Below is my Director’s interpretation of one part of Twelfth Night, Act 1 Scene 5. For a marked-up/annotated script, see here.

Malvolio’s opening line in Act 1 is a stark contrast to that of everyone else’s before him. Although Maria has a similar scolding attitude, she relents to humor (eventually), but Malvolio seems stubbornly bitter to a huge degree–he’s almost immediately seen as the story’s villain, though later Acts will turn him into a villain. Thus, I believe Malvolio has to act apparently malevolently bitter, but that’s really just a coverup for a sort of tragic hidden inferiority inherent in him.

Olivia: What think you of this fool Malvolio, does he not mend?

Malvolio: Yes, and shall do, till the pangs of death shake him:
Infirmity that decays the wise, doth ever make the
better fool.

Feste: God send you sir, a speedy Infirmity, for the better
increasing your folly: Sir Toby will be sworn that I
am no Fox, but he will not pass his word for two pence
that you are no Fool.

Malvolio’s humor is immediately seen as politically incorrect from our modern POV, when he makes his joke based on Feste’s age. Even in Shakespeare’s days, this is perhaps seen as a foul kind of joke–but, I imagine Malvolio says this matter of factly. (Indeed, the entire exchange can be seen from Malvolio’s POV as an insult to his Lady Olivia–with Feste just being rude all the way through. Feste’s rudeness seems to foreshadow Viola’s, and in the end, it seems as if Olivia seems to favor the rude ones…)

Feste replies in that Feste-logic that Malvolio could use a bit more humor in him–to become a more foolish fool–so he hopes Malvolio would grow old and senile sooner.

Olivia: How say you to that Malvolio?

Malvolio: I marvel your Ladyship takes delight in such a barren
rascal: I saw him put down the other day, with an
ordinary fool, that has no more brain than a stone.
Look you now, he’s out of his guard already; unless
you laugh and minister occasion to him, he is gag’d. I
protest I take these Wisemen, that crow so at these
set kind of fools, no better than the fools’ Zanies.

Malvolio continues to ridicule Feste’s wit; after all, he’d just been called a fool himself by Feste! After citing that Feste got verbally owned by a fool dumber than a rock, he claims that Feste’s not funny at all unless someone gives him charity of laughter. Notice how viciously Malvolio returns Feste’s “joke”. I believe he’s acting this way not only because Olivia seems to be letting Feste make fun of her (and him), but also out of jealousy. He’s already developed an affinity towards Olivia, and would rather not have her favor someone so un-worthwhile as this fool.

Olivia: Oh you are sick of self-love Malvolio, and taste with
a distemper’d appetite. To be generous, guiltless, and
of free disposition, is to take these things for Birdbolts
that you deem Cannon bullets: there is no
slander in an allow’d fool, though he do nothing but
rayle; nor no railing, is a known discreet man, though
he do nothing but reprove.

Olivia begins by reproaching Malvolio, and explains why she let Feste make fun of her. She understands that Feste’s joking–and yet Malvolio takes his joke seriously.

Feste: Now Mercury endue thee with leasing, for thou speak’st
well of fools.

Tags: feste, Feste's logic, Malvolio, Olivia