Scene 5

Scene 5 opens with a witty conversation between Maria and the clown Feste. Maria lightly scolds Feste for being absent from Olivia’s service for too long, and the two enjoy a series of jokes and puns. 

Olivia then enters with Malvolio, and Feste demonstrates cleverly that Olivia herself is a fool for mourning her brother’s death to such extremes. If his soul is in heaven, then she has nothing to grieve. Olivia is properly entertained, if not convinced, by Feste’s argument, but Malvolio, her steward, is appalled. Olivia scolds Malvolio, noting that he is “sick of self-love” and tastes the world “with a distemper’d appetite.” He takes himself and his own opinions far too seriously.

Maria comes in bearing the news that a young man is at the gate, and Olivia orders Malvolio to get rid of him. Sir Toby appears, mostly drunk, and then staggers back out. Olivia cannot draw much in the way of sense from her uncle, but she sends Feste to care for him. 

Malvolio reenters with the message that the young man at the gate will listen to no excuses; he must speak with Olivia. She gives in, and Maria drapes a veil over Olivia’s face.

The young man is Viola disguised as Cesario, and she delivers the message of praise from the Duke. She also gently taunts Olivia for hiding herself beneath a veil and hints that she, too, is not who she seems to be. Finally, Olivia agrees to a private audience and removes her veil, and Viola compliments her on her beauty but also scolds her for pride and cruelty toward the Duke. 

Olivia firmly maintains that she does not and cannot love the Duke, even though she knows he is noble. Viola reiterates her master’s passion and suffering, but Olivia will not budge, even when Viola says that if she had a passion like the Duke’s, she would not move from Olivia’s gate or cease to cry out her name.

However, Olivia is becoming increasingly interested in the “young man” before her. She questions Viola about her parents and position. Viola responds vaguely. Then Olivia sends Viola on her way, telling her she may return with the Duke’s response. Olivia, however, continues to reflect on the fine qualities of the “young man,” and she sends Malvolio after Viola with a ring to “return” to “him.” Viola, of course, has left no ring with Olivia; indeed, the latter is sending her own message.

Analysis

Scene 5 introduces the audience to one of Shakespeare’s most interesting archetypes: the clown or fool. In this case, Feste embodies this role. Clowns or fools are entertainers, but they are much more than their title seems to suggest. 

A fool like Feste is often the wisest character in a Shakespearean play, for his role allows him to speak his mind without reserve, even if that means insulting those who occupy higher statuses. Therefore, he provides insights into the characters’ situations and motivations that no one else would dare to express.

Feste does this to Olivia when he calls her a fool. He maintains that her mourning for her brother is excessive, but he does not say so outright. Instead, he draws Olivia to that conclusion by asking her why she mourns. To her response that she mourns for her brother, he calmly states that he thinks his soul is in hell. That gets Olivia’s attention, and she exclaims, “I know his soul is in heaven, fool.” “The more fool, madonna,” Feste replies, “to mourn for your brother’s...