Much Ado About Nothing Deception Analysis

marriage women should be innocent, pure and faithful. Don John's plan to make Claudio think hero is unfaithful is a success which then Claudio, Don Pedro and Don John perceives Hero is unclean and impure.

The first use of trickery in Hero and Claudio's relationship is when Claudio's friend, Don Pedro, pretends to be

Beatrice and Benedick are interesting due to Shakespeare’s use of language. Confusion is created as to whether they love or hate each other owing to their snide comments, such as Beatrice’s response “A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours” (1.1.104), notably continuing the reference to animals, after Benedick

He continues with another soliloquy after he overhears the news of Beatrice’s feelings. The differences in the tone and attitude of the two soliloquies gives perfect insight to his capricious state of mind. This is comical because immediately before he overhears the three men speaking, he demeans men who fall in love so quickly and foolishly. He scorns at how one man, after “seeing how much another man is a fool when he/ dedicates his behaviors to love, will, after he hath/ laughed at such shallow follies in others, become the/ argument of his own scorn by falling in love” (II.iii.8-11). This becomes ironic just moments later in the play when Benedick becomes the very thing he describes in his speech. Shakespeare included this soliloquy to exemplify Benedick’s indecisive nature, and to show great insight to his internal struggle.

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

This theme of appearance versus reality is common throughout the play in the number of times deception is used among the characters. Deceit, and misinterpretation of the events causes tension among Claudio and Don Pedro (Act 3 Scene iv). After Claudio fell in love with Leonato's daughter Hero, Don Pedro woos the young lady for him. As Don Pedro does this jealousy arises in Claudio thinking his love is being taken away by the Prince.

One of the primary themes within the play is deception, its motivations and repercussions. Hero’s faked death is the most prominent example of deception within the play. Leonato and his family circle use Hero’s false death as a way to punish Claudio for his injustice towards Hero. In this case, deception is used as a disciplinary measure. Through this chain of events, Shakespeare conveys the power of deception in affecting someone’s emotions, to the extent that it is used as a form of vengeance. Another less dramatic instance where deception manifests itself within the play is in the interaction between Benedick and Beatrice at the masked ball. Both of them were aware of who the other was yet continued to participate in the facade of obliviousness.

Throughout the story, Beatrice shows that her intellect is not only equal to that of a man’s, but at times also superior. Shakespeare allows her the freedom of speech because it is done in a context of humor. Leonato reinforces this in Act 1 Scene 1, “You must not, sir, mistake my niece. There is a kind of merry war betwixt Signior Benedick and her. They never meet but there’s a skirmish of wit between them.” Her battles of wit in which she partakes with Benedick is normally unallowed, but because the arguments resulted to be humorous, the audience accepts her biteful tongue. Beatrice is able to walk on a line of insolence, carefully not crossing it. Furthermore, Beatrice also uses her linguistic ability to ward off suitors until she came upon a man on her own terms who appreciates her wit and respects her as an individual. This is conveyed in Act 2, Scene 1 where Beatrice states, “Not till God make men of some other metal than earth. Would it not grieve a woman to be overmastered with a piece of valiant dust? To make an account of her life to a clod of wayward marl? No, uncle, I’ll none.” Although Beatrice ends up marrying Benedick and is forgiven for her insolence, conforming to society’s expectations, their marriage ties in a mutual understanding, being able to argue and be honest with one another. Therefore using her smart tongue, Beatrice is able to become

She throws away her old self, stating "Contempt, farewell! and maiden pride, adieu!"(3.1.109). She also choses not to be so protective of her independence and declares love for Benedick, claiming "I will requite thee, Taming my wild heart to thy loving hand"(3.1.111-112). However, the true change in Beatrice does not show until the first church scene in which Claudio publicly humiliates Hero. Beatrice shows deep concern for her cousin Hero, the first time in the play where Beatrice shows concern for another. She is the first to claim Claudio is a liar and declare "on my soul, my cousin is belied!"(4.1.145). Beatrice then proves once again that she is a better person by demanding justice for Hero is met. Through Benedick, Beatrice plots to right the wrong and asks Benedick to "Kill Claudio"(4.1.290). It is in this scene as well that Beatrice, proving a complete turnaround in behavior, confesses to Benedick that "I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest "(4.1.287-288). This shows Beatrice transforming from someone who would scoff at marriage and love, declaring things like "I may sit in a corner and cry heigh-ho for a husband"(2.1.312-313), to someone who easily embraces love from the person she once mocked. But such a dramatic change is seen in her love as well.

In this Shakespearean comedy ‘Much Ado about Nothing’ two similarly obstinate characters of Beatrice and Benedick are presented between the rather normal relationship of characters Hero and Claudio. Shakespeare presents Beatrice and Benedick’s obstinacy towards the rather obligatory act of marriage and also their particularly similar personalities that cause reason for their familiar act of squabbling; he does this whilst also presenting two characters that are completely interested in marriage and who are hardly intellectually capable of squabbling in a similar manner. As the play unfolds both characters remain combative with one another but as love becomes the better of them, they begin to reveal that somewhat secretive sensitivity

When Benedick overhears Don Pedro and Claudio’s conversation, he falls for the trick and believes that Beatrice is in love with him. “ Come hither, Leonato, what was it you told me of today, that your niece Beatrice was in love with Signor Benedick?” (2.3.81-82). This demonstrates how it appears that Beatrice loves Benedick, when in reality this is all made up.

However, upon hearing of Beatrice’s love for him he is suddenly perplexed and it does not take him long to decide that he will give that affection back in return.  How easily persuaded Benedick is.  This may come from the way Claudio, Don Pedro, and Leonato (Benedick’s associates) depict Beatrice as the most wonderful woman in Messina.  They talk of Beatrice as if she were the most magnificent woman so that Benedick will do exactly what he does indeed do.  When Benedick hears of this he must be thinking of what he has said before about his desire for the perfect woman.  In his speech he says that “the lady is fair . . . / . . . And virtuous. . . / . . . And wise[,]” which is exactly what Benedick demands in the woman that he will choose to be his wife.  However, Benedick only believes these things about Beatrice because of what Claudio, Don Pedro, and Leonato have said about her.  They only said them to convince Benedick that Beatrice was deserving of him and that she loved him with all her heart.  They told Benedick just what he wanted to hear.  It is a scheme made of lies, but it works because Benedick is persuaded and begins to agree with what they have said.  By doing this he is already influencing himself to follow the opposite path from the one that he has adhered to for years.  Here he is already starting to fool himself into believing Beatrice is the one for him

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

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.

Like many of Shakespeare's other heroes, Benedick has a comic and serious side. I think he combines everything Shakespeare seems to like in a character; he is amusing (his witty banter with Beatrice is where most of the humour in this play revolves around) and he is also able to laugh at himself- he takes in good humour like the teasing of his friends about his cynicism about matrimony. He is loving too, (an example of this is his poem to Beatrice) and also deadly serious is his love for her- he renounces his male comradeship to "kill Claudio" as she demands- he is prepared to give up his current, enjoyable way of life for her. He is also loyal to the prince, in that he despises Don John, but he is most loyal to the one he loves, something the majority of Shakespearean heroes personify (even those who go astray eventually return to their love- Romeo never wavers from his purpose in loving Juliet). His relationship with Beatrice is another ideal held up to us by the playwright. Beatrice chooses Benedick, she pleases herself, not her family, and as a result, their relationship is much more equal and evenly balanced. It is this relationship, and not the other, quite stereotypical romance, which Shakespeare makes the main thread of this drama.