Comparing Don Pedro And Don John In Much Ado About Nothing

William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” has two characters with the honorable title Don. The characters, however, Don Pedro and Don John couldn’t be more different. Don Pedro, the Prince of Aragon pays a visit to Leonato, the governor of Messina while returning from a war against his rebellious brother, Don John the bastard. With him are two of his officers, Claudio and Benedick. From the beginning to the end of the play, two love stories are intertwined. One story follows the traditional, romantic relationship between Leonato’s daughter, Hero and Claudio while the other couple, Beatrice and Benedick work hard to give the impression that neither of them are interested in marriage, let alone interested in each other, but even they can’t …show more content…
Claudio admits to Benedick that he is in love with Hero and wants to marry her, but Benedick thinks that he is just being absurd. Don Pedro enters the scene and Claudio then confides to him what he told Benedick. Don Pedro encourages Claudio, unlike Benedick. He tells Claudio that if he really loves Hero, then he will convince Leonato and promise Hero to him. Don Pedro states, “Thou wilt be like a lover presently And tire the hearer with a book of words. If thou dost love fair Hero, cherish it, And I will break with her and with her father, And thou shalt have her. Was ’t not to this end That thou began’st to twist so fine a story?” (Shakespeare 11). In Act 1, Scene 3, Don John complains to his companions (Borachio and Conrad) about how he is Don Pedro’s bastard brother and how he was recently defeated. His mood immediately lightens up as Borachio reports to him about Claudio and Hero’s intended marriage. He takes this as an opportunity to cause mischeif against Claudio and Don Pedro. He directly asks, “Will it serve for any model to build mischief on? What is he for a fool that betroths himself to unquietness?” (Shakespeare 14 ). This shows the difference between the two half-brothers. While Don Pedro is encouraging towards his friend, Don John likes to cause trouble without no particular motivation, that’s his …show more content…
With sweet words, Don Pedro asks Hero to dance with him. Don John, who saw his brother Don Pedro courting Hero, decides to make Claudio jealous by making him think that Don Pedro is wooing Hero and that he has decided to keep Hero for himself instead of giving her to Claudio as he had promised. Don John pretends not to recognize Claudio behind his mask, instead addressing him as if he were Benedick. Claudio who plays along, jumps to conclusions and believes Don John. Don John says, “Signor, you are very near my brother in his love. He is enamoured on Hero. I pray you dissuade him from her. She is no equal for his birth. You may do the part of an honest man in it.” (Shakespeare 23). When the real Benedick enters a few moments later, Claudio, miserable and angry walks out. But when Don Pedro comes along with Hero and Leonato, Benedick learns that Don Pedro stayed true to his word. Moments later, when Claudio returns, Don Pedro tells him that Hero has agreed to marry him (Claudio) and that her father, Leonato agrees. Claudio is so overwhelmed that he cannot even speak. Don Pedro calmy says, “I’ faith, lady, I think your blazon to be true, though I’ll be sworn, if he be so, his conceit is false. Here, Claudio, I have wooed in thy name, and fair Hero is won. I have broke with her father and his good will obtained.” (Shakespeare 27). Don Pedro stays cool during the conflict and resolves it simply. In