What are some negative examples of envy in the play Twelfth Night by Shakespeare?
Twelfth Night is an unusually good natured comedy, and none of the characters is particularly smitten with envy apart from Malvolio. One cannot be sure even with Malvolio; Sir Toby Belch accuses him of a general ill-temper, rather than strictly envy: Art any more than a steward? Dost thou think, because thou art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes and ale? [2.3] And later in the same scene Maria suggests that Malvolio’s failing is conceit rather than envy: The devil a puritan that he is, or any thing constantly, but a time-pleaser; an affectioned ***, that cons state without book and utters it by great swarths: the best persuaded of himself, so crammed, as he thinks, with excellencies, that it is his grounds of faith that all that look on him love him; and on that vice in him will my revenge find notable cause to work. Most of the other characters are surprisingly happy with their lot in life. Envy does not play a large role in this comedy.
