- Maria (Twelfth Night)
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Maria 
Maria (second from right) giggling while Malvolio demonstrates his yellow stockings to his lady Olivia. Painting by Johann Heinrich Ramberg.Created by William Shakespeare Information Gender female Occupation servant Spouse(s) Toby Belch Nationality Illyrian Maria is a fictional character in the play Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. She is a servant in Olivia's household.
Contents
Role in the play
Maria is Olivia's most trusted female servant. She tends to her personal appearance and well-being. She also has a relationship with Olivia's uncle, the drunk Sir Toby Belch. Although Maria often tries to discourage Toby from drinking and carousing, she also seems to enjoy these activities herself, to some extent.
Since Toby and his friends Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Feste, and Fabian often drink and sing loudly at night, Olivia's steward Malvolio has a strained relationship with them. After Malvolio berates them for one such occasion, Maria comes up with the idea of deceiving Malvolio that his lady Olivia is secretly in love with him. Maria can imitate Olivia's handwriting, writes a love letter hinting at this secret love, and leaves it where Malvolio will find it.
Maria also participates in the "dark room" scene, when Toby and Feste put Malvolio in a windowless little room and torture him with questions. At the end of the play Maria marries Sir Toby.
Connections with other characters
- Olivia is Maria's lady and employer
- Sir Toby Belch is Maria's lover and eventual husband
- Malvolio is the steward in Olivia's household and therefore Maria's supervisor
Quotes
- By my troth, Sir Toby, you must come in earlier a' nights: Your cousin, my lady, takes great exceptions to your ill hours.
- Maria explaining to Sir Toby that her lady is not fond of her uncle's behaviour (Act 1, Scene 3).
- Nay, either tell me where thou hast been, or I will not open my lips so wide as a bristle may enter, in way of thy excuse. My lady will hang thee for thy absence.
- Maria scolding Feste for being absent from the household (Act 1, Scene 5).
- I can write very like my lady your niece: on a forgotten matter we can hardly make distinction of our hands.
- Maria conspiring with Sir Toby to write a letter that would fool Malvolio (Act 2, Scene 3).
- Go shake your ears!
- Maria insulting Malvolio
- Get him to say his prayers, good Sir Toby, get him to pray.
- Maria egging on Sir Toby to annoy Malvolio.
Performers
Year Media Performer 1869 Broadway Fannie Davenport 1905 Broadway Zeffie Tilbury 1910 Film Marin Sais 1939 Television Lucille Lisle 1949 Broadway Ruth Enders 1955 Film Anna Lisyanskaya 1957 Television Micheline Luccioni 1963 Off-Broadway Peggy Pope 1969 Off-Broadway Jennifer Darling 1970 Television Raph Wolfs 1972 Television Jet Naessens 1974 Television Anne Stallybrass 1980 Television Annette Crosbie 1987 Film Tracy Harvey 1988 Television Abigail McKern 1996 Film Imelda Staunton 1999 Off-Broadway Dana Slamp 2003 Television Maureen Beattie 2009 Off-Broadway Julie White Sources
- Guide to Twelfth Night
- Analysis of Major Characters in Twelfth Night
- Summary of Twelfth Night and Characters
Characters in Twelfth Night Viola · Orsino · Olivia · Sebastian · Maria · Toby Belch · Andrew Aguecheek · Malvolio · Feste · Fabian · AntonioCategories:- Fictional characters introduced in 1602
- Female Shakespearean characters
- Characters in Twelfth Night
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