Deception In Much Ado About Nothing Essay

The play Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare consists of many themes which grow out of the ‘game of love'. The two main themes consist of perception and deception. Through the plot complications, character development and dramatic techniques these themes can be explored. In the play deception is shown on both good and evil sides, the game of love between Beatrice and Benedick and the Don John plot to split up Hero and Claudio. Perception is a theme used in most of Shakespeare's plays. Perceptive views by the characters help portray the game of love. Hero is perceived as dead which then Claudio is sorry and feels for her. Beatrice and Benedick's loved is clouded by each other's perceptions and arguments.

Deceit and trickery play a huge part in the play Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare. Deception is a key theme in the play, it also moves the plot along. Trickery and deception is used in the love stories of couples Hero and Claudio, and Benedick and Beatrice, with opposite results. This play demonstrates two different kinds of deceit: the kind whose only purpose is to cause trouble, and the kind that is used to form a good outcome. In the relationship of Hero and Claudio, deception nearly succeeds in breaking them apart forever, while in the case of Benedick and Beatrice, it brings them closer together.

Pedro to which he responds, "I thank you, I am not of many words but I

Human nature is often considered in isolation from the rest of the world as if it would be an exception or a special case. In Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing, the complexities of human nature are explored in depth. This essay will explore in particular how Shakespeare dramatises the concepts of human misunderstandings, deception and dichotomy through effective dramatic techniques.

Here, Beatrice compares Benedick to a fool; someone who makes his living by entertaining others. As well, she describes him as a dull and unpleasant person who is disliked by men. These lines truly depict Beatrice as a nasty and cruel character but in reality, she is deceiving Benedick and herself of her true feelings toward him in order to protect herself. However, this deception seriously hurts Benedick because although he will not admit it, he truly cares about her opinion. This is demonstrated when he complains to the Prince about the verbal abuse he received during the masquerade party: “She speaks poniards, and every word stabs (2.1. 244-245)”. However, Beatrice is not who she appears to be. Although she treats Benedick with utter disdain and contempt, she has strong feelings for him which she hides. This is seen when at the beginning of the play, she suddenly interrupts Leonato to inquire about Benedick's safety: “I pray you, is Signior Mountanto returned from the wars or no? (1.1.30-31)” This symbolizes her interest in him and her genuine feelings toward Benedick. Though she certainly comes off as a malicious and hurtful person, Beatrice does not want to be vulnerable again and we learn this from a reference made about a past relationship. When

Dramatic irony is a stylistic literary technique used in many of Shakespeare’s tragedies to create suspense for the audience. Dramatic irony occurs when the audience or readers discover information that other characters in the play are not aware of. This allows the audience to make predictions as to what’s going to happen next; thus keeping them engaged in the plot. There are many incidences of dramatic irony that exist in Shakespeare’s famous tragedy, Hamlet. One example of dramatic irony within this play is in Act 1, Scene 5, when the Ghost of King Hamlet appears to his son (Prince Hamlet) and reveals the true cause of his death. Through this incident, Shakespeare is able to manipulate audience sympathies and antipathies towards characters; develop Hamlet’s character; and introduces the main themes and conflicts that recur throughout the play.

“Good comedy is tragedy narrowly averted”: these words were spoken by Jonathon Bate and Eric Rasmussen in their publishing of ‘William Shakespeare: Complete Works’. They show how many elements of comedy could be interpreted as almost tragic. The comedy in Much Ado About Nothing is often created when the audience can see that something could go horribly wrong, however it is saved in the nick of time. A sense of relief and light-heartedness is created, as customarily comedy is known to end in a meeting of characters at a gleeful point in time or occasion; most frequently with a wedding.

In the play Othello, Shakespeare uses many literary devices to help the reader understand the theme of the story. One of those many literary devices used in the play, is the wide range of irony. Throughout the pages of the book the reader will see the use of dramatic, situational, and verbal irony. Shakespeare does not use irony in an understated way, it is very direct, and can be found on almost every page of the book. The use of irony creates suspense, and adds interest as to what will happen.

-Shakespeare employs dramatic irony in many of his tragedies, so that the audience is engaged, and so they are able to witness characters errors in their action, predict the fate of the characters, and experience feelings of tragedy and grief.

Shakespeare, the author of Much Ado About Nothing, presents the idea that manipulation and trickery is carried out by the characters among the play. Even though deception was directed towards Claudio and Hero in dissolving their love for each other, it was the force that brought Beatrice and Benedick closer together. Not only did deceit help characters in the play, it also contributes to help present the play’s dramatic focus. Referring to “Deception in Much Ado About Nothing”, Richard Henze states, “Much Ado About Nothing is about right deception that leads to marriage and the end of deceit, and wrong deception that breeds conflict and distrust” (Henze 1). This compliments the fact, that in Claudio and Hero’s relationship, one can see how

Deception is used throughout the play much ado about nothing and is seen as an instrument for both good characters and villains. In William Shakespeare play; much ado about nothing, Don Pedro and Claudio devise a plan to make Beatrice and Benidick fall in love with each other by tricking them to think that each other like each other. Don John tries to end the marriage between Claudio and Hero and succeeds by making Hero appear unfaithful. The friar decides to fake Hero’s death in order to find out if it is indeed the truth that Hero is unfaithful or that it is just a lie. Don John is caught and is punished for his villainous actions.

Maintaining a Good Reputation In Shakespearean Time A famous poet once said,”One can survive everything nowadays, except death, and live down anything except a good reputation.” In today’s world, keeping a good reputation, is very difficult because it seems like almost any and everybody know who you are, what you do, where you work, etc. However, it is not just today’s society that struggle with maintaining a good reputation. In Much Ado About Nothing a popular comedy made by the one and only William Shakespeare many themes and motifs were broadly shown; some very obvious, other very subconscious. William Shakespeare uses the motif deception not just to demonstrate the moral of the bad effects of deception; but to also subliminally elaborate also the good effects of deception and how it correlates with a person’s overall being.

Introduction: William Shakespeare effectively uses dramatic irony to intrigue the reader and deepen the impact of the consequences Macbeth ultimately faces.

Each of the main characters in Much Ado About Nothing is the victim of deception, and it is because they are deceived that they act in the ways that they do. Although the central deception is directed against Claudio in an attempt to destroy his relationship with Hero, it is the deceptions involving Beatrice and Benedick which provides the play's dramatic focus.

Much Ado About Nothing is primarily a play about gossip. Indeed, the title means a big fuss about a trifle, and by the end, this is exactly what happens. All accusations will come to nothing, causing the play to end the same way as if they never occurred at all. Shakespeare brilliantly plays on the meanings of nothing throughout this play. The word "nothing" would actually have been pronounced "noting" in his time. It can mean worthless, a person of little worth, or also mean everything, in the sense that much ado is made about everything (Smith). Much of the plot is moved along by characters eavesdropping on a conversation and either misunderstanding what they overhear or being deceived by