Another Much Ado About Nothing Essay, Research Paper
The plot of "Much Ado About Nothing" is an elaborate
network of schemes and tricks. This statement is confirmed
throughout "Much Ado About Nothing". The play contains
many examples of tricks and schemes that are used to
manipulate the thoughts and feelings of characters. The
major examples of such manipulation include- Don Pedro,
Claudio and Leonato tricking Benedick into believing that
Beatrice loves him, Hero and Ursula trick Beatrice into
thinking Benedick is in love with her. The relationship
between Claudio and Hero also endures much manipulation.
For instance Don John and Borachio trick Claudio and the
Prince into believing Hero is unfaithful. As in the tradition of
Shakespeare, the Friar deceives everybody into thinking
Hero is dead.
An instance of trickery involves Benedick being manipulated
to believe Beatrice is in love with him. This trickery is carried
out playfully by Don Pedro, Leonato and Claudio. They
realise Benedick’s stubbornness in Act II Scene iii, when he
states "man is a fool when he dedicates his behaviours to
love." Due to this stubbornness Don Pedro, Leonato and
Claudio must devise a way of attaining the love amid
Benedick and Beatrice. In Act II Scene iii the men
accomplish this by way of waiting for Benedick to be within
ears reach, then raising the topic of Leonato’s niece
Beatrice. Don Pedro?s reference about "your niece Beatrice
was in love with Signor Benedick." helps to accomplish such
manipulation. This scheme is completed when this is
overheard by Benedick, and due to his insecurity about love
he falls for their trick, thus loving Beatrice.
Another example of manipulation that is closely related to
the one involving Benedick but Beatrice becomes the focus
of the scheme. Like Benedick, Beatrice’s feelings about love
are strong and opposing. When she states "Not till God
make men of some other mettle than earth" she assumes that
her desired partner does not exist. Hero and Ursula believe
that Benedick would make a good husband for Beatrice and
as a result of this, they plan a scheme to bring about love
between Beatrice and Benedick. Hero and Ursula
accomplish their scheme in Act III
concluded by means of discussing that they have heard that
Benedick loves Beatrice greatly. Beatrice overhears this and
thinks the combination of her and Benedick?s wit and
intelligence would make a successful match. Beatrice
displays her free will when making this decision.
The most significant trick employed during the play is carried
out in Act IV Scene i; this trick is crucial because it adds the
uncertainty and action to fulfil the requirements of a romantic
comedy. Don John and Borachio manipulate Claudio and
the Prince into believing that Hero is unfaithful the night
before she is to be wed. Don John and Borachio achieve
this via Borachio setting up a meeting of himself and
Margaret in Hero’s room, thus Margaret portrays herself
unknowingly as Hero. Don John then proceeds to convince
Don Pedro and Claudio that he has received word of Hero’s
unfaithfulness. Claudio is without complications convinced,
due to his insecure and influential nature. Don Pedro is also
easily convinced because he feels loyalty between his
brother and himself. This trick culminates on Claudio and
Hero’s wedding day when Claudio accuses and disgraces
Hero.
Additional manipulation succeeds the deceit of Claudio by
Don John. In Act IV Scene i, after Hero is accused of being
unfaithful, the Friar decides that she should just play dead
until she is proven innocent. As in the tradition of
Shakespeare, the Friar deceives everyone into believing that
Hero died from the humiliation and shock of being disgraced
on her wedding day. The deception carried out by the Friar
is vital to the happy ending of the romantic comedy. It leads
to another trick where Claudio is lead to believe that he is
marrying Hero?s cousin but ends up marrying Hero herself.
The plot of "Much Ado About Nothing" is an elaborate
network of schemes and tricks. This statement is confirmed
throughout the play as in the examples previously discussed.
The play is based around these tricks and schemes and is
crucial for the plot development and for "Much Ado About
Nothing" to fit into the genre of a romantic comedy.
Therefore the plot of "Much Ado About Nothing" is an
elaborate network of schemes and tricks.
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