The Importance Of Deception In Much Ado About Nothing

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To deceive someone who is capable of setting aside their pride and analyzing the situation with a realistic view is a difficult task, but it’s easy to fool someone when their eyes are clouded with ego. Deception is a critical part of Much Ado About Nothing and the play suggests that the prideful are often the ones most susceptible to trickery as they are unable to look past their own sense of “honor” and self-righteousness. The play also suggests pride will change one’s reactions to deception. Throughout the play, one can witness prideful men (in particular Claudio and Don Pedro) and quaint women’s responses to deception. The difference is demonstrated by Benedick and Beatrice’s reactions to their respective deceptions, the different views …show more content…

Although Beatrice also falls victim to her friend’s ploy, she does so in a way that shows her willingness to let go of her pride. Beatrice first reacts to her friend’s conversation by saying “What fire is in mine ears? Stand I condemned for pride and scorn so much?” this shows that her first instinct is to let go of her pride and change as she then says that there is no sense in staying stubborn and feisty. Beatrice may have been deceived but the reader can see from her reaction that she isn’t as prideful and scornful as she’s thought to be. On the other hand, Benedick also falls victim to his friend's plot but he does so in a manner that shows his pride. Benedick’s first reaction to his friend’s conversation is to believe the positive things they are saying. He starts off by saying “this can be no trick” and later assumes that he can see signs of love in Beatrice. Benedick’s pride influences how he reacts to deceptions as he defends his change of heart by saying that a man’s tastes will change. This differs from Beatrice who instead chose to first focus on the negative things her friends said about her. From these instances, the reader can see that when deceived, pride changes how one reacts. But pride can also determine if one will be deceived in the first …show more content…

This idea is supported by Benedick and Beatrice’s reactions to their own deceptions, the different reactions to Hero’s unfaithfulness and “death”. Benedick and Beatrice can be seen showing different reactions which in turn reflect their pride and values. Hero’s supposed unfaithfulness shows Claudio, Don Pedro and at first, Leonato, being tricked due to their love for honor. Hero’s death shows the men deceiving themselves through their self-righteous actions. Throughout the play, prideful individuals are often victims of deceit as they cannot see beyond their own moral high

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