpiece. The ring serves as a microcosm of the play’s larger themes, reminding us of the unpredictable nature of love, the power of deception, and the ever-shifting boundaries of identity.
Therefore, the ring is not just an object returned; it is a plot device, a symbolic gesture, and a window into the hearts and minds of the characters in Twelfth Night. It is a testament to Shakespeare’s genius for imbuing ordinary objects with extraordinary meaning. The scene where Malvolio delivers it to Cesario, claiming Cesario gave it to Olivia, is pivotal for the plot and for understanding the complexities of the characters involved. The consequences and symbolism of this single act make it a crucial element of the play.
What specific item does Malvolio deliver to Cesario after Cesario’s visit to Olivia?
Malvolio delivers a ring to Cesario, supposedly from Olivia. The ring serves as a fabricated token of affection, meant to lure Cesario back to Olivia’s presence. It’s a crucial element in Olivia’s scheme to capture Cesario’s attention and demonstrates her immediate infatuation with the disguised Viola.
The ring is presented as if Cesario had left it behind accidentally, implying forgetfulness or a lack of interest. This manipulation is designed to pique Cesario’s curiosity and compel a return visit, giving Olivia another opportunity to interact and further pursue the object of her sudden affections.
Why does Olivia send a ring to Cesario, and what is her intention?
Olivia sends the ring to Cesario as a calculated ploy to force another meeting. She has fallen deeply in love with Cesario, who is actually Viola in disguise, and realizes that she acted improperly during their first encounter. Sending the ring provides a socially acceptable pretext for Cesario to return and allows Olivia to continue her pursuit.
Olivia is actively trying to manufacture a relationship with Cesario. The ring is meant to make Cesario think about Olivia and question the nature of their interaction. She hopes to use this manipulative tactic to ignite romantic feelings in Cesario, or at least secure another opportunity to be in Cesario’s presence.
How does Cesario (Viola) react to receiving the ring from Malvolio?
Cesario (Viola) is understandably confused and perplexed upon receiving the ring. Viola knows that she did not give Olivia a ring and recognizes the delivery as a deliberate deception. This realization immediately clarifies Olivia’s affections and places Viola in an awkward and potentially dangerous situation.
Viola understands the implications of Olivia’s actions and recognizes that Olivia has fallen in love with Cesario, the male persona Viola is currently embodying. This complicates Viola’s own affections for Duke Orsino and adds another layer of complexity to the play’s intricate web of relationships.
What is the significance of the ring as a symbol in *Twelfth Night*?
The ring in Twelfth Night functions as a potent symbol of misplaced desire and the deceptive nature of appearances. It represents Olivia’s impulsive and misguided infatuation with Cesario, highlighting the superficiality of her affections which are based solely on outward appearance. The ring signifies the confusion and misdirection that permeate the play.
Furthermore, the ring symbolizes the manipulation and game-playing that characterize the romantic pursuits within the play. It is not a genuine token of affection, but rather a tool used by Olivia to achieve her own desires. The ring exposes the distorted perceptions and the chaotic pursuit of love that drives much of the plot.
How does the ring incident contribute to the overall comedic effect of the play?
The ring incident contributes significantly to the comedic effect of Twelfth Night by highlighting the absurdity of the characters’ romantic entanglements. The ridiculousness of Olivia falling in love with a disguised woman and then sending a fabricated token of affection amplifies the farcical nature of the play.
The audience is privy to the deception, creating dramatic irony and heightening the comedic tension. Viola’s bewildered reaction to the ring, coupled with the knowledge of Olivia’s infatuation, generates amusement and underscores the play’s lighthearted exploration of mistaken identity and romantic folly.
How does Malvolio feel about being the messenger for the ring?
Malvolio views his role as the messenger of the ring with a mixture of haughtiness and self-importance. He likely interprets Olivia’s decision to use him as a sign of her increasing trust and respect. This feeds his inflated ego and fuels his ambition to rise in status within Olivia’s household.
However, Malvolio’s puritanical nature might also be slightly conflicted by delivering a message of romantic interest, as he disapproves of such frivolous behavior. Regardless, he carries out the task with an air of superiority, reinforcing his characteristic pomposity and adding to the comedic portrayal of his character.
What would have happened if Olivia had not sent the ring?
If Olivia had not sent the ring, the play would have taken a significantly different course. Cesario (Viola) might not have returned to Olivia’s house, thus stalling the development of their relationship and delaying the eventual unraveling of Viola’s disguise. Olivia’s infatuation with Cesario would have remained unaddressed.
Moreover, the absence of the ring incident would have deprived the play of a key comedic element and a crucial plot device for revealing Olivia’s impetuous nature. The romantic entanglements might have evolved in a less dramatic and humorous fashion, potentially altering the play’s overall tone and resolution.