Sunday, March 31, 2013

How does William Shakespeare use disguise and deception to create action in Much Ado about Nothing?

Much Ado About Nothing is full of
duality, foils, doubles, and two-face
deceivers.


  • In Act II, scene i there is a
    masquerade ball.  Don Pedro pretends to be Claudio and woo Hero for him.

  • Beatrice pretends to be another woman when she talks to
    Benedick in order to find out his true feelings for
    her.

  • Don John pretends to be a legitimate brother and
    soldier.  In reality, he is a villain and a bastard, a dispossessed
    son.

  • Don John and Borachio talk to Claudio, knowing he
    will pretend to be Benedick in order to hear their
    secrets.

  • Dogberry and the Watch pretend to be more ("more
    learned") than they really are.  Really, they are a bunch of
    clowns.

  • Borachio woos Margaret but says Hero's name to
    deceive Claudio and Don Pedro.

  • Ursula and Margaret bait
    Beatrice, saying that Benedick loves her.

  • Don Pedro,
    Claudio, and Leonato bait Benedick, saying the Beatrice loves
    him.

  • Leonato pretends that his daughter Hero is dead in
    order to investigate her slander.

  • Hero pretends to be her
    sister in order to test Claudio at the
    wedding.

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