Much Ado About Nothing Dogberry Character Analysis

Dogberry: A Foolish Nobleman
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare is a comedy that possesses tragedy characteristics. All the characters have certain roles they uphold throughout this story that contribute to a bigger picture. While the play had many serious moments, Dogberry and his clan were designed to be the entertaining comic relief that took away from the evil plot that was going on with Don John. During this essay, Dogberry’s character will be analyzed three ways.
Dogberry character sets a different tone in the play through his personality by being an asinine leader. He is in charge of the watch, which is the local police force in Messina. He took his position of being in charge of the watch very seriously. Besides the fact that he is the comic relief, he is very sincere in how he wants his message to come off. Even though he means well it isn’t received the same way, he would like. He has a very bad habit of using malapropisms in his dialogue. An example of this is his first encounter with Leonato, “Marry, sir, I would have some confidence with you that decerns you nearly.”

(III.v.2-3). Instead of saying concerns, he has replaced it with decerns, the switching of the two words doesn’t stress the importance of the conversation he was trying to convey. This semantical mess up is what drives much of the conflict in the play. When he is talking to Leonato before Hero wedding he does it again, “One word, sir. Our watch, sir, have indeed comprehended two aspicious persons…” (III.v.43-46) He shows the audience how bad of a communicator he is by using comprehended verses apprehend. This leads to Leonato dismissing Dogberry completely. “Take their examination yourself and bring it me. I am now in great haste, as it may appear unto you.” (III.v.47-49) Since his habit includes exactly the wrong word to convey his meaning, many of the other characters have a hard time understanding him. Dogberry was considered a middle class fellow that had the desire to speak formally and elaborately like the noble men, but his education was limited. He demonstrates this by his constant verbal misuse of words. However, his linquistic incompetence also demonstrates a brilliant manipulation of language mostly because Dogberry is hilarious.
The characters in the play view Dogberry as a foolish man while he believes he is a contender to be considered a nobleman. Other characters like Borachio, Conrade, Leonato, and the watch have all interacted with Dogberry. These interactions have not been easy or pleasant since Dogberry has a bad way of communicating his point of view which is the potential foil to reflect his excesses of the other characters. For example, when he was orientating the watch on their duties, he was hazy on how to deal with different scenarios that they might encounter. After Dogberry gave his spill on using the princes name to order roaming men to stop one of the watchman asked, “ How if he will not stand?” (III.iii.27) He responded with, “Why, then, take no note of him, but let him go and presently call the rest of the watch together and thank God you are rid of a knave.” (III.iii.28-30). For Dogberry to tell the watchmen to let him go and thank that you got rid of a criminal is shocking. As the head constable of the watch, an officer, one would assume that he knows how to take control of situations and handle rejection from those whom he leads. Questioning his leadership skills came naturally as a reader. Not having any association with criminals was better than reprehending a criminal. The Watch is not effective at deterring crime and is charged with doing nothing.
Verges, Dogberry’s deputy although he takes his command very seriously, he is truly the governor of Dogberry’s malapropisms and he too is ridiculous. During their conversation with Leonato before the wedding, you can see that Dogberry disregards what Verges says by pining it to his old age. “ A good old man, sir; he will be talking. As they say, when the age is in, the wit is out.” (III.v.32-33). Dogberry pointing out how Verges wit has gone makes it seem like Verges word is not creditable. This is backed up when Leonato confirms what Dogberry says by saying, “Indeed, neighbor, he comes too short of you.” (III.v.40). When Leonato says that Verges is not as impressive as Dogberry gives Dogberry a sense that he is on a higher level then Verges; therefore giving Dogberry the illusion that he is a nobleman. Both characters are well intentioned and they welcome a comic review.
The effect of Dogberry’s character had the ability to change how the play ended. Dogberry characteristics hindered the plot because he withheld crucial information. Since Dogberry was aware of Don John’s evil plan to frame Hero as a whore, as a leader and commander, he should have stopped the acquisitions against her. If Dogberry intentions were pure, he would unveil the information and exposed the intentional evil much sooner. When Dogberry was interrogating Borachio and Conrade, he was starting the interrogation backwards is another example of how Dogberry hinderers the plot. He is a malefactor in his own investigation. Again this is seen when he says “You must call forth the watch that are their accusers.”(IV.ii.34-35). He made no real attempt to stop the criminals, he was coached by the watchman who originally heard what happen. His intentions would have been to let the criminals go like he did when explaining what his watchman should have done. As he is forced in a situation to take control of and interrogate the two criminals, he is unsure exactly what to do and needs somebody to help him with the interrogation. When Dogberry gets on the right track, he continues with the interrogation the right way as the chief commander should.
“Ado” in Shakespears play is a wielding of words to reveal or demonstrate his brilliant manipulation of language in a comic review through his characters in “Much Ado About Nothing” which makes the art hilarious.

It is the use of semantic that drives much of the conflict in the play to it’s climax. Dogberry character is the foil that reflects the excesses of the other characters wit and he is fundamental to the action of the play. He is view as the comic relief. His malapropisms put an interesting twist to the play. The fact that Dogberry has been given special incite on a plan that will destroy Claudio and Hero’s union, he remains the star in the play, a nobleman indeed of the mid-1800. Throughout the play we notice that Dogberry’s role as nobleman is dismissed for a foolish man. His foolishness is funny and uplifted the dark, evil, and dull moments within the

play.