On Lamb's "On the Character Malvolio"
An Essay

by Kimber

In the essay "On the Character Malvolio", the famous 18th century critic and essayist Charles Lamb attempts to plead the case of Malvolio's poor, misunderstood personality. Considering the time in which Lamb lived, the opinion is understandable. But seen in the light of today's relative sophistication (or lack thereof), I find Malvolio to be just as Shakespeare portrays him in the play Twelfth Night. He is an example of the overly sophisticated gentleman of the time.

The first line of the essay, I think, sums up the writer's opinion of Malvolio's position quite eloquently. "Malvolio is not essentially ludicrous." What Lamb is saying here, and throughout the essay, is that Malvolio is merely a victim of circumstance. The basic character of the man is quite noble, and surprisingly high-bred for his station as steward of a household. In the essay, Lamb describes him as "...dignified, consistent, and, for what appears, rather of an overstretched morality." In essence, he is worthy of a position well above the one he now occupies. Even after he began his uncharacteristic behavior for the sake of Olivia's mistaken affections, Lamb sees Malvolio as a tragic figure. He feels these actions are forced on Malvolio by the onslaught of "...the poison of self-love, in his conceit of the Countess's affection...". What Lamb is saying, albeit in Shakespearean red, is that Malvolio was a very sophisticated man surrounded and impeded by lower class beings.

I don't in any way profess to be an expert of Shakespeare or his writings. Mr. Lamb's interpretation of Malvolio is as credible as anything I could put forth. However, his opinion was formed almost 200 years ago with entirely different cultural influences than either Shakespeare or I. In his time, the social caste system made gentlemen confident of their positions, and enabled them to act in a manner that most today would reserve for one to be labeled a pompous ass. In my opinion, Malvolio, by the very existence of his dignity, consistency and overstretched morality; and his need to make sure everyone was aware of his possession of them, makes an ass out of himself. He has no need of Maria, Sir Toby and the rest to trick him into it.

The essay did make me think, though. Charles Lamb speaks of Malvolio as a "notoriously abused" gentleman upon whom the reader should take pity. Where as, while I do feel he is misused, I don't feel Malvolio shows any more dignity, breeding or intelligence than most of the other characters in the play. The essay made me see these two conflicting opinions in their proper light and I do see what Lamb was saying. I can't say that I agree but I do understand his motivation for saying it. Shakespeare, by virtue of his work's longevity, will constantly be interpreted and debated and often it will be done in the context of the reader rather than the author.