The Issue of Status in Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

The World of Status

From the beginning of time man has dealt with the issue of status. Status is measured through ones tangible items, money or job. Status was, is, and always will be equivalent to ones respect and power in society. During Shakespeares time a persons social standing was tied to the honor of ones family as well as ones company. Shakespeare created Borachio as a minor character who has a major impact on the plot. Borachio influences the play by being a member of Don Pedros company. In Much Ado About Nothing, minor character, Borachio, assists Don John in successfully defaming Hero, in order to jeopardize the status of Don Pedro and his company.

Borachio is portrayed as a gentlemen due to the manner of his appearance and company, even though his actions oppose him. Borachio is a member of Don Perdros company, who collaborates with Don John. Even though he is dressed and presented as a gentlemen he is a conniving, deceitful and manipulative man. Don John is jealous of Don Pedros power like he has always been, so he uses Borachio to spy on Don Pedro and his friends. In the play Borachio brings Don John news of an intended marriage, “I came yonder from a great supper. The Prince your brother is royally entertained by Leonato, and I can give you intelligence of an intended marriage” (Ado 1.2.40). This shows that Borachio has just come from supper where he overheard Don Pedro, who is referred to as the prince, and Leonato, father of Hero, discussing an intended marriage between Hero and Claudio. The fact that Don John is referred to as the Prince shows that he is respected by all which equals that he has a high status in the community. In addition to spying on Leonato and Don John, Borachio plots a scheme t...

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...unting everything to Conrade, Borachio and Conrade are taken into custody by the watch due to the fact that Borachio committed a crime. When in jail Borachio confesses to everything in front of Dogberry, head of the watch, which leads Dogberry to take him back to Leonatos so he can tell Don Pedro himself. When in front of Don Pedro he says, “ How Don John incensed me to slander the Lady Hero and saw me court Margaret in Hero’s garments,” (Ado 5.1.235). This quote proves that Hero was innocent and how Don John played them all.

Much Ado About Nothing has a lot of minor characters but none as important as Borachio because of how he influenced the plot. he was the one who came up with the scheme to defame Hero for money, while Don John wanted him to defame Hero to ruin the status of his brother, Don Pedro. Money and social standings will always be connected.