Question

Which sentence best explains the meaning of the bolded line in this excerpt from act v, scene I, of Twelfth Night?

CLOWN: Why, 'some are born great, some achieve
greatness, and some have greatness thrown upon
them.' I was one, sir, in this interlude;—one Sir
Topas, sir; but that's all one:—'By the Lord, fool, I
am not mad;'—But do you remember? 'Madam,
why laugh you at such a barren rascal? An you
smile not, he's gagged'? ⇒ bold line [And thus the whirligig of
time brings in his revenges. ]

Answer 1

The clown is commenting on the cyclic nature of time and saying that Malvolio has received the treatment he deserved.

Answer 2

Answer: The clown is commenting on the cyclic nature of time and saying that Malvolio has received the treatment he deserved.

Step-by-step explanation: In the bolded line, "whirligig" means an object or part of an object that spins or whirls. "And thus the whirligig of time brings in his revenges" becomes a metaphor for the saying "what goes around, comes around" and "you reap what you sow".