Much Ado About Much Ado About NothingNothing

Character presentation of Don Character presentation of Don John and Don Pedro.John and Don Pedro.

Don Pedro- an Don Pedro- an overviewoverview

We start with the character analysis of Don Pedro as a reflection of his status in the play.

Of Messina’s aristocrats the Prince of Arragon ranks the highest.

Although the social gap between him and Leonato is smaller than in the sources, everyone defers to him.

Don Pedro’s Don Pedro’s relationshipsrelationships

Don Pedro himself

Governor of Messina

Those in the court of the Prince of Arragon

Illegitimate brother who has recently reconciled with his brother

Wives, daughters and nieces of the above.

Gentlewomen

Servants and associates

Interpretations of Don Interpretations of Don PedroPedro

Through certain events in the play Don Pedro can be Through certain events in the play Don Pedro can be seen to be a number of rather contrasting characteristics.seen to be a number of rather contrasting characteristics.

He has ‘bestowed much honour’ upon Claudio and as his He has ‘bestowed much honour’ upon Claudio and as his patron woos Hero in his guise. When informed of Hero’s patron woos Hero in his guise. When informed of Hero’s alleged infidelity, Don Pedro sanctions Claudio’s alleged infidelity, Don Pedro sanctions Claudio’s vengeance by offering to ‘join with thee to disgrace her’. vengeance by offering to ‘join with thee to disgrace her’. Such is Don Pedro’s influence and arrogance that Claudio Such is Don Pedro’s influence and arrogance that Claudio agrees to leave with him.agrees to leave with him.

One may infer that Don Pedro is harsh in his judgement, One may infer that Don Pedro is harsh in his judgement, since infidelity seems out of character of a woman, since infidelity seems out of character of a woman, although ‘small’ will only do ‘modest office’ to assist the although ‘small’ will only do ‘modest office’ to assist the influential prince.influential prince.

How the character of Don How the character of Don Pedro is influential in the Pedro is influential in the plotplot He has a renaissance prince’s belief in the He has a renaissance prince’s belief in the

prerogative of his power’ tis once thou lovest, prerogative of his power’ tis once thou lovest, And I will fit thee with a remedy.’ This shows And I will fit thee with a remedy.’ This shows his absolute confidence that he will win Hero his absolute confidence that he will win Hero for Claudiofor Claudio

Similarly when he flirtatiously offers himself to Similarly when he flirtatiously offers himself to Beatrice, she demurs, as he expects ‘ your Beatrice, she demurs, as he expects ‘ your grace is too costly for wear everyday’. He grace is too costly for wear everyday’. He shows princely magnanimity when she blushes shows princely magnanimity when she blushes at a faux pas ‘ Your silence most offends me, at a faux pas ‘ Your silence most offends me, and to be merry, best becomes you.’and to be merry, best becomes you.’

He exerts himself to arrange the affairs of He exerts himself to arrange the affairs of others and maintain a position of superiority others and maintain a position of superiority himself.himself.

Introduction Of Don Introduction Of Don JohnJohn

Don John is merely sketched as the melodramatic villain so typical to Shakespeare. A stereotypical bastard serving a thematic and narrative function

His first line ‘ I thank you, I am not a man of many words, but I thank you’ is in direct contrast to his confession- ‘I can not hide what I am; I am a plain dealing villain, let me be that I am, and seek not to alter me.’

His overuse of the first person singular indicates his egocentricity, he insists that malice is honesty or truth to the base selfishness within everyone.

Interpretations of Don Interpretations of Don John John

Some critics suggest that Some critics suggest that Don Don John’sJohn’s lack of ingenuity and lack of ingenuity and initiative makes him baser and initiative makes him baser and less admirable. His language less admirable. His language can appear shifty and over can appear shifty and over elaborated. His logical elaborated. His logical structure implies intelligence structure implies intelligence and control but its too rigid and control but its too rigid for wit and too egocentric and for wit and too egocentric and mean in its imagery to be mean in its imagery to be aphoristicaphoristic

Comparative literary Comparative literary featuresfeatures

Counterfeiting Counterfeiting -- The idea of counterfeiting, in the sense of The idea of counterfeiting, in the sense of presenting a false face to the world, appears frequently presenting a false face to the world, appears frequently throughout the play. A particularly rich and complex throughout the play. A particularly rich and complex example of counterfeiting occurs as when Don Pedro example of counterfeiting occurs as when Don Pedro pretends Beatrice is head over heels in love with Benedick Beatrice is head over heels in love with Benedick (II.iii.98–99).(II.iii.98–99).

Noting Noting - In Shakespeare's time, the "Nothing" of the title - In Shakespeare's time, the "Nothing" of the title would have been pronounced "Noting." Thus, the play's title would have been pronounced "Noting." Thus, the play's title could read: "Much Ado About Noting." Indeed, many of the could read: "Much Ado About Noting." Indeed, many of the players participate in noting. In order for a plot hinged on players participate in noting. In order for a plot hinged on instances of deceit to work, the characters must note one instances of deceit to work, the characters must note one another constantly. Don John's deceptive plot hinges on another constantly. Don John's deceptive plot hinges on noting.noting.

The The ProseProse is varied according to character. is varied according to character. Don JohnDon John uses uses rhetorical, halting and stiffly formal language. There is a rhetorical, halting and stiffly formal language. There is a similar egotism is that language to that of similar egotism is that language to that of Don Pedro’sDon Pedro’s, but , but without the playfulness, which makes it cold and without the playfulness, which makes it cold and aggressive. Don Pedro’s speech is witty and allusive in aggressive. Don Pedro’s speech is witty and allusive in contrast to that of Don Johns which is claustrophobic. contrast to that of Don Johns which is claustrophobic.

Comparative literary Comparative literary features features

Deception as a Means to an EndDeception as a Means to an End - The plot of - The plot of Much Ado About NothingMuch Ado About Nothing is based is based upon deliberate deceptions, some malevolent and others benign. upon deliberate deceptions, some malevolent and others benign. Much Ado About Much Ado About NothingNothing shows that deceit is not inherently evil but something that can be used as a shows that deceit is not inherently evil but something that can be used as a means to good or bad ends. In the play deceit is neither purely positive nor purely means to good or bad ends. In the play deceit is neither purely positive nor purely negative: it is a means to an end, a way to create an illusion that helps Don John in negative: it is a means to an end, a way to create an illusion that helps Don John in particular to succeed socially.particular to succeed socially.

Don Pedro’s languageDon Pedro’s language is always grand and never subordinate. He has the princes is always grand and never subordinate. He has the princes belief in the prerogative of his power; ‘tis once',' thou lovest’, belief in the prerogative of his power; ‘tis once',' thou lovest’, (1.224-5).(1.224-5). Upon Upon hearing the truth behind Don John’s, Don Pedro is conscience-stricken and contrite. hearing the truth behind Don John’s, Don Pedro is conscience-stricken and contrite. There is both humility and pomp in his wonderful image. There is both humility and pomp in his wonderful image.

Don JohnDon John insists that malice is a virtue ‘I cannot hide what I am’ ‘I am a plain insists that malice is a virtue ‘I cannot hide what I am’ ‘I am a plain dealing villain; let me be that I am’. dealing villain; let me be that I am’. He is awkwardly repetitious in response to Don He is awkwardly repetitious in response to Don Pedro, whose gracious words are over enthusiastic. For example, the opening line ‘I Pedro, whose gracious words are over enthusiastic. For example, the opening line ‘I thank you, I am not of many words, but I thank you’ thank you, I am not of many words, but I thank you’ (1.116)(1.116)

Don John Vs Don PedroDon John Vs Don Pedro

Like his half-brother, Don Pedro Like his half-brother, Don Pedro manipulates characters.manipulates characters.

Although Don John and Don Pedro are Although Don John and Don Pedro are similar in terms of deception, Don similar in terms of deception, Don Pedro’s intentions are good and Don Pedro’s intentions are good and Don John’s are bad.John’s are bad.

This emphasises Shakespeare’s This emphasises Shakespeare’s continued theme of “Nature Vs Nurture.”continued theme of “Nature Vs Nurture.”

The EndThe End