MAAN: The Character Foil Between Don Pedro and Don John
Character folis are used in many books to contrast two characters, but why are they important to understand, and how are they relevant? Character foils highlight the qualitites of each character, which can help identify who is the protagonist and antagonist. It can also give assistance in labeling the personalities of the characters, fitting them into their roles in the story. In Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, The character foil between Don Pedro and Don John in Much Ado About Nothing highlights the qualitites between them, and influences the conflict resulting in the plot. Don John’s hatred towards Don Pedro sparks the conflict for other characters as well, including Claudio …show more content…
In Much Ado About Nothing, while talking to Claudio during the mask festival, Don Pedro says, “...If thou dost love fair Hero, cherish it, and I will break with her and with her father, and thou shalt have her” (11). He is seen as someone who is very helpful and charitable here, because of helping Claudio with woeing Hero. Later on in the book, Don John says while talking to his comrades, “Come, come, let us thither. This may prove food to my displeasure. That young start-up hath all the glory of my overthrow. If I can cross him any way, I bless myself everyway” (15). This shows Don John considering a devious scheme. He can come off to readers as dishonest, evil, and unkind. So, when comparing Don Pedro, (social, helpful, experienced), to Don John, (evil, dishonest, unkind), major differences can be seen that label the roles of both characters in the story. Some could say that these two characters do not highlight eachother because they are brothers, and should act similarly. However, these illegitimate brothers clearly show traits that would not be considered the same in any point of view, since helpful and unkind are not the same
Character folis are used in many books to contrast two characters, but why are they important to understand, and how are they relevant? Character foils highlight the qualitites of each character, which can help identify who is the protagonist and antagonist. It can also give assistance in labeling the personalities of the characters, fitting them into their roles in the story. In Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, The character foil between Don Pedro and Don John in Much Ado About Nothing highlights the qualitites between them, and influences the conflict resulting in the plot. Don John’s hatred towards Don Pedro sparks the conflict for other characters as well, including Claudio …show more content…
In Much Ado About Nothing, while talking to Claudio during the mask festival, Don Pedro says, “...If thou dost love fair Hero, cherish it, and I will break with her and with her father, and thou shalt have her” (11). He is seen as someone who is very helpful and charitable here, because of helping Claudio with woeing Hero. Later on in the book, Don John says while talking to his comrades, “Come, come, let us thither. This may prove food to my displeasure. That young start-up hath all the glory of my overthrow. If I can cross him any way, I bless myself everyway” (15). This shows Don John considering a devious scheme. He can come off to readers as dishonest, evil, and unkind. So, when comparing Don Pedro, (social, helpful, experienced), to Don John, (evil, dishonest, unkind), major differences can be seen that label the roles of both characters in the story. Some could say that these two characters do not highlight eachother because they are brothers, and should act similarly. However, these illegitimate brothers clearly show traits that would not be considered the same in any point of view, since helpful and unkind are not the same