Maria (Twelfth Night)

Maria
[[File:|frameless|alt=]] Maria (second from right) giggling while Malvolio demonstrates his yellow stockings to his lady Olivia. Painting by Johann Heinrich Ramberg.
Creator	William Shakespeare
Play	Twelfth Night, or What You Will

Maria is a fictional character in the play Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare. She is a servant in Olivia's household.

Connections with other characters

• Olivia is Maria's lady and employee
• 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

Sources

• Guide to Twelfth Night
• Analysis of Major Characters in Twelfth Night
• Summary of Twelfth Night and Characters

v t e William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night Characters Viola Orsino Olivia Sebastian Malvolio Maria Sir Toby Belch Sir Andrew Aguecheek Feste Adaptations Twelfth Night (1933) Twelfth Night (1955) Twelfth Night (1980) Twelfth Night (1986) Twelfth Night (1988) Twelfth Night: Or What You Will (1996) Reimaginings The Animated Shakespeare: Twelfth Night (1992) She's the Man (2006) Dil Bole Hadippa! (2009) Opera Viola