1. I feel like this song fits Malvolio because in Twelfth Night we learn of his feelings for Olivia after receiving a forged letter from Maria. He does everything the letter states in order to win Olivia’s approval even though it doesn’t seem to be working. In this song the singer is basically saying how he doesn’t care about anything the love interest does because he feels so deeply for her. Even after Olivia dismisses Malvolio he continues to do things he thinks she will like wearing yellow socks. This shows how in love he is regardless of how Olivia treats him.
“I’m only a fool for you and maybe you’re too good for me”
2. I feel like this song fits Malvolio because it talks about Camila’s struggle to find real friends. In Twelfth night Maria, Sir Toby and Sir Andrew are viewed as friends by Malvolio until they continuously prank him. In his moments of being locked in the dark room I feel like he would be thinking about how he wants genuine friends. In this song the artist reflects on how she doesn’t have fun going out anymore and is tired of the surface level conversations. I think Malvolio can relate to this because there is never anyone who is explicitly nice to him.
“Can’t help but feel like something’s wrong, yeah
‘Cause the place I’m livin’ in
Just doesn’t feel like home”
3. I feel like this song fits Malvolio because it shows the mental turmoil of being in love. His feelings for Olivia have not only caused him mental pain, but physical as well. It’s caused Maria, Sir Toby and Sir Andrew to torment him which only drives him closer to Olivia. In this song Audrey talks about needing the feelings to fade away meaning she is tired of the pain that love has caused. She also mentions how she was in love with the idea of love and less with the individual and I feel like maybe Malvolio just wanted to feel something.
“These conversations, I’m reminiscin’ on the thought of you”
4. I feel like this song fits because infatuation is the perfect word to describe how Malvolio feels about Olivia. The joy he feels when he thinks she has feelings for him motivates him to do everything for her. He uses the fake letter as a guide for how to live and uses it religiously. In this song the rapper says “I gotta get close to you baby right now”
“Let me be your drug, tell me when you feel in pain (where)”
5. I feel like this song fits Malvolio because it again shows his devotion to Olivia. Stating that he would do anything for her including enduring ridicule. Often when someone falls in love, they are willing to do anything for that person. I think that is how Malvolio felt when he first read of Olivia’s “feelings” for him. In the song The Weeknd talks about how far he is willing to go for the person he loves, including taking on death. I think this song perfectly embodies Malvolio’s emotions.
“Baby I would die for you, yeah the distance and the time between us it’ll never change my mind”
6. I feel like this song fits Malvolio because we read how his is repeatedly convinced he is crazy. First by doing things in the forged letter and Olivia responding weirdly, but secondly when he is locked in the dark room. He thought he was speaking to a priest and was told the room he was in was light when it was really dark. He was tricked to think he was losing his mind and going mad when in reality it was the result of a cruel prank. I think he would resonate with this song because it vocalizes what he is feeling.
“But maybe I’m crazy, maybe you’re crazy”
7. I feel like this song fits Malvolio because of its sad demeaner. A line in the song talks about feeling alone which I feel like Malvolio can relate to because he’s often isolated. When he was locked in the dark room that was another example of isolation and being made the butt of the joke each time. Additionally not having real friends is something this songs hints at which is also what Malvolio is going through. Trying to be happy in the midst of a bad time also aligns with Malvolio’s character.
“See it on my phone that my friends back there got inside jokes without me”
“I’ll be revenged on the whole pack of you.”