Although Olivia's father has died within the last year, it is possible that Feste approaches or has reached middle age, though he still has the wit to carry off good 'fooling' when he needs to, and the voice to sing lustily or mournfully as the occasion demands.

He is referred to by name only once during the play, in answer to an inquiry by Orsino of who sang a song that he heard the previous evening.

Curio responds "Feste, the jester, my lord; a fool that the lady Olivia's father took much delight in.

His habit of roaming gets him into trouble with Olivia: when we first see him, he must talk his way out of being turned out—a grim fate in those days—for being absent, as it were, without leave.

He succeeds, and once back in his lady's good graces, he weaves in and out of the action with the sort of impunity that was reserved for a person nobody took seriously.

Some critics have suggested that there are moments where it seems Feste knows more about Viola/Cesario's disguise than he lets on and certain stage and film adaptations have taken this approach with their portrayal of the fool.

When Viola removes her "Cesario" disguise he gives her a golden necklace which she discarded when first shipwrecked on Illyria's shores.

Kingsley's Feste dresses in old clothes and appears to be a wanderer of no fixed abode, though he slips in and out of Olivia's estate at his will.

O, stay and hear; your true-love's coming, ⁠That can sing both high and low: Trip no further, pretty sweeting; ⁠Journeys end in lovers' meeting, Every wise man's son doth know.