Preview

Much Ado About Nothing Deception Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
687 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Much Ado About Nothing Deception Essay
There are often many kinds of deception: evil and good. The way they are used in stories depends mostly on the writer but each type of deception plays a role in how the message of the piece is understood by readers. In Much Ado about Nothing, Shakespeare’s characters manipulate each other either for good or for malicious reasons. In fact, the actual meaning of the title implies that misconceptions are often exaggerated, and the whole ordeal wasn’t that big of a deal.Beatrice and Benedick were both deceived so that they would fall in love with each other, but Don John and Borachio deceived Claudio into thinking Hero wasn’t faithful, causing Claudio to disgrace Hero in front of everyone. The misleadings and deceptions of these characters contribute …show more content…
Benedick is also deceived by Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato into thinking that Beatrice is in love with him. At the beginning, Beatrice asks about Benedick and how he’s doing in the war and immediately insults Benedick in order to conceal her feelings towards him. Beatrice, worried about revealing her true feelings towards Benedick, often insults him behind his back and even to his face in order to hide her feelings. Their relationship is highlighted by the witty comebacks and snarky remarks, which show the reader a connection between them. The deceitful game played towards Beatrice and Benedick make them both think that they’re in love with each other which ultimately leads to them actually loving each other and getting married, in the end, thus conveying the message that deception isn’t always used in a negative way. This form of deception is vital towards the piece because it shows the reader that their intentions were good and not evil. It’s also important towards the message because the whole play is about how lies and deceit towards one another affects how individuals treat each other and how this was the only way Beatrice and Benedick allowed themselves to let their love for one another in. Additionally, the deceptions of those characters cause the readers to see the difference between good and evil deception and the morality behind those decisions. Moreover, the deception
Continue Reading
View Writing Issues

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Claudio And Benedick Foil
    • 723 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Claudio And Benedick Foil

    Claudio and Benedick are foils of each other,Claudio is a person who is looking for love “didst thou note the daughter of signior Leonato” (shakespeare 8). This shows how claudio is interested in people, Also in the book much…

    • 723 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Character Analysis Of Beatrice In Much Ado About Nothing
    • 227 Words
    • 1 Page

    Character Analysis Of Beatrice In Much Ado About Nothing

    In the play, “Much Ado About Nothing,” by William Shakespeare, Beatrice is distraught when Claudio shames Hero, and as a result she manipulates Benedick into agreeing to duel Claudio. She knows that Hero is innocent: “O, on my soul, my cousin is belied!” (4.1.155.133). She is furious with Claudio and wants him to pay for what he has done: “Ah, how much might the man deserve of me that would right her!” (4.1.275-276.141). She wishes that she could get this revenge herself: “O God, that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the market-place,” (4.1.320-321.143). However, she knows that she cannot do this on her own. For this reason, she tricks Benedick into agreeing to kill Claudio. Claudio and Benedick are best friends so when Beatrice first…

    • 227 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Much Ado About Nothing Benedick Analysis
    • 510 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Much Ado About Nothing Benedick Analysis

    Benedick and Beatrice have close connections in the play, Benedick is portrayed to be a staunch bachelor, whereas Beatrice a combative character, also ironically, due to this being set in the Renaissance era, outspoken. Benedick is seen as very misogynistic.…

    • 510 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Much Ado About Nothing Beatrice And Benedick Analysis
    • 820 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Much Ado About Nothing Beatrice And Benedick Analysis

    Benedick’s attitude towards love is that he does not love anyone and that it is a stupid idea to fall in love with someone. Then he further explains himself in, “Then is courtesy a turncoat. But it is certain I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted; and I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart, for truly I love none” (Act 1, scene 1, lines 122-125, page 13). In this quote Benedick says that the woman’s courtesy is a traitor and that all ladies love him, except for Beatrice. He also states that it is to bad that he is so hard-hearted, because he really doesn’t love anyone. Beatrice’s attitude towards love is that she does not want to be married to a man that swears to love her, because she finds that very stupid. She then further explains herself by stating in, “A dear happiness to women. They would else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank god and my cold blood I am of your humor for that. I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me” (Act 1, scene 1, lines 126-130, page 15). In this quote Beatrice is saying that Benedick would make a nasty suitor for women and that they both feel the same way about love. She also states that she would rather hear her dog bark at a crow than hear a man say that he loves her. And I find their courtship more appealing than Claudio and Hero’s, because it is more exciting and you can’t predict what they are going to say…

    • 820 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Much Ado About Nothing Beatrice And Benedick Analysis
    • 833 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Much Ado About Nothing Beatrice And Benedick Analysis

    As the dancing commences, we learn a great deal about their personalities. Beatrice, who recognizes her own rebelliousness and bluntness and their effects on others, especially men, has been hurt by Benedick sometime in the past; Benedick is vulnerable to Beatrice's insults (by the end of the scene, Benedick is at his most infuriated with Beatrice's insults, referring to her as a Harpy and as Lady Tongue; he asks Don Pedro to send him on any errand, no matter how ridiculous, just to get him away from Beatrice). This shows the clear divide in attitutdes however , if analysed deeper it seems as if there are evident similarities between Benedick and Beatrice. They’re both exposed to each other’s abuses and somehow feel threatened by…

    • 833 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Much Ado About Nothing - Benedick Analysis
    • 366 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Much Ado About Nothing - Benedick Analysis

    It takes the "noting" scene near the arbor, arranged by Don Pedro, for Benedick to admit he may indeed be able to love Beatrice since she loves him so much. His subsequent meetings with Beatrice and with his friends show a marked change in his attitudes and demeanor from the early scenes. He recognizes that he may be opening himself up for ridicule at his reversal of his well-known attitudes, but he sees his opening up as a part of maturing. His support for Beatrice after the denunciation, including his confrontation with Claudio, demonstrates not only his commitment to Beatrice, but also the value he places on justice even at the risk of loyalty. He becomes single-minded about marrying Beatrice, probably speaking to Leonato about her immediately after the confrontation with Claudio and again just before the wedding. His new behavior finally culminates in his public proposal to her, risking not only her refusal and contempt, but also the ridicule of the assembled company.…

    • 366 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Better Essays

    Compare Beatrice and Hero Essay Example
    • 1916 Words
    • 8 Pages

    Compare Beatrice and Hero Essay Example

    Firstly, Beatrice is one of the main female characters in this play. She is niece of Leonato and is unfortunately an orphan, reason of which she has immense freedom. Having so much freedom explains why she is so different from the other women of that time. She did not have the same respect for men since she did not grow up with a father figure like Hero for instance. Being Leonato's niece, makes her Hero's cousin, which explains their close friendship. She is extremely protective of her cousin Hero, and puts her before anyone. Beatrice does not like the idea of marriage and falling in love to her is nothing important what so ever. Being as witty as she is, Beatrice often bickers with men, especially Benedick. Beatrice and Benedick always have arguments in which their goal is to outwit each other. Beatrice seems to be a very strong woman and is fully capable of dealing with many situations thrown at her. Her vulnerability however, comes out eventually. Don Pedro, among others, know that Beatrice puts up a front, that she is not truly as arrogant as she sometime acts. Her bickering with Benedick is sign of love, and everyone is well aware of this. Since it is so obvious, Don Pedro eventually suggests to trick Beatrice…

    • 1916 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Much Ado About Nothing Literary Analysis
    • 424 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Much Ado About Nothing Literary Analysis

    In the novel, Benedick and Beatrice hate each other with all their might. They talk bad about each other to one another any chance they get. The first form of trickery in Much Ado About Nothing is when the Prince and Leonato plot a story to trick Benedick. They knew Benedick was listening to their conversation so they knew exactly what to say. Benedick believed their lies and began to change the way he saw Beatrice…

    • 424 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Satisfactory Essays

    How far do you agree that due to its comic nature the relationships in
    • 382 Words
    • 1 Page

    How far do you agree that due to its comic nature the relationships in

    The relationship between Benedick and Beatrice can be interpreted as genuine regardless of the comedic nature of the play by the portrayal of them both being mirror images of each other when Benedick describes himself as having ‘cold blood’ and Beatrice refers to herself as having a ‘hard heart.’ The parallel structure demonstrated in this scene adds to the element of the genuine underlying feelings they have through the use of dramatic irony as the audience can identify connections and similarities between the two that they seem unaware of, this can be seen as a comedic element but their feelings are still rendered as genuine due to their matching personalities which suggests that they would be a jubilant match. As well as this, the continuous references to their objection of marriage, such as Benedick claiming that if he were to be married they may ‘pluck off a bulls horns and set them in his forehead’ and Beatrice saying she ‘could not endure a husband,’ can be seen by the audience as Beatrice and Benedick covering up the feelings for each other which lay beneath their ‘merry war’ of conflict. However it can be argued that the relationship between Beatrice and Benedick is superficial due to its comedic element of gender reversal in Beatrice as women at the time did not have this attitude and mainly remained seen and not heard, any sort of banter from a woman was unexpected and misunderstood as shown by the Messenger taking Beatrice’s sarcasm literally when she refers to Benedick as ‘Signor Mountanto.’…

    • 382 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    The Ideal Couple: Character Analysis of Beatrice and Benedick from Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing
    • 1031 Words
    • 3 Pages

    The Ideal Couple: Character Analysis of Beatrice and Benedick from Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing

    In this play, the reader can compare the two different couples and quickly realizes that Beatrice and Benedick take their time, don’t rush, and compared to Hero and Claudio it wasn’t love at first sight. Right from the beginning of the play, during their first conversation they try to use a type of language that hides the real feelings they have behind for eachtoher. " What my Lady Disdain! Are you yet living? " This quote is said by Benedick to Beatrice, when he comes back to Messina. They try to be very unpleasant to each other and act like they don't care, as they don't want to admit it to the other but to themselves as well. It’s not until the end of the play that Benedick and Beatrice share their feelings and tell each other that they are in love, which shows how they took their time, and really waited for the right moment to let everything go. " Do not you love me? " " Why no, no more than a reason." This quote shows that they still hide their real feelings from each other until the last minute,when they finally feel like it's time to deliver their feelings. Those words said by Benedick show the delivery of all this secret " A miracle! Here's our own hands against our hearts. Come, I will…

    • 1031 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Much Ado About Nothing Deceit Analysis
    • 825 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Much Ado About Nothing Deceit Analysis

    Well, this was signior Benedick that said so.”. (2.1.27-29) This quote is Beatrice acting as she does not know it is Benedick who is under that mask. It is debatable whether Beatrice knows that Benedick is the stranger behind the mask but if she does happen to know this then she is deceiving him to make a fool out of him. Of all of deception and trickery that runs through “Much Ado About Nothing” one of the most prominent is the love affair between Beatrice and Benedick. It starts of as “a merry war” that goes on with both Benedick and Beatrice denying the fact that they have romantic feelings towards each other. The signior Benedick and Beatrice first hide their love/feelings with each other. They have a love hate relationship in the beginning as Beatrice says, “What should I do with him? Dress him in my apparel and make him my waiting gentlewoman?” (2.1.34-35). Her meaning of this is that she has no interest in him only using him as a follower. This all changes with the help of being deceived by Hero, Ursula, Don Pedro, Claudio and Leonato lying telling Benedick and Beatrice are strongly in love with each other. With them thinking that the other is in love with them they start to show their true feelings towards each other on their…

    • 825 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Deceitfulness In Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing
    • 1092 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Deceitfulness In Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing

    The relationship between Beatrice and Benedick exposes the truth in a manner that removes the significance of the lies. Whereas Claudio and Hero’s connection still relies on the treacheries as a crucial property to flourish. These juxtaposing relationships illustrate how varied human relations can be when fabrications are at the center. As the play matures the relationships developed at different degrees into opposing situations: one growing stronger while the other was weakened due to the deceptions. In these final lines, Shakespeare is exposing how circumstances can contrast even amongst comparable conditions. While lying ultimately unites one, it almost destroys the other couple. Trickery is depicted as neither wrong nor right through the scope of these…

    • 1092 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Much Ad About Nothing
    • 823 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Much Ad About Nothing

    One of these moments where we can begin to understand their relationship is during the First Meeting. In Act 1 Scene 1, Benedick uses imagery of a bird to mock Beatrice. On line 126, Benedick says to Beatrice “Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher”. Benedick could be mocking Beatrice by suggesting that she can’t say anything original and only copies what others say, therefore relating to the imagery of a parrot. However, the word ‘rare’ shows that Benedick recognises the unique characteristics of Beatrice and that she is standing out from the crowd, consequently hinting his disguised love for her. Additionally, this quotation also relates to the context of time as women, in those days, could be punished for talking too much. Benedick could be taking advantage of the conventions of time to put Beatrice in her place in their relationship with each other. The parrot imagery can also relate to a poem called Sonnet 130. This is because, in Sonnet 130, the poet says “I love to hear her speak, yet well i know, That music hath a far more pleasing sound;”. We can link the first phrase of Sonnet 130 with Benedicks quote of a ‘rare’ parrot-teacher. By including the word rare before the imagery of a bird, suggests that although Beatrice may talk too much, Benedick still enjoys listening to her speak hence relating to Sonnet 130 “I love…

    • 823 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    How Does Shakespeare Use Deceit In Much Ado About Nothing
    • 765 Words
    • 4 Pages

    How Does Shakespeare Use Deceit In Much Ado About Nothing

    In the play Much Ado About Nothing Shakespeare uses the theme of deceit to advance the plot between Beatrice and Benedick. There was a scene in the garden where Don Pedro, Claudio and Leonato set up Benedick to fall in love with Beatrice. Even though he already liked her but was unwilling to let her or anyone else know that. Don Pedro Claudio and Leonato use the idea that Beatrice already likes him but she will not say anything because she…

    • 765 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More
  • Good Essays

    Much Ado About Nothing Assessment
    • 1281 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Much Ado About Nothing Assessment

    shows their hate for each other. On Act 1,Scene 1,Page 6 ; You can tell Beatrice and…

    • 1281 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
    Read More

Related Topics