Deceitfulness In Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing

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Within the play, Much Ado About Nothing, there is a central theme of deceitfulness, as a way to solve a problem or an issue amongst the characters. Deception, though inherently perceived as evil, it led to positive resolutions after several conflicts throughout the play. In the creation of this theme, Shakespeare uses both negative and positive examples to contribute to his lesson on ruses. Within this specific scene, there is finally disclosure all of the cons that the various characters have put on. This scene highlights that deception is not always evil, nor is it always moral, but can be a means to an end that can be beneficial or detrimental to a character’s arc. Shakespeare’s usage of honesty within this particular scene, establishes the deconstruction of illusions within human relationships in order to complete a story.
As the scene begins, in line 52, the women are wearing masks to conceal their identities from the men. This physical deceit is used to keep the scheme hidden from Claudio. However, in certain views, this seems to be an intelligent and loving gesture, in …show more content…

The relationship between Beatrice and Benedick exposes the truth in a manner that removes the significance of the lies. Whereas Claudio and Hero’s connection still relies on the treacheries as a crucial property to flourish. These juxtaposing relationships illustrate how varied human relations can be when fabrications are at the center. As the play matures the relationships developed at different degrees into opposing situations: one growing stronger while the other was weakened due to the deceptions. In these final lines, Shakespeare is exposing how circumstances can contrast even amongst comparable conditions. While lying ultimately unites one, it almost destroys the other couple. Trickery is depicted as neither wrong nor right through the scope of these