Much Ado About Nothing Deception Analysis

The masking of an identity is a common solution that many people of today’s society turn towards. Whether it is to hide something from someone or to use it as a form of protection. William Shakespeare’s popular play Much Ado About Nothing is an excellent example of masking that is achieved by some of the characters. The story reflects events of people masking themselves intentionally, unintentionally or having the ability to see through other’s masks. It demonstrates that masking can end in deception, although not constantly.

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.

All throughout the beginning of the play, both Beatrice and Benedick use sarcasm and hide their true feelings for each other, which is the first example of tricky in their relationship. Both of them have vowed never to marry anyone; Benedick stating: "Because I will not do them the wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none; and the fine is, for the which I may go the finer, I will live a bachelor." (1.1.232–35), while Beatrice says, "No, uncle, I'll none. Adam's sons are my brethren, and truly I hold it a sin to match in my kindred." (2.1.59–60.) Their friends see that they are the perfect match for one another, and plan to trick them into confessing their love for each other. When Benedick is in the orchard, he overhears Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato talking about how Beatrice is in love with him but is afraid he will mock her if she tells him. Benedick believes them, saying, "This can be no trick." (2.3.217.) He then goes on to say, "I will be horribly in love with her." (2.3.230–31.) Later, Beatrice hears Hero and Ursula talking about how they can't tell her that Benedick loves her because she is a scornful person. After Hero and Ursula leave, Beatrice states:

In Shakespeare’s play, Much Ado About Nothing, written in the early 15th century, the relationships between Benedick and Beatrice and Hero and Claudio are the key to the play and create a lot of tension and comedy. The two relationships are interesting in different ways, and this essay will explore this in terms of the language used, the plot, characterisation and how the two relationships stand thematically.

In the play Much Ado About Nothing by Shakespeare, Shakespeare consistently shows that success in the play comes from balancing external and internal conflict between two protagonists. Much Ado About Nothing follows the story of the humorous war between Beatrice and Benedick and the love story of Claudio and Hero. Both external and internal conflict are displayed in Beatrice and Benedick when they come to the realization that they have unexpected love for each other. Internal and external conflict makes the play successful because of its balance throughout. Internal and external conflict throughout the play makes it successful because the audience can relate to the characters in that to find love within someone else you must go through conflict to create the bond between two people to create love.

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

Manipulation and More Manipulation In Scene One of Act Four of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, Beatrice is angered by Don Pedro and Claudio’s hasty reactions and makes the irrational decision to beg Benedick to challenge Claudio to a duel. Don Pedro and Claudio announce the lies fed to them by Don John to those attending the wedding procession, causing Hero to faint of embarrassment and despair. After the public shaming of Hero, Beatrice and Benedick have a long conversation about Beatrice’s sorrow and Hero’s shattered reputation. Beatrice begins her manipulation of Benedick: “Ah, how much might the man deserve of me that would right her!”

While Claudio and Hero were having fun matchmaking Beatrice and Benedick, Don John was devising a plan with the help of Borachio and Conrade to “… misuse the Prince, to vex Claudio, to undo Hero, and kill Leonato” (2.2.28-29). Don John tells Don Pedro and Claudio that Hero is disloyal. At first, they do not believe him, but when he leads them outside, to a place at a distance from Hero’s chamber window, he bears them witness to Hero’s disloyalty, as they see a woman who is supposedly Hero (but is actually Margaret), and another man (who is Borachio) with her. Since it is the night and it is dark, and because they see them from a distance, they are unable to discern that it is Margaret in Hero’s clothes. Claudio, believing that Hero is disloyal, speaks in front of everyone at the wedding with Don Pedro’s support about what he saw and ruins the wedding.

This can be seen in the quote ‘Give not this rotten orange to your friend’ (4.1.29). The "rotten orange" is Hero. Claudio is talking about her as if she is beautiful on the outside but decayed on the inside. Claudio's words are unusual, but the audience can immediately relate to them. This metaphor could also give the idea of miscommunication because he first states that Hero is beautiful, but she is a sinful person. Deception can easily be seen here, since Claudio was the one calling Hero a ‘rotten orange’, but only because of what other people tricked him into thinking. If Don John did not trick Claudio into thinking Hero slept with Borachio, then he would not have had to condemn her. Another metaphor that emphasizes the theme of deception is when Don John states ‘I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his grace’ (1.3.23–24). Don John would rather be something of less value if it means it does not have to do with his brother. Since he is jealous of his brother, he only wants to make his life worse. That is where the lies, misunderstandings and deception are shown and that can be seen in actions such as him sabotaging Claudio and Hero’s wedding. Metaphors play a great part of apprehending the theme of

Deception is something that many of us look negatively upon. However in the book Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare shows that deception can have both positive and negative outcome. The book captures the outcome of deception through relationships. For example relationships being formed and being broken because of deception. Within the novel characters such as Benedict, Beatrice, Hero, and Claudio form relationships and trickery intervene with these relationships in both negative and positive ways.

Beatrice and Benedick’s love, on the other hand, is based on mutual respect, love and true admiration but Shakespeare uses the idea of a “merry war” as a cover for their romance due to the profound use of wit. I believe the characters partake in excessive use of conflict, as they are both similar, which has been done purely to amuse the audience. In the beginning of the play, there is nothing short of obvious attraction between Beatrice and Benedick but is hidden by ironic remarks such as “I wonder that you will still be talking, Signior Benedick: nobody marks you”, interrupting Benedick which is ironic in the sense as she was obviously listening to the conversation in order for her to say that. As Beatrice begins this “merry war” we are left feeling a sense of pathos towards Benedick, as this remark was unprovoked. Shakespeare was able to intertwine the plot of the “merry way” by tricking both of these characters into believing that they are both in love with each other. Shakespeare also uses this convention in ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ where the character of Puck, incorrectly used a love potion, leading to both Demetrius and Lysander being in love with Helena. This mistake from Puck opposed the original love relations between Lysander, Demetrius and Hermia. The purpose of Shakespeare extensively using the theme of conflict between characters throughout the play and the convention of intertwining plots, allows the characters to change and develop dramatically

At the beginning of the play Benedick and Beatrice thought they detested each other and regularly engaged in hateful banter. They were both so absorbed in their arguments that neither realized how they felt about each other. However, the Prince realized their potential affection and took it upon himself to match them together. The Prince said, “I will in the interim undertake one of Hercules’ labors, which is to bring Signior Benedick and the Lady Beatrice into a mountain of affection, th’ one with th’

First of all, one example of deception in the play is when Benedick is tricked into believing Beatrice loves him and Beatrice is tricked into believing Benedick loves her. Claudio, Leonato, and the Prince have a conversation and Hero and Margaret have another conversation in such manners that Benedick and Beatrice can overhear them purposefully. In the conversation between Claudio, Leonato, and the Prince, Leonato

At its core, “Much Ado About Nothing” is a true love story. The story, written by William Shakespeare, takes place in Messina, Italy. When a prince, Don Pedro, and his two comrades, arrive in town from war, they are welcomed to the home of a nobleman by the name of Leonato. The accompanying soldiers, Benedick and Claudio, each find love as the play progresses. Claudio immediately falls in love with Leonato’s daughter Hero, while Benedick eventually falls for the quick-witted niece of Leonato, Beatrice. Along the way there is deception and redemption. The deception is led by Don Pedro’s illegitimate brother, Don John and his followers. Those responsible for the troubles caused are brought to justice. In the end, love conquers all and the two couples are wed in a double ceremony.