Theme Of Irony In Much Ado About Nothing

Truth and Deceit
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.
Benedick and Beatrice both benefit from the deceit that they encounter. At first, both are enemies in a battle of insults and wit, until they are each fooled into thinking that the other loves them. When Benedick hears that Beatrice is supposedly attracted to him, he thinks that it is “a gull, but that the white-bearded fellow speaks it: knavery cannot, sure, hide itself in such reverence” (111). Little does he know, Leonato, the "white-bearded fellow," is also in on the joke (111). Benedick starts to admire her when he is aware that Beatrice might actually be attracted to himself, as well. She is also astonished when she first hears that he loves her. However, when Beatrice comes to terms with their affection, she hopes "Benedick [will] love on... And [she] Believe it better than reportingly" (134). In other words, she falls in love with Benedick as soon as she believes that he, too, is fond of her. They each start to fall in love with one another under the pretense that other was hiding their affection from them. Now that they are both in love, they start to open up to each other and prove that the deception they endured was worth it in the end.
Claudio is also deceived; ...

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...ce Borachio confesses about his and Don John's plot, everyone lays their grudges and challenges aside. Claudio still marries Hero while Benedick and Beatrice also wed together.
The characters in Much Ado About Nothing are easily fooled into inadequate situations that could easily be prevented by a little investigation. We can only imagine how simple their lives would be if Claudio simply inquired to Hero about her supposed actions the night before the wedding. On the other hand, Beatrice and Benedick may never have fallen in love if it were not for the trickery that entangled them. Yet again, if their friends come right out and suggest that it might be a possibility, they could grow fond of the idea and embrace it none the less. Shakespeare convinces us that it is easier to uncover the truth rather than to clean up a mess from premature actions based on an illusion.