The first step you need for this assignment is to understand the context of the letters. Let’s start with Malvolio in Twelfth Night.
Oh, poor, misunderstood Malvolio! He is the butt of all of the jokes in Lady Olivia’s house. Malvolio gets a letter that he thinks is from Olivia, the lady of the house. It was really Mary, Toby, and Andrew messing with him. They wrote the letter to get back and...
The first step you need for this assignment is to understand the context of the letters. Let’s start with Malvolio in Twelfth Night.
Oh, poor, misunderstood Malvolio! He is the butt of all of the jokes in Lady Olivia’s house. Malvolio gets a letter that he thinks is from Olivia, the lady of the house. It was really Mary, Toby, and Andrew messing with him. They wrote the letter to get back and him for telling them what to do.
'If this fall into thy hand, revolve. In my stars I
am above thee; but be not afraid of greatness: some
are born great, some achieve greatness, and some
have greatness thrust upon 'em. Thy Fates open
their hands; let thy blood and spirit embrace them … (Act 2, Scene 5)
Thinking it will win Olivia's heart, Malvolio does what the letter says, treating people rudely and dressing up in yellow stockings, cross-gartered. I would explain to Malvolio that even though this is a terrible trick, they didn’t mean anything by it. They were just playing a joke. You might explain that Malvolio means well, but perhaps should mind his own business more.
In Julius Caesar, Brutus gets a letter urging him to assassinate Caesar. Like Malvolio’s letter, this one is not who it seems to be from. The letters are supposedly from citizens of Rome, when they are really written by Cassius and the other conspirators.
'Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake, and see thyself.
Shall Rome, & c. Speak, strike, redress!
Brutus, thou sleep'st: awake!'
Such instigations have been often dropp'd
Where I have took them up.
'Shall Rome, & c.' (Act 2, Scene 1)
Brutus has already pretty much talked himself into killing Caesar. The letter might spur him on though, making him think that popular support is behind him and the people are rallying for him to act. You might explain to Brutus that he should not take such things at face value, and if he is going to act he needs to do so with the possible consequences in mind.
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