Don John And Don Pedro Compare And Contrast

Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy by Shakespeare about a certain line of events with a certain line of people. These people are all acquaintances, the people in question being the prince Don Pedro, his bastard brother Don John, the count Claudio, his friend Benedick, the king Leonato, his daughter Hero, Leonato’s brother Antonio, his daughter Beatrice, and many more. In this play, the characters Don John and Don Pedro are foils of each other because of their social status, goals and personalities.

My first reason stated was the difference in their social status, which should be a very obvious difference between the two characters. Due to his status as the prince, Don Pedro is loving and social with all; meanwhile, Don John is cold and shunned away from everyone because he is the bastard of the family. These two are practically polar opposites, one being sunshine and rainbows while the other is as cold as ice. “I thank you. I am not of many words, but I thank you,”(Shakespeare, 15). Don John is outgoing with his thanks to Leonato for welcoming him because he, being a bastard, would be treated more poorly and would not be used to proper etiquette. Don Pedro on the other hand would see this as a regular thing to happen, not reacting in such a way as Don John did.

The second reason used would be the differences in the two’s goals.

“If thou dost love fair Hero, cherish it,”(Shakespeare, 25). Don Pedro wants to help everyone fall in love, coming up with plans to help Claudio with Hero and Benedick with Beatrice. Don John’s schemes fall on the complete opposite spectrum, him wanting to tear apart everyone, eventually causing Claudio to publicly shame Hero for supposedly cheating on him the night before their marriage. Don Pedro’s goals are with good intent, hoping to improve the lives of his friends. Don John, however, decides to do the opposite, ruining the lives of those around

him.
The third and final reason used is the personalities of the brothers. Don John is a more selfish person, him being used to being alone and fending for himself. Don Pedro is more used to being social and selfless, helping his friends and staying loyal to them throughout the play. “...your brother John is ta’en flight,”(Shakespeare, 197). Don John at the end of the play has ran away from the authorities so as to not be punished for his crimes, swiftly leaving his only followers Conrad and Borachio to pick up the slack. This highlights Don Pedro’s loyalty to his friends, sticking with Claudio throughout the whole of the play, helping him shame Hero, although wrongfully.
The play Much Ado About Nothing by Shakespeare is a comedy rich with characters. Two of these characters, Don John and Don Pedro, are what we would call foils of each other. These two are different with their social status, goals throughout the play, and general personalities. The two are on completely different planets when it comes to their overall character, one being a prince, social and loved, the other a bastard, alone and hated. The two being on whole opposite ends of the spectrum is interesting to look at, and makes you think: Do I have a character foil in real life?