Let the doors be shut upon him, that he may play the fool nowhere but in's own house

Let the doors be shut upon him, that he may play the fool nowhere but in's own house

The line "Let the doors be shut upon him, that he may play the fool nowhere but in's own house" is from William Shakespeare's play "Twelfth Night." In this context, the line is spoken by the character Sir Toby Belch, who is a boisterous and often drunken nobleman.

Sir Toby is speaking about the character Malvolio, who is the steward of Olivia, the wealthy countess in the play. Malvolio is a strict and uptight character who often tries to impose his rules and regulations on others. Sir Toby and his companions, including the mischievous Maria and the foolish Sir Andrew Aguecheek, decide to play a prank on Malvolio to teach him a lesson.

The line reflects Sir Toby's desire to humiliate Malvolio by locking him in a dark room and making him believe that he is insane. By shutting the doors upon him, Sir Toby is ensuring that Malvolio's foolish behavior is contained within his own house and not allowed to disrupt the lives of others.

This line also highlights the theme of deception and disguise in "Twelfth Night." Throughout the play, characters often wear masks and pretend to be someone they are not in order to achieve their goals. In this case, Sir Toby and his companions use deception to expose Malvolio's true nature and bring him down a peg.

Additionally, the line can be interpreted as a commentary on the nature of foolishness and the importance of self-awareness. By confining Malvolio to his own house, Sir Toby is suggesting that foolish behavior should be kept private and not inflicted upon others. It serves as a reminder that everyone has their own flaws and weaknesses, and it is important to recognize and address them in order to avoid making a fool of oneself in public.

Overall, this line from "Twelfth Night" captures the humor, wit, and social commentary that are characteristic of Shakespeare's work. It is a reminder that even the most serious of characters can be brought low by their own foolishness, and that sometimes the best way to deal with a fool is to simply shut the door and let them play their games in private.