Much Ado About Nothing Deception

In Shakespearean literature, there are many dramatic elements, such as tragedy or treachery, that supports the important themes of Shakespeare’s work. Deception and disguise is commonly used by certain characters in Shakespearean drama which includes a certain purpose as a whole. Even with the relevance of emotion, logic, and ethics appeals; the play “Much Ado About Nothing” showcases a tale where trickery creates an impact between the characters’ relationships of the story. Considering its use of figurative language, the play contributes to the themes that the consequences of an act of trickery is depended on the intended actions of the characters and that disguise can generate malevolent or pleasant outcomes whether it’s benign or significant. For the purpose of how these motifs contribute to the development of the play’s themes, examples of deception and disguise includes the need of concealing one’s identity, Don John’s desires, and the changing relationships of Benedick and Beatrice.

According to Shakespeare’s play, “Much Ado About Nothing”, the masquerade allowed Don Pedro to propose to Hero, Don John counterfeiting Claudio, and Benedick and Beatrice being engaged in a vile conversation where Benedick only knows that it is Beatrice he is talking to. Considering the use of pathos, Benedick felt disdainful about Beatrice after hearing her insulting remarks about him, which is the same feeling of Claudio towards Don Pedro after he successfully “woos Hero”. As an example, Claudio states, “Therefore all hearts in love use their own tongues” (2.1, 175). In general, the masquerade ball is an archetypal symbol that represents the many characters’ use of disguise to share their feelings and cause deception that may be relatively benign; the event showed the development of the major characters and introduces more of their personality