Maria

__Biography:__

Maria is Olivia's servant and is also Olivia's lady-in-waiting. She is in the lower class. Maria is a smart thinker and can work her way out of a situation by using her words. She also has an attitude and does not mind saying what she thinks. In addition she helps keep Sir Toby Belch and Sir Andrew Aguecheek in their place. She, along with Sir Andrew and Toby Belch, does not like Malvolio. She devises a great plan to get back at him; she will write a love letter in Olivia's handwriting to him, and sign it form Olivia. Then, he will look like a fool in front of her. Maria and Malvolio do not like each other. Maria works hand-in-hand with Sir Toby, Sir Andrew, and Fabian by writing a letter to Malvolio. The letter is made to look as though it is from Olivia, and Malvolio believes that Olivia is in love with him. Maria continues with her plan to embarrass Malvolio by having the Fool dress up and act like a priest. The Fool tries to convince Malvolio he is influenced by the devil. After the Fool confronted Malvolio, Maria realizes the Fool did not need to dress up, and she did not need to get the costume. They once again went to trick Malvolio, who was now locked in the closet, and Maria watched until Sir Toby Belch finally said enough. Maria had decided to get married to Sir Toby Belch, because she figured out that when Olivia finds out about the letter that she wrote to Malvolio, she can't fire her, because she is Royalty, because she is married to Sir Toby.

__Quotations:__

"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. " [|[1]]

"Go shake your ears!" [|[2 ]]

Writes love letters to Malvolio to get back at him making it seem like it is from Olivia to get back at him.

The quote above means Maria wants to get back at Malvolio for tattling on her when she was with Sir Toby Belch and Sir Andrew. She comes up with the idea to write a letter to Malvolio but pretend like its from Olivia. The letter said that she loved him and that he had to do certain things to show her he felt the same way.

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"Mistress Mary, if you prized my lady’s favor at anything more than contempt, you would not give means for this uncivil rule. She shall know of it, by this hand."  - Malvolio [|[3]]======

Lo, how hollow the fiend speaks within him! Did not I tell you? Sir Toby, my lady prays you to have a care of him.

"Some were born great, some will achieve great, and some will have greatness thrusted upon 'em"

- It was written in her letter to Malvolio pretending she was Olivia.

"If my lady have not called up her steward Malvolio and bid him turn you out of doors, never trust me."


 * 1) ====== Act I, Scene v ======
 * 2) ====== [|^]Act II Scene III page 6 ======
 * 3) ====== [|^]Act II, Scene iii ======