Reality In Much Ado About Nothing

William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing often dives headfirst into the realm of illusion brought on by deception and trickery. The manner in which different characters view various happenings constantly varies. The always changing outlooks from the different characters leads both the characters and the audience to question reality and wonder about the true nature of the happenings within the play. The constant illusions within the play lead the play’s characters and audience to the realization that things are not always as they seem and that the world is almost never in black and white. “Reality” is a word that seems to be set in stone; it is assumed that there can only exist one reality. However, this is not always true. Different people
As Benedick and Claudio are disagreeing about Hero’s appearance, Benedick says that, “I can see yet without spectacles” (1.i.156). He is saying that he sees the truth of Hero’s mediocrity correctly because he does not need spectacles. He is also saying that Claudio need spectacles because he views Hero as beautiful. The reality is that their different minds create two different perspectives, making their opinions about Hero greatly diverge. However, Shakespeare’s use of the word “spectacles” is interesting because of their function. Spectacles are used to enhance vision for eyes that are flawed. While flawed eyes were not the reason Hero appeared different to Claudio and Benedick (rather different minds created different views in that situation), there were several situations in which imperfect vision led to distorted reality. When Don Pedro is wooing Hero for Claudio, Claudio begins to doubt the prince’s loyalty and eventually comes to the conclusion that, “the prince woos for himself. Friendship is constant in all other things, save in the office and affairs of love” (II.i.151-153). While the main reason for Claudio’s mistrust is the devious Don Jon, another large factor is his jealousy. Claudio’s jealousy is distorting his view of reality. This situation is one in which Claudio is in need of spectacles. Not literal spectacles, but rather something to correct his inaccurate vision of
When discussing with Don Pedro the truth of the plot against Hero, Borachio says, “What your wisdoms could not discover, these shallow fools (Dogberry and the Watch) have brought to light” (V.i.226-227). Borachio was correct. Somehow, the noble, well educated men failed to realize the truth that the less educated, lower class citizens brought to light. This is again the case when Friar Francis, who is also not nobility, sees the reality of Hero’s innocence (but perhaps Shakespeare does this as an acknowledgement of the Friar’s piety and religious requirement to recognize and reveal truth). Shakespeare may have the lower classes realize the truth in an attempt to convey that the inability to see reality is classless. Even the most noble, honorable people are susceptible to seeing things incorrectly, and even the most foolish, uneducated people can judge things