Throughout, the play, Much Ado About Nothing, the characters within the play constantly degrade Don John to less than a human, because of his illegitimacy. These people treat him inferior to themselves, which in response makes Don John provoke chaos. I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his grace, and it better fits my blood to be disdained of all than to fashion a carriage to rob love from any. (1.3.25-28) This quote explains that Don John is aware and accepts himself as a second class citizen, which coaxes the readers to sympathize with him. Quotes like this in Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare explores the effects that societal labels have on people, through Don John. These acts of making Don John feel inferior present themselves …show more content…
This quote explains that Don John recognizes that many cannot fathom that he shows emotion or has feelings. This could be because he does not speak often to large sums of people, or because the town’s people grasp the idea that Don John too can express his mental state because they believe him to be a second class human. By using this quote Don John explains truthfully that since he is a person, even though he is treated as lesser, he still has emotions. When being an illegitimate child like Don John, one begins to think of themselves the way people treat them. Therefore, when Don John acts in his villainous ways, one blame it on Don John or rather the people who made him feel that he is less than human. Don John believes that his only way to be acknowledged is to act in a way no one will forget, therefore he acts as the villain in Much Ado About Nothing, because that what society made him out to be. I am trusted with a muzzle and enfranchised with a clog; therefore I have decreed not to sing in my cage. If I had my mouth, I would bite; if I had my liberty I would
William Shakespeare is known for his use of dramatic irony and complicated story lines. In Much Ado About Nothing, he also adds in the element of disguise to what the characters know, or what they think they know. There are multiple characters trying to ensnare others in different facades, whether it be for better or for worse. The deception and illusion in the play can either assist the characters or completely shatter the situation, but in both cases, Shakespeare advises us to infer about what we hear or see before we jump to conclusions.
William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing is a play involving by deception, disloyalty, trickery, eavesdropping, and hearsay. The play contains numerous examples of schemes that are used to manipulate the thoughts of other characters; it is the major theme that resonates throughout the play. Ironically, it is one of these themes that bring serenity to the chaos that encompasses most of the play.
In the play ‘Much ado about nothing’, Don John is a puppet whose strings are pulled by various characters and the society in which he lives. Although he does monkey businesses like every character in the play, he is the one who gets harshly judged and punished for it. His villainy is not an innate trait but rather, he chooses it to distinguish him from others.
With its entangled double plots and eloquent use of words, Much Ado About Nothing is a story that has the ability to entertain the masses both young and old. Shakespeare’s use of figurative language along with situation creates such vivid imagery for which carries the drama from beginning to end. For example, when we look at Act 1 Scene 1 of the play ...
Although the narrator feels desperate, John tells her that there is “no reason” for how she feels, she must dismiss those “silly fantasies”(166). In other words, John treats her like a child and gives her reason to doubt herself. “Of course it is only nervousness”(162). She decides. She tries to rest, to do as she is told, like a child, but suffers because John does not believe that she is ill. This makes her feel inadequate and unsure of her own sanity.
An example of John’s feelings of superiority over Jane, is shown in how he adores the fact that she is a weak woman, who depends greatly on him. Throughout the story her behaviors exhibit that she feels inferior to her husband. Jane obeys every command John gives without asking any questions. Jane delivers, “He is very careful and loving, and hardly lets me stir without special direction” (Gilman 474). Jane is forbidden to complete tasks on her own. Jane’s feelings of inferiority are deeply rooted from being under her husband’s complete control. Jane explains, “I meant to be such a help to John, such a real rest and comfort, and here I am a comparative burden already!”(Gilman 474). John does everything for ...
In William Shakespeare’s play ‘Much Ado about Nothing’, there are many instances of trickery and deception, which seem to surround the whole of the play.
However, I feel that Keanu Reeves is not suitable to play the part of Don John. In another version of Much Ado About Nothing, the actor cast as Don John was much older and less handsome, which made him appear more of a villain and I feel, for this reason, he succeeded in playing the role of Don John. I think that Keanu Reeves is inappropriate to play this role because the audience does not immediately recognise him as a villain. Keanu Reeves normally plays the part of the hero; the person that does the good deeds; the one who attracts the women, which provides him with a false image at the beginning of the play. It's imp... ...
Have you ever thought of two people having completely opposite character traits than each other? Well that is called character foil which happens in Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare. Don John which is a villain and evil person causes most of the conflict in the story while on the other hand Don Pedro known as the Prince of Aragon is courteous and intelligent. So with that being said Dohn John plans to ruin Hero and Claudio’s wedding while Don Pedro (matchmaker) is the one who helped Hero and Claudio get together in the first place.
“And when I lived, I was your other wife, And when you loved, you were my other husband(Shakespeare 60).” In the beginning of the play it was overwhelming, steeped in love at first sight between Hero and Claudio, until Don John’s evil-manner took a role in ruining the love between them. And because of this a conflict developed between them, but was resolved when their vigorous love for one another overcame the conflict. In Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, Hero serves as the foil character of Claudio because of Hero’s dignified, well-mannered, eminent reputation is illuminated through Claudio’s insecure, accusing, and doubtful weakness; thereby, interminably influencing the conflict in the plot.
Benedick said to Don Pedro, “Leave him till tomorrow. I’ll think of some awful punishment for him. Play on, musicians!” A group of soldiers return home to Messina, Italy from war, to find love. Only, to be encountered with the villainous character Don John. In Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, Don John serves as the foil character of Don Pedro by which Don Pedro’s advantageous strengths are illuminated through Don John’s belligerent weaknesses; thus, continually illuminates the idea of good vs evil.
As expected, this type of malicious deception finds its roots from Don John, the villain, who plays an essential role for nearly all of the evil trickery and deception in this play. He acts as a catalyst and an instigator for trouble whose sole aim is to ruin the love and happiness between Claudio and Hero to get revenge on his brother and Claudio. Don John, with the help of his henchman Borachio, devise a way to make it seem as if Hero has had an affair with Borachio. They set it up so that it would be discovered by Claudio the night before the wedding is to take place. Don John tricks Don Pedro and Claudio into seeing Borachio and Margaret (unwittingly involved in the deception as Hero) at Hero's window. Don John seems fair; a man who cares about his friends, a dutiful brother who is worried about Don Pedro's honor (as he set up the marriage) and Claudio's as well. He informs Don Pedro and Claudio about Hero's
...ssion and intrusiveness. John’s lack of having an open mind to his wife’s thoughts and opinions and his constant childish like treatment of his wife somehow emphasizes this point, although, this may not have been his intention. The narrator felt strongly that her thoughts and feelings were being disregarded and ignored as stated by the narrator “John does not know how much I really suffer. He knows there is no reason to suffer, and that satisfies him” (Gilman 115), and she shows her despise of her husband giving extra care to what he considers more important cases over his wife’s case with a sarcastic notion “I am glad my case is not serious!” (Gilman 115). It is very doubtful that John is the villain of the story, his good intentions towards doing everything practical and possible to help his wife gain her strength and wellbeing is clear throughout the story.
Secondly, Don John suffers from the tragic flaw selfishness. He is the most selfish character in the whole play. If Don John doesn’t like something, it won’t happen. Like when Don John agreed to trick Claudio and Hero to break them up before the wedding. Don John creates a dark tone to ruin the happiness of Hero and Claudio. Someone not selfish would want others to be happy and be successful, but not Don John. He wants everyone to be unhappy and suffer because of him.
Don John plays an essential role for nearly all of the trickery and deception in this play. He is the starter