A tragic flaw is a trait in someone that can lead to their own demise or the demise of people around them. The play ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ by William Shakespeare One of Claudio’s symptoms of his tragic flaw is being gullible ultimately guided the story from beginning to end. In the beginning, when Don Pedro wooed Hero for Claudio, Don John took advantage of Claudio and tried to turn him against Don Pedro, telling him that Don Pedro wooed Hero for himself. Hearing this news, Claudio bid off Hero… Without even checking if what Don John said was true. Claudio responded to something somebody else told him, without having an opinion or even evidence to back it up. Conversely because Claudio fell for that trick so easily, Don John saw an opportunity to form an evil plan involving …show more content…
Claudio’s gullibility, coincidently that's when the play’s conflict started to develop.
Towards the middle of play Claudio, Don Pedro, and Leanato decided to trick Benedick and Beatrice into loving each other by telling them each other had written them a love story or pronounced they loved the other. Claudio is a master of his own game, he managed to fool Benedick but he also falls for the same trick almost 3 times. This shows that Claudio is blind when it comes to himself, he doesn’t know who he is. And if we go back to when Don Pedro had to woo Hero for him, then that's when it starts to make sense. Claudio’s tragic flaw is that he lacks confidence in himself. If we look throughout the book we see time and time again that Claudio is gullible or is afraid, these are the symptoms of lacking self-confidence. When he asked Don Pedro to woo Hero, he was afraid to do it himself. When Don John tells him
that Don Pedro is ill-honest, Claudio doesn’t have his own opinion at all. If Claudio wasn’t so weak, then almost every single tragedy in the play could’ve been avoided. It effects Claudio because he’ll never be independent he will always rely on others, and it affects the people around him because he is basically deadweight and they will have to tell him everything that he has to do or should do. He could also affect the people around him like he did in the play, which is he screwed them over and almost ruined Hero’s life forever, but he got lucky that other people acted as supports for his self-distrust. In conclusion Claudio’s tragic flaw of lacking self-confidence made the entire story go rough. If he never would’ve listened to Don John and if he would’ve went up to Hero’s room to see if it was really Hero in there. Then the entire conflict in the play could’ve been avoided.
Hero is resembled by Claudio as a “well-mannered young lady” who is content with her own unchangeable, elegant personality. This quote shows Hero is matron, and consistent of her elegance throughout the book and it is because of her personality that causes Claudio to be drawn to her. Claudio on the other hand, admits to Don Pedro that he is “hasty in (his) emotions”, which resembles his skeptical and uncertain personality when it comes to actually admitting his love for Hero. This evidence supports how Claudio is unsure of himself, and because of Claudio’s doubtful and unsure qualities he is quick to believe Don John when he says Hero has been unfaithful.
He becomes jealous and he tries to take it away or make them feel inferior in some way. Seeing people that have something he didn’t, makes him feel like he is below them and he makes them an enemy. Don John shows this trait in ACT 2 Scene 2 when he says “ Any bar, any cross, any impediment will be/ mendicable to me. I am sick in displeasure to him,/ and whatsoever comes awart his affection ranges/ evenly with mine. How canst thou cross this marriage?”(Shakespeare 30). Since Claudio and Hero love each other and he has never experienced love he tries to ruin their wedding. He feels jealous and therefore thinks he has to intervene and that they should not love each other anymore either. This shows another Machiavellian trait of Don John as his selfishness and self-centeredness come through simply because they have what he wants and doesn't know how to get. Another thing that he wants is the throne. His brother Don Pedro is the current king. Don John goes to war with his brother Don Pedro over this. In ACT 1 Scene 1 Leonato asks the Messenger about the war, “How many gentlemen have you lost in this action?”(Shakespeare 1). Don John’s brother has the throne but he believes he is entitled to it. Don John is jealous of what his brother has and is willing to do anything he can to get it. This shows that he is Machiavellian because he tries force people to comply to his
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
Tricking her to believe that Don Pedro himself has feelings for Hero: ‘I will assume thy part in disguise, and tell fair Hero that I am Claudio, and in her bosom I’ll unclasp my heart, and take her hearing prisoner with the force and strong encounter of my amorous tale. Then after, to her father will I break: and the conclusion is, she shall be thine.’ - Don Pedro. o (Act I, Scene I: Lines 276 - 282). It is reported to Don John by Borachio that “…The Prince should woo Hero for himself, and having obtained her, give her to Count Claudio.
We might find some reasoning into why Don John hates Claudio by what he says when speaking to Barrachio and Conrade in the first act. When finding out about Don Pedro's plot to help Claudio win the hand of Hero, Don John says: "Come, come; let us thither: this may prove food to my displeasure. That young start up hath all the glory of my overthrow: if I can cross him any way, I bless myself every way." Shakespeare 16 :. While Shakespeare never actually distinguishes specific motives for Don John's hatred of Claudio, we can infer one of two possibilities from his use of the word "overthrow".
“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
First off, no other character in the book was deceived as much as Claudio. When Claudio was first told by Don John that Hero was disloyal to him, Claudio automatically believed him. This is especially embarrassing for Claudio considering the fact that the whole city of Messina hated Don John and thought that he was a mischievous liar. We can see that Claudio was tricked by Don John into thinking
Hero, Ursula, and Margaret’s benign deception of Beatrice convinces Beatrice that Benedick is in love with her, and as a result she admits her love for him. As seen in Benedick’s statement that “the world must be peopled,” Claudio, Don Pedro, and Leonato convince Benedick of her love as well. The deception of both Beatrice and Benedick forces them to put aside their differences in favor of love, and therefore pushes them to grow as people. In addition, the deception is necessary to bring them together. The friar also uses language to convince most of Messina that Hero is dead; as a result, Borrachio confesses to his role in her slander. By coming forward, he allows Leonato to reveal that she is not really dead, thus bringing together Claudio and Hero. Both Benedick and Beatrice’s relationship and the reconciliation of Claudio and Hero bring joy to Messina, particularly to the four of them. Because their love causes joy, the deceptive use of language leads them to
Don John uses his ability to convince Claudio, Don Pedro that Hero was disloyal by having Borachio and Conrad help impersonate Hero. When Don John learns about Hero getting married and him and Borachio hatch a plan he tells Borachio, "Grow this to what adverse issue it can, I will put it in practise. Be cunning in the working this, and thy fee is a thousand ducats" (Crowther), telling him to be good and cunning, and he will get 1000 of money. Don John wants to ruin everyones lives because feels that everyone is against him. Also he feels that he needs to be more self-centered. Though he tries to ruin the relationship, he ends up having to run away, but gets caught at the end of the book. Don John starts messing people up, but in the end being deceptive doesn't work out for him. Another Don John trait was him being renounced or him leaving people in the dust. Don John was a person who liked taking advantage of people. For example, Don John leaving Conrad and Borachio to be arrested. Don John also was renounced because he was the illegitimate child. He continued renouncing people after him, Claudio, and Don Pedro returned from the war at the beginning of the
In the book, Claudio, Leonato, Don Pedro, Hero, and Ursula come together with a plan to get
In Beatrice and Benedick’s case, Beatrice and Benedick had both formerly stated how they would never settle down and fall in love. Due to their pride, once they had fallen in love, they would not be have been able to confess their love to one another without the help of others. Benedick proclaims, “ that one man Is a fool, when he dedicates his behaviours to love, will after he hath laughed at such shallow follies in others become the argument of his own scorn, by falling in love.” (2.3.7-10) Later on, Hero states that Beatrice would willingly never find a good man, explaining how she would “swear a fair faced gentleman to be her sister.” Beatrice later confesses her pride in realization as she reflects, ”stand I condemned for pride and scorn so much?”(3.1.108) Beatrice tricked into loving Benedick in act 3 by Margaret, Hero and Ursula, and Benedick is tricked into loving Beatrice by Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato. Hero and Claudio are also put into their relationships by other people as due to the fact that Claudio is too timid, he has Don Pedro mask himself at the masquerade and woo Hero in the place of
I feel this is the biggest betrayal because, just for Don Pedro’s pleasure and satisfaction Benedick and Beatrice are forced to love each other. Like Don Pedro with Benedick and Beatrice, Hitler wanted to take down the Jews and meddle in their lives for the Germans’ benefit. Using simple logic, shouldn't we allow Benedick and Beatrice to love each other with their own heart, rather than faking love for each other? By doing this, Don Pedro is meddling in other people’s lives. This form of trickery involves Benedick being tricked into thinking Beatrice is in love with him. This is carried out very comedically by Don Pedro, Claudio and Leonato. They understand that Benedick is stubborn in Act II Scene iii, when he says "man is a fool when he dedicates his behaviours to love". Since Benedick is very stubborn, Don Pedro, Leonato and Claudio have to find a way to make Benedick and Beatrice love each other. In Act II Scene iii they achieve this by waiting for Benedick to be close, then bringing up the topic of Beatrice. Don Pedro’s talking about "your niece Beatrice was in love with Signor Benedick." helps to fulfill this. This act is completed when it is overheard by Benedick, and due to his inhibition about love he falls for their trick, and tries to fall in love with Beatrice. One more example is similar to the one with Benedick but now, Beatrice becomes the target. Like Benedick, Beatrice
For instance, when Don Pedro agrees to disguise himself as Claudio to talk to Hero at the dance, he shows selflessness by putting Claudio before himself. He didn’t have to help Claudio, but he did. The text states, “The fairest grant is the necessity. Look what will serve fit. ‘Tis once. Thou lovest” (Shakespeare 11). Don Pedro wants Claudio to be happy. On the contrary, Don John doesn’t want anything good for anyone but himself. This is shown when Don John discusses a plan to ruin Claudio and Hero’s wedding with Borachio. The text states “Will it serve for any model to build mischief on? What is he for a fool that betroths himself to unquietness?” (Shakespeare 14). Don John wants everyone to suffer wrath under him. This text evidence supports my claim because Don Pedro tries to help Claudio and work to his best interest, but Don John on the other hand wants to ruin Claudio's happiness. This creates conflict in the story because Don John only wants the worst for Claudio. As a result of this, Claudio ends up slandering Hero at the wedding because Don John falsely accused Hero of
Claudio cannot come out and just say that he has feelings for Hero, he has to seek approval from his male counterparts first. While talking to both Benedick and Don Pedro, Claudio describes his feelings as passion first (I.i.219-220), and then he says, “That I love her, I feel” (I.i.228), indicating that he knows he feels something for Hero, but he is unsure of exactly what his feelings mean.... ... middle of paper ... ...
They do this so Claudio will feel guilty and apologize for how he brutally disgraced Hero when she was falsely accused of being a cheater. Claudio apologizes rightfully so, and asks Leonato if there is anything he could do to mend things for how he acted. Leonato responds to this with,”I cannot bid you bid my daughter live...give her the right you should have giv’n her cousin, and so dies my revenge”(5.1.292-305). Here Leonato is telling Claudio that the only way to make things right is by telling the people of Messina about how fair and innocent Hero was. In addition to this, Claudio must also agree to marry Leonato’s niece, which he agrees to. Little does Claudio know that the person he will be marrying is Hero herself. In the end, this deceitful trick ends up giving Hero and Claudio their happily ever