Much Ado About Nothing Deception Essay

In the 1600s, William Shakespear wrote a comedy play, Much ado About Nothing. It follows the romantic relationships of two couples: Beatrice and Benedick, Hero and Claudio, all of whom are set up by their close friend Don Pedro. When Don Pedro’s illegitimate brother Don John and his lackey Borachio try to break up Hero and Claudio, Hero’s Father Leonato and the Friar devise a plan to get them back together. By investigating Don John, Don Pedro, and Leonato’s actions, it is clear that the play portrays deception as acceptable as long as it is done with good intentions and results.

Dohn John’s deceptive actions have evil intentions and results and are portrayed as unacceptable. Near the beginning of the play, Dohn John is talking to Borachio

In this quote Don John is saying he hates Claudio, Claudio’s suffering is music to his ears, and he will be very grateful to whomever ruins Claudio and Hero’s marriage. The bitter tone of Don John’s statement helps convey the extent of his hate and evil intentions. Near the end of the play, after Don John and Borachio have succeeded at ruining Claudio and Hero’s wedding, Borachio is brought to Don Pedro, Claudio, Leonato, his brother, and the Sexton to confess his and Don John’s role. Borachio says, “I have deceived even your very eyes…Don John your brother incensed me to slander the Lady Hero, how you were brought into the orchard and saw me court Margaret in Hero’s garments, how you disgraced her when you should marry her. My villainy they have upon record, which I had rather seal with my

Near the end of the play, after Hero’s honor has been disgraced by Claudio and the wedding has been ruined, the Friar suggests that they pretend Hero is dead to make Borachio confess and Claudio feel guilty. Leonato agrees to do so and says, “Being that I flow in grief, The smallest twine may lead me” (139). Leonato is saying he is so sad that he will do whatever anyone advises him and he will follow Friar's plan. His sadness and grief despite the fact that Hero is alive emphasizes the importance of his reputation. The hyperbole is also used to emphasize how little it would take to change his mind. At the end of the play, after Claudio has agreed to marry Leonato’s “niece” as penance for killing Hero, not knowing Hero is the fake niece. During the second wedding the deception is revealed when Hero unmasks. When Claudio says, “Another Hero” and Leonato replies, “She died, my lord, but whiles her slander lived” (193). Here Leonato is admitting to lying and deceiving Claudio, yet Claudio is not mad at Leonato for lying. He is simply happy to be able to marry Hero. In fact, he is so unbothered that his next line is teasing Beatrice and Benedick about their love poems (195). This shows that Leonato’s deceptions are glossed over. This is also emphasized with Claudio’s tone of happy surprise when he says “Another Hero” (193). These two scenes highlight the acceptance of