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Much Ado About Nothing Literary Analysis
A tragically flawed character is a person in a story that has a trait that leads to his or her own downfall. There are many characters in the play that have these tragic flaws. Don John is prideful, Beatrice is stubborn, and Dogberry is ignorant. These traits all lead to something negative in the end. However, the most tragically flawed character in William Shakespeare’s play, Much Ado About Nothing, is Claudio because he so gullible and trusting.
The main reason that Claudio is the most flawed character is because he is trusting of others. The night before the wedding, in act 3, scene 2, Don John comes up to Claudio and Don Pedro and tells them that Hero is cheating on him. Claudio says, “If I see anything tonight why should I not marry her, / tomorrow, in the congregation where I should wed, / there will I shame her” (Shakespeare 50). Claudio, even though he knew Don John was a liar, still believed
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It shows that he will trust and believe the first thing he hears even without any proof. No where in the play does it say that the three men actually went out and saw what was happening. A journalist for the British Library named Emma Smith says, “Interestingly, those stage or film productions of the play that want to be sympathetic to Claudio do tend to depict the scene at her window to suggest that the trick was a convincing one and therefore he should not be judged too harshly. But by leaving it out, Shakespeare suggests that the men have already made up their minds.” Without him even asking for Hero’s side of the story, Claudio just assumes that Don John is telling the truth. This is pretty sad considering Claudio was about to marry Hero and still wouldn’t believe her. Also in act 2, scene 1, Don John goes up to Claudio during the party and tells him that Don Pedro confessed his love Hero. Claudio says, “This is an accident of hourly proof, / Which
With this ending and the treatment of Don John throughout the play, it is clear that he will never be able to mingle positively without suspicion, and with other characters. His harsh sentencing for deceit is hypocritical as almost every character in the play, from Don Pedro to Leonato himself have deceived people, albeit not with bad intentions like Don John. His reputation ever since he was born has dictated his life and his only alternative to being called an untrustworthy bastard is to become a “plain-dealing” villain, to forge himself his own identity. Although everyone believes he is a conniving villain, Don John’s just forcing himself to be one; to prove he has his own identity among the “posh” people of Messina even if it is antagonistic.
middle of paper ... ... One final and resounding difference between Don John and Iago has to do with the past of each character. Shakespeare portrays Iago as an intelligent and sometimes caring character until Othello supposedly wrongs him. On the other hand, Don John has more of an evil aura about him, and shows his hatred for Claudio right from the start. Overall, the characters of Don John and Iago are very similar, although the latter is much more intelligent and complex These two men are what draw the reader’s attention to the novel, and share so much in common that the two seemingly unrelated works are read in tandem constantly.
The first sign of Claudio’s immaturity is how easily he falls in and out of love. In Act 1, Scene 1, Claudio says to Benedict, “I would scarce trust myself, though I had sworn the contrary, if Hero would be my wife” after merely taking in the beauty of Hero (Shakespeare 1.1.9). There is no real substance yet to his love for Hero other than outward appearance, much like any person young and naïve with love. When Claudio asks Don Pedro, “Hath Leonato any sons, my lord?” helps the reader develop a further understanding of Claudio and what could be his true motive for wanting to marry Hero, the only heir to her Leonato (1.1.13). Another sign of the fickleness of Claudio is when told by Don Jon, the bastard, that Hero has affections toward Don Pedro his best friend, he swears off his love for Hero by saying, “This is an accident of hourly proof. Which I mistrusted not. Farewell therefore Hero” (2.1.24). After having Don Pedro ask Leonato for his permissions to marry...
In the meantime, let me be that I am, and seek not to alter me.’ - Don John. o (Act I, Scene III: Lines: 22-30). The first instance of trickery and deception is when Don Pedro tells Claudio that he will woo Hero for Claudio to marry her in Act I Scene I.
Lies, trouble, and mischief are all around ready to destroy everything. William Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. From the beginning to the end of the play, two love stories are intertwined which have to do with the characters Hero, Claudio, Benedick, and Beatrice. Defeated Don John, a selfish villain, is eager to carry out serious mischief against his brother and Claudio, who helped defeat him. Don John comes up with plans to ruin others happiness which causes many problems throughout the play. In Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare the character foil displayed is Don John and Don Pedro. In MAAN Don Pedro, the king of Messina comes home from a battle. He wants to help others and is the opposite of his brother Don John. The relation the brothers have illuminates the work because their opposite traits affects other characters in the play and show a theme.
In Act 3, Scene 2, Don John gave Claudio and Don John false information about Hero cheating or being disloyal to Claudio. In Act three, Scene two Don John says this to Don Pedro and Claudio “I come hither to tell you; and, circumstances shortened, for she has been long too a-talking of, the lady is disloyal.” (Shakespeare) Claudio then believes what he said so much that he actually goes to the wedding and shames her in Act four, Scene one. Claudio said “What man was he talked with you yesternight out your window betwixt twelve and one? Now, if you are a maid answer to this.” (Shakespeare). By calling her out he then ruined his relationship with Leonato, Beatrice, Benedick, Antonio, and Hero for a while. He ruined his reputation along with Heroes. He later becomes known as a criminal throughout the household. He endangers himself to the point that Benedick is asked by Beatrice to kill him, so Benedick challenges him to a duel so he can fight him. Claudio took the bait with saying “If I see anything tonight why I should not marry her, tomorrow in the congregation, where I should wed, there will I shame her.” (Shakespeare). Claudio immediately went into saying how upset he was and how he will disgrace her. He didn’t think anything of what Don Jon was saying coming from him and how he is a known criminal and hates his brother whom is friends with Claudio. After Don John tells
In the book Don John plans on sabotaging the wedding of Claudio and Hero by making Claudio believe that she is having affairs with Borachio. In the book Don John goes and shows Prince and Claudio what it seems that is Hero having sex with Borachio. But it wasn't Hero it was Margaret (Hero's cousin) having affairs with Borachio, but Borachio made it seem like it was Hero just so Claudio will get mad and ruin the wedding. On the wedding day that's when Claudio refuses to marry Hero because of what he saw. Claudio exclaims “Not to be married, Not to knit my soul to an approved wanton”(Act IV, Scene I, 44-45).
King Charles I changed the name of, “Much Ado About Nothing,” to “Beatrice and Benedick,” in his personal copy of the play. “Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare is a comedy set in Messina, Italy, when the men are returning from battle. As the reader follows Claudio, Don Pedro, Don John, Benedick, Hero, Beatrice, Leonato, and a few others through this story, the reader will find that the most unusual of relationships can blossom. William Shakespeare is a well-known author of many plays, sonnets, and poems from the Elizabethan Era. In “Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare, Beatrice is a foil to Hero because of their contrasting emotions, opposite personalities, and differing actions.
Shakespeare, William. Much Ado about Nothing. Ed. Paul Werstine, Barbara A. Mowat, and Gail Kern. Paster. New York: Simon &ump; Schuster Paperbacks, 1995. Print.
In Act 3 Scene 2, Don Jon the Bastard deceives his brother (Don Pedro) and Claudio. Don Jon has come up with a gimmick to fool Claudio and Don Pedro into thinking that Hero has been unfaithful to Claudio when she was truly innocent, and to ultimately ruin Claudio’s happiness. Don Jon tells Claudio and Don
How Shakespeare Presents the Character of Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing and How Interpretations of His Character Can Vary Claudio is firstly presented, though he is not in the scene where this takes place as a brave, young and fresh addition to Don Pedro’s. troops and that he is quickly growing to be a hero and this is commented on by the messenger in the scene. He is extremely nave in the early scenes, he has a very simple and trusting view of the world. and the way it works, he seems to be flirtatious, making him possibly. desperate or genuinely in need of love.
The whole joke of Don Pedro's plot depends on the assumption that the two are virtually irreconcilable to each other. In the end, deceit is neither purely positive nor purely negative: it is a means to an end. It is a way to create an illusion that helps one succeed socially. These examples of deception work particularly well to an observing audience. It is interesting to see how each character behaves or responds to the deception.
Claudio not only allows himself to be blindly deceived by Don John once, but
Offer them instances, which shall bear no less likelihood than to see me at her chamber window, hear me call Margaret “Hero,” hear Margaret term me “Claudio,” and bring them to See this the very night before the intended wedding, for in the meantime I will so fashion the matter that Hero shall be absent, and there shall appear such seeming truth of Hero’s disloyalty that jealousy shall be called assurance and all the preparation overthrown. Don John: Make the arrangements, and I’ll do it (IT.ii.26-43). It is evident that Don John’s plan was carefully thought out to guarantee the restoration of his ego. He wanted both Hero and Claudio to feel the disappointment he felt when he found out about their wedding, so he blatantly manipulates the truth in order to stop the burning agony of his ego. At this point in the play, Claudio’s ego is also hurt because he feels like he has been humiliated and misled by his soon-to-be wife.
That is a key part of Machiavellianism which is not present Borachio because it is shown that he willingly follows Don John’s orders and is okay with being an underling rather than in charge. Additionally, when Don John is creating a plan to ruin Hero and Claudio’s wedding he states, “Only to despite them I will endeavour anything.” (Shakespeare 31). Essentially what Don John is saying in this line is that he will work hard and persevere through anything to make sure this plan succeeds. This is the very definition of Machiavellianism. Proving that Don John is more Machiavellian than Borachio.