In reading the first three acts of Much Ado About Nothing, the audience is introduced to a whirlwind of lies and deceit created by many of the characters. Of course, some of these lies are brought about in good nature, such as the trickery devised by Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato to bring Benedick to love Beatrice. Also in good form are Hero’s attempts to make Beatrice love Benedick in return. However, the evil Don John and his servant Borachio have ruined Claudio’s perception of Hero by tricking him into believing she is a whore. In doing so, the audience learns many things about the characters. While Don John initially seemed to desire despair only for Don Pedro (out of jealousy as the “Bastard son”), we now learn that his true nature lies in a deeper, darker place. He is pleased by the unrest and trouble facing his comrades, and feeds on them. Perhaps the audience can conclude that Don John, due to his poor reputation as a bastard brother to Don Pedro and resulting lower social status, truly holds only evil in his heart. We can also conclude that the servants of Don John, namely Borachio, have learned this habit and are therefore willing to act out against the other characters to please their master.
Another conclusion we can draw from these first few scenes is the ease with which lies are bought in this play. As the men are disguised at the masquerade, trickery flies about the room. There, Beatrice reveals to Benedick her true feelings about him, unknowingly so (or perhaps she insults him knowingly, but with strong pretense…thoughts?). Also, Don John addresses the masked Claudio, as if he were in fact Benedick, to falsely inform him that Don Pedro plans to court Hero instead himself of winning him for Claudio. Thirdly, in Act 3 we see Borachio and Don John scheme against Claudio, and Borachio’s performance with Margaret leads Claudio to believe that his fiancee is engaging in premarital affairs with another man. Claudio is so quick to believe that Hero would do such a thing, which allows the audience to see how trusting he is of Don John, and that he is unable to see the evil nature of the man. It can also be said that Claudio does not know Hero well enough to marry, for even though marriage was more of a transaction of familial affairs than a matter of love, the two are young and possibly not ready for such a major endeavor.
We must begin questioning why these characters are so easily deceived, and how this will play out in the last acts of the play. From Hero’s strong sense of foreboding disaster, we can definitely expect some very interesting action in Acts 4 and 5.
What an interesting observation. I hadn’t noticed the parallel drawn between the “good” and the “bad” characters both practicing deceit. Our “good” (moral?) characters weave their lies in order for entertainment and for a little laugh and, almost, out of sport. Our “bad” characters are searching for ways to create mischief. In Act 1, scene 3 Borachio comes to Don John with information on a marriage to which Don John says, “Will it serve for any model to build mischief on? What is he for a fool that betroths himself to unquietness?” (1.3.40). From this line alone we can see that Don John’s purpose is of ill intent, even without knowledge on his character.
However, I will have to disagree with you on the point of Claudio quickly believing Don John’s deceit. Remember that Claudio had to see with his own eyes before he believed Hero had been unfaithful. This is something that the calculating Don John expected and thus prepared for with his less than moral mate, Borachio. We can even assume the reason why Borachio is a servant to Don John in the first place is because of his less than moral behavior. It’s a case of the chicken or the egg in regards to the two of them. But I suppose their moral inception isn’t all that important.
I believe Don John’s motivation stems from feelings of bitterness and resentment towards the world. He describes himself as being naturally sullen, and thus justifies his aura of perpetual sadness to Conrade. Don John also conveys his pessimistic view of the concept of public personas; he essentially says he would prefer people hate him for who is rather then love him for someone he pretends to be. However, because he is aware of his villainous nature he understands he cannot openly do as he pleases. He is “trusted with a muzzle”, meaning he is very cautious of what he says. Although Don John does not specify any reasons for his peculiar nature other than chance of the stars alignment, one can infer that he has lead a difficult life. His rigid personality may have isolated him from his peers, as having a public persona is usually a critical component of being accepted. Don John’s resistance to abiding by this societal norm yields insight as to why he attributes sulkiness and ill temper as innate aspects of his nature.
Don John does greatly resent his brother and his right hand man Claudio; he seems to blame the majority of his problems on the two. I disagree that Don John desires to cause mischief purely for the sake of conflict; he asks Borachio whether his news is mischief worry immediately upon hearing it was noted during supper between Don Pedro and Leonato. Don John may have assumed the news was in regards to his brother, the Prince: “what is he for a fool that betroths himself to unquietness?” (1.3, 45) Don John had stood against his brother, and only recently got back within his good books. He was biding his time for an opportunity to cause problems for him. It would give him great pleasure to cause trouble for Don Pedro, and subsequently Claudio.
I don’t think Don John’s servants are necessarily evil either. They may enable his behavior at times, but they also question it. For example, Conrade implores Don John to seek reason when he explains his sullen nature. I feel they are biased towards their master, and act according to their skewed views of Don Pedro and his inner circle. Their actions may seem immoral; however, if they are under the impression that Don Pedro has wronged Don John, then their motivation is understandable. It is difficult to assess due to the fact that most of the conflicts that caused the bitterness in these relationships unfolded off scene; hopefully Acts 3-5 will provide more insight into the drama behind them.
This exchange gets at a central element in this play, deceit and bad faith that flourish in those “musty rooms” that we were exploring yesterday. Notice the song that Balthasar sings in 2.3: “Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more, /Men were deceivers ever” and then in the second stanza, “The fraud of men was ever so.” And Borachio in particular is a fascinating character, a thoroughly unembarrassed master deceiver. Consider his conversation with Conrade, when he explains the trick paid upon Claudio that the benighted watch overhears. Why did he do it? For a thousand ducats (3.3.109). And for bragging rights, perhaps. In some ways, this play is frighteningly contemporary, if you think about the way big money supports big lies in our society. Under what intellectual and moral conditions does deceit thrive?
Going on what Tessa originally said about why these characters are easily deceived, I think this was part of Shakespeare’s point in the play about the human condition: we are easily deceived and some easier than others (as seen with the discussion about Claudio’s suspicion to see Hero with his own eyes and Benedick and his friends). Sometimes all it takes is one rumor to ruin someone’s life, and in this case, honor on Hero’s part.
I believe Don John’s motivation stems from feelings of bitterness and resentment towards the world. He describes himself as being naturally sullen, and thus justifies his aura of perpetual sadness to Conrade. Don John also conveys his pessimistic view of the concept of public personas; he essentially says he would prefer people hate him for who is rather then love him for someone he pretends to be. However, because he is aware of his villainous nature he understands he cannot openly do as he pleases. He is “trusted with a muzzle”, meaning he is very cautious of what he says. Although Don John does not specify any reasons for his peculiar nature other than chance of the stars alignment, one can infer that he has lead a difficult life. His rigid personality may have isolated him from his peers, as having a public persona is usually a critical component of being accepted. Don John’s resistance to abiding by this societal norm yields insight as to why he attributes sulkiness and ill temper as innate aspects of his nature.
Don John does greatly resent his brother and his right hand man Claudio; he seems to blame the majority of his problems on the two. I disagree that Don John desires to cause mischief purely for the sake of conflict; he asks Borachio whether his news is mischief worry immediately upon hearing it was noted during supper between Don Pedro and Leonato. Don John may have assumed the news was in regards to his brother, the Prince: “what is he for a fool that betroths himself to unquietness?” (1.3, 45) Don John had stood against his brother, and only recently got back within his good books. He was biding his time for an opportunity to cause problems for him. It would give him great pleasure to cause trouble for Don Pedro, and subsequently Claudio.
I don’t think Don John’s servants are necessarily evil either. They may enable his behavior at times, but they also question it. For example, Conrade implores Don John to seek reason when he explains his sullen nature. I feel they are biased towards their master, and act according to their skewed views of Don Pedro and his inner circle. Their actions may seem immoral; however, if they are under the impression that Don Pedro has wronged Don John, then their motivation is understandable. It is difficult to assess due to the fact that most of the conflicts that caused the bitterness in these relationships unfolded off scene; hopefully Acts 3-5 will provide more insight into the drama behind them.