Power and control are things people have hungered for since the beginning of time, but not everyone hungers for it equally. In the 15th century Niccolò Machiavelli presented the idea that some people will do much more to be successful than others, and this idea gave birth to the term Machiavellian and the condition of Machiavellianism. Named after the Italian Diplomat himself this term describes a person who will do whatever it takes to get to the top. In Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare the characters Borachio and Don John both show Machiavellian tendencies, however, it is clear that Don John is much more Machiavellian than Borachio. While it is true that both of these characters are Machiavellian it is displayed in the book that Don John shows more traits of a Machiavellian character. For example, in act 1 scene 3, when Don John is talking to Conrad and Borachio, …show more content…
he directly states that, “I had rather be a canker in the hedge than a rose in his grace… though I cannot be said to be an honest man, it must not be denied but I am a plain-dealing villain.” (Shakespeare 14) Don John is given a chance to be friends with his brother, but he wants to be better not equal.
That is a key part of Machiavellianism which is not present Borachio because it is shown that he willingly follows Don John’s orders and is okay with being an underling rather than in charge. Additionally, when Don John is creating a plan to ruin Hero and Claudio’s wedding he states, “Only to despite them I will endeavour anything.” (Shakespeare 31). Essentially what Don John is saying in this line is that he will work hard and persevere through anything to make sure this plan succeeds. This is the very definition of Machiavellianism. Proving that Don John is more Machiavellian than Borachio.
The fact that Don John is also working in secret to still stay in the good graces of his brother and Leonato shows that he wants to climb up the ranks in society and not just make his brother look bad. Don John also has more motivation than Borachio for working to achieve his goal through any means. Throughout this whole play, Don John is constantly called a bastard and ostracised for being born out of wedlock something he can’t help. If someone is ridiculed for something they can't change they would react the same way as Don John and do whatever it takes to gain respect. Therefore, Don John just has more character traits of a Machiavellian character. In addition to the fact that Don John has more character traits that fit the description of a Machiavellian character, Borachio is concerned about others around him and doesn’t care for power. Borachio states, “Thou shouldst rather ask if it were possible any villainy should be so rich. For when rich villains have need of poor ones, poor ones may make what price they will.” (Shakespeare 55). Here Borachio is discussing the money he makes from Don John with Conrad. This shows that he isn’t very Machiavellian because he is fine with being the underling to Don John as long as he gets paid. He is fine with being the poor villain and doesn’t aspire to be the rich one like Don John. That just doesn’t align with someone who has a high percentage of Machiavellianism. Someone who is highly Machiavellian would want to surpass being poor and become the rich who gave out money not the other way around. Additionally, when Borachio is brought to Leonato the book states, “I desire nothing but the reward of a villain.” (Shakespeare 89). Borachio doesn’t even try to deny the fact that it is him or pin the blame on Don John he just accepts his fate. A true Machiavellian would find a way to get out of the situation, and Shakespeare writes, “This naughty man shall face to face be brought to Margaret, Who, I believe, was pack’d in all this wrong, Hir’d to it by your brother./ No, by my soul, she was not;” (91). This shows that Borachio cares about Margret and not just himself. This goes against the definition of Machiavellianism. He isn’t willing to do whatever it takes to get to the top and blame Margaret. Instead, he takes the blame and assures that she is innocent. One could argue that Don John ran away from his problems which is true. However, he did what he must do to stay out of trouble which shows Machiavellianism. These sections of the play prove that Borachio isn’t willing to do anything to get to the top and is content with being and underling to Don John. Both Borachio and Don John are Machiavellian, but Borachio just isn’t as driven as Don John. This is in part because Don John has more motivation to climb to the top, and Don John just displays more perseverance because he’s willing to put others down to get to the top. Borachio on the other hand is content with being beneath Don John and cares deeply for others, such as Margaret when he takes the blame for himself. While one might argue that both are Machiavellian, they are correct in that regard, however, one cannot possibly argue that Borachio has more motivation, perseverance, or natural character traits of a Machiavellian than Borachio.
“Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit (Matthew 7:17).” If you are truly a Christian, than you would bears good characteristic. Don John is a bastard in his family, so William Shakespeare give him a greedy characteristic. Don John’s greed makes him do many disgusting things, and he almost kill Hero, the wife of Claudio, using his words. Readers could not find any Christian attitude on Don John. Don John in Much Ado About Nothing did not exhibit Christian attitudes because of his revenge, his dishonesty characteristic, and he is a gossip monger.
Many empirical things can often still be debated and refuted by experts, but there is a general admittance to the idea that power is the root of many evil things. In all fairness, we must admit that a many evil things can in their essence, be great. And that is one of the many theories advanced by Niccolo Machiavelli in his well-known work, The Prince. The Prince serves a dual purpose of both teaching a person how to attain power, but also how to retain it. Incredibly enough, history has proven most of Machiavelli’s findings and theories to work well, while some have failed to effectively secure power for the rulers who did, in fact try them. His work, does obviously highlight one main fact, which is, that power is a well sought-after attribute, and most who attain are willing to do whatever is necessary to keep it.
Much Ado About Nothing Character Analysis Essay “ And when I lived, I was your other wife, And when you loved, you were my other husband(Shakespeare 60).” In the beginning of the play it was overwhelming, steeped in love at first sight between Hero and Claudio, until Don John’s evil-manner took a role in ruining the love between them. And because of this a conflict developed between them, but was resolved when their vigorous love for one another overcame the conflict. In Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, Hero serves as the foil character of Claudio because of Hero’s dignified, well-mannered, eminent reputation is illuminated through Claudio’s insecure, accusing, and doubtful weakness; thereby, interminably influencing the conflict in the plot.
In the play, “Much Ado About Nothing”, love and romance play a major role throughout the play.It takes place in Messina. The play has a lot of characters that fall in love with each other. Besides romance and love there is a lot of jealousy in the play. Characters will have up and down moments throughout the book, but they will all get together at the end of the story. Many scenes in the play will be about characters making other characters fall in love by telling one another that one likes the other. The play is all about characters getting together and being happy.
Evidence to support this reason says, “How you know he loves her? I heard him swear his affection. . . But hear these ill news with the ears of Claudio. ‘Tis certain so; the prince woos for himself. . . trust no agent; for beauty is a witch. . . Farewell, therefore, Hero” (Shakespeare pg. 23). This quote shows how Claudio was easily convinced to believe that Don Pedro loves Hero for himself, even though there wasn’t anything to prove of this, and how he doesn’t even try to ask Don Pedro if this is true or not. Another piece of evidence says, “If I see anything tonight why I should not marry her tomorrow, in the congregation where I should wed, there will I shame her” (Shakespeare pg. 50). This quote shows how again, Claudio was easily convinced by Don John that he will not wed Hero if he sees her being disloyal towards him. This quote also shows how he’s easily convinced to do something due to someone telling him to do so. To sum this all up, Claudio’s manipulation is his second most major tragic
BP1-Even before Much Ado begins, the main character Don Pedro is described in the cast as the Prince of Aragon, while Don John is noted as his illegitimate brother. These words show the difference in the two characters as one brother being seen as noble and and strong and the other being seen as an undesirable in those times. In Act 1, scene 3, we learn how Don John sees himself. “I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his grace,”(Shakespeare 23) about not wanting to be in Don John’s favor. “And it better fits my blood to be disdained of all than to fashion a carriage to rob love from any. In this, though I cannot be said to be a flattering honest man, it must not be denied but I am a plain-dealing villain.” Don John is not looking to be loved and accepted but instead accepts his role and his place in the shadows of his brother.
This is brought out by the character foil of Don Pedro and Don John because it is Don John’s deceit that is highlighted by Don Pedro’s honesty that creates this conflict that truly makes this meaning clear. Also, Don Pedro’s honesty could have also solved the situation. If he was immediately honest with Leonato and told him of Don John’s accusation, Leonato could have dug deeper and found out that it was untrue. This brings out even more the ease with which the problem could have been avoided. Without this character foil, the meaning would not be as clear as it was.
After five hundred years, Niccolo Machiavelli the man has ceased to exist. In his place is merely an entity, one that is human, but also something that is far above one. The debate over his political ideologies and theories has elevated him to a mythical status summed up in one word: Machiavelli. His family name has evolved into an adjective in the English language in its various forms. Writers and pundit’s bandy about this new adjective in such ways as, “He is a Machiavelli,” “They are Machiavelli’s,” “This is suitable for a Machiavelli.” These phrases are almost always the words of a person that understands more about Niccolo’s reputation than the man himself. Forgotten is that Machiavelli is not an adequate example of the ruler he is credited with describing; a more accurate statement would be to call someone a “Borgia” or a “Valentino.” Most of the time they are grossly mistaken in their references. All these words accomplish is to add to the legend, and the misinterpretation, of the true nature of Niccolo Machiavelli.
Don John plays an essential role for nearly all of the trickery and deception in this play. He acts like a catalyst and an instigator for trouble, whose sole aim is to marmalize the love and happiness between Claudio and Hero. Shakespeare uses foreshadowing of Don John’s villainy to display the trickery and deception: ’It better fits my blood to be distained of all than to fashion a carriage to rob love from any, in this, though I cannot be said to be a flattering honest man, it must not be denied but I am a plain-dealing villain. I am trusted with a muzzle and enfranchized with a clog: therefore I have decreed not to sing in my cage. If I had my mouth, I would bite, if I had my liberty, I would do my liking.
middle of paper ... ... One final and resounding difference between Don John and Iago has to do with the past of each character. Shakespeare portrays Iago as an intelligent and sometimes caring character until Othello supposedly wrongs him. On the other hand, Don John has more of an evil aura about him, and shows his hatred for Claudio right from the start. Overall, the characters of Don John and Iago are very similar, although the latter is much more intelligent and complex These two men are what draw the reader’s attention to the novel, and share so much in common that the two seemingly unrelated works are read in tandem constantly.
In 1513, an Italian politician by the name of Niccolo Machiavelli distributed, though privately, a political treatise called The Prince. This treatise was, essentially, a guide on how to effectively rule one's country. It's important beforehand to define exactly what a Machiavellian is, before describing one. A Machiavellian is a leader who, through his power and influence, works toward the common good of his people. This can be done through fear, through deceit, even through manipulation. It is important to understand the main principle of a Machiavellian; the end justifies the means. The end being the common good of his people. Vladimir Putin is a Machiavellian in the ways he retains power, institutes reform, and executes economic recovery domestically; and also in the ways he manages international affairs, such as the issues with Syria, Snowden, and the 2014 Winter Olympics.
While Macbeth exhibits certain Machiavellian characteristics, he does not heed Machiavelli's advice regarding rulers who desire to obtain their principalities through crime, and through either the ignorance of, or disregard for, this advice, Macbeth cannot be considered Machiavellian.
With this ending and the treatment of Don John throughout the play, it is clear that he will never be able to mingle positively without suspicion, and with other characters. His harsh sentencing for deceit is hypocritical as almost every character in the play, from Don Pedro to Leonato himself have deceived people, albeit not with bad intentions like Don John. His reputation ever since he was born has dictated his life and his only alternative to being called an untrustworthy bastard is to become a “plain-dealing” villain, to forge himself his own identity. Although everyone believes he is a conniving villain, Don John’s just forcing himself to be one; to prove he has his own identity among the “posh” people of Messina even if it is antagonistic.
When being an illegitimate child like Don John, one begins to think of themselves the way people treat them. Therefore, when Don John acts in his villainous ways, one blame it on Don John or rather the people who made him feel that he is less than human. Don John believes that his only way to be acknowledged is to act in a way no one will forget, therefore he acts as the villain in Much Ado About Nothing, because that what society made him out to be.
Machiavellian politics describes how politicians achieve power through their own selfish needs by denying the morality of political affairs to maintain their political power. In Othello, Machiavellian traits are seen through the