Class Divisions In Twelfth Night By William Shakespeare

Everything in life is divided in specific ways to make sure everyone knows their “place” in the world. Through time, class and social standings has taken a toll in the influence on how we perceive others just because of something they are labeled as. In the play, Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare, social class divisions has been a theme throughout the play, controlling the decisions one makes. This is shown through Sir Toby, Maria, and Malvolio, each demonstrating the influence class injects within their decisions. Classism influences society’s preference of what is right and wrong, with the idea of class forcing much power in a person’s well-being. Firstly, in the play, Sir Toby Belch is the uncle of the Countess Olivia, and is known as

This is exposed when Sir Toby believes, “she’s a beagle, true-bred, and one that adores me” (2.3.169-170). This statement reveals both Sir Toby’s and Maria’s feelings for each other, as Sir Toby claims Maria to be a good women that admires him. Despite their mutual love towards one another, their relationship is prohibited and inappropriate in the public eye. This is because of the societal class system, in the event that Maria is Olivia’s attendant of the servant class, and Sir Toby is of the noble class. To this day, we still have economic classes present in our society, although, during the Elizabethan era, societal and economical class has been more of an influence of society’s preference of right and wrong. In other words, it had more power than it does in the present time, more so that a person’s life may be in grave danger. Proof of this is shown when the Duke Orinso makes himself believe that he is in love with Olivia, when in reality, she is just the most acceptable choice for a wife, being in the same social and economic status. Despite the controversy, Sir Toby and Maria defy the rules of society, and run away together to get married. This is known when Fabian reveals, “Maria’s writ the letter at Sir Toby’s great importance, in recompense whereof he hath married her” (5.1.356-358). So you would say that Sir Toby’s and Maria’s

This is portrayed when Malvolio acts as though he is of the high class, treating the other servants as though they are below him, when really, they are of the same class. This is also shown during the practical joke on Malvolio by Sir Andrew, Maria, and Sir Toby, when he is caught day-dreaming about marrying Olivia. With Malvolio fantasizing, “having been three months married to her, sitting in my state-“ (2.5.42-43). Here, Malvolio imagines his life being married to Olivia, and being in a high class. He believes that this could actually happen by stating, “there is example for’t; the lady of Starchy married the yeomen of the wardrobe” (2.5.37-38). This injects the idea, that if the lady of Starchy married her wardrobe manager, a person of lower class, then Olivia could marry him too. However, Malvolio does not necessarily love Olivia, in fact, it’s more so Malvolio being in love with Olivia’s societal status and money. As a matter of fact, Malvolio’s name originates from the word, “malevolent”, which means “showing a wish to do evil to others”. He is so focused on obtaining a higher social status, that he does wrong to Olivia be wanting to marry her, not because he loves her, but because he want to use her to his advantage. Classism influences Malvolio’s well-being because, since he tries so