Much Ado About Nothing Don John Essay

Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” is a play with clear heroes and villains, reading into the nuances of the characters, the line between heroes and villains becomes blurrier. Don John is the clear villain of the play but he is not the only one. Don John is portrayed with malicious intent and does not escape this notion for each of his lines, he is supposed to be the evil meddler. For someone such as Claudio, there isn’t a certainty. Claudio is a character who gets a happy ending and perhaps also gets more sympathy from the reader, this is because Claudio wrongs people but is also deceived into doing so. Borachio is another that may put Don John in contention for most dangerous of the play, he formulates malicious plans but it is uncertain

Don John says, “Will it serve for any model to build mischief on?” This is after he hears from his companion that an intended marriage is brewing between someone and his brother’s companion, this explicitly shows that Don John wants to create havoc for those around him. Don John’s motives stem from him being the bastard son, he is bitter about this, “If I had my mouth, I would bite; if I had my liberty, I would do my liking.” Don John is jealous that Claudio, Pedro and Benedick are afforded the “liberty” that he is not. Don John chooses to create mischief by making Claudio and most of the men believe that Claudio’s fiancé, Hero – who is supposed to be the shining beacon of pure femininity in this play – is unchaste, ruining the reputation of all with threads attached to Hero. Don John tells Claudio while in the presence of Don Pedro, “The lady is disloyal… Leonato’s Hero, your Hero, every man’s Hero... The word is too good to paint out her wickedness” Don John is the only person in the play who is constantly intentionally manipulating with malicious intent, he never shows any sign of remorse, nor does he get any sort of redemption. By the end of the play, the issue of Don John almost resolves itself. John runs away from Messina after everyone finds out about his wrongdoings, only for him to return and

Borachio is however the one who creates the plan that Don John put into motion. Borachio can be seen as the brains of the operation, perhaps John isn’t smart enough to think all of this up, it is positioned that way as John is hardly seen formulating anything for himself. John is constantly asking for help from Borachio. Borachio comes up with a plan to trick Claudio into believing that Hero is unfaithful, “Go you to the Prince your brother; spare not to tell him that he hath wronged his honor in marrying the renowned Claudio, whose estimation do you mightily hold up, to a contaminated stale, such a one as Hero.” This does not come with any input from John, it is Borachio’s plan. Borachio might seem just as dangerous as John in this instance, possibly more so as without him no misdeeds would occur, however Borachio is afforded something that John isn’t, Borachio is afforded a redemption. Borachio at the very least confesses to his crimes and states “I desire nothing but the reward of a villain.” Whether this actually redeems Borachio in the eyes of the audience or not, he at least shows signs of maturity and good that are completely absent in Don