Shakespeare’s depiction of Oberon’s use of deceptive love for selfish persuasion efficiently demonstrates the inherent dangers to the deceived beloved’s psyche and mental stability that emanate from using false forces.
Another important form of affection-driven deception that can be found in one of these comedies is in both the spoken word and written sentiments of the plays’ respective characters. As there words as only as reliable as the recipient 's perception of their creator, they are neither intrinsically innocent and true nor malevolent and false but are subject to the intentions of their author. Shakespeare’s most obvious and in-depth example of deception via the written word is the tale of Puritan Malvolio in Twelfth Night. Acting as a steward to Lady Olivia, Malvolio is forced to continuously interact with her rowdy, drunkard uncle, Sir Toby, his equally disruptive companion, Sir Andrew, and his vengeful servant, Maria, all of who continuously force Malvolio to reprimand their behavior on behalf of Olivia. Following a serious episode in which Malvolio professes that if Maria valued Lady Olivia’s approval “at anything more than contempt” she would stop providing alcohol to Toby and Andrew, the trio concocts a plan to exploit Malvolio high opinion of himself to execute their revenge. Maria’s idea of dropping “some obscure epistle of love” that will be interpreted as Lady Olivia’s profession of romantic feelings for Malvolio demonstrates her acknowledgment, of how