Examples Of Deception In Much Ado About Nothing

Have you ever wondered why people deceive others? Sometimes, these reasons can get much deeper than you think. Deception is a powerful thing that can get you the things you want. People deceive others to obtain certain things for themselves. Some do it to exact revenge, to get information, or for the benefit of others. There are many forms of deception that take place in the play Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare. Don John deceives to make Claudio angry, Benedick deceives to know what Beatrice thinks about him, and Don Pedro, Leonato, and Claudio deceive Benedick to make him happy and have him fall in love with Beatrice. A reason why one might deceive another is to get revenge for a thing that was done to them. Don John, Don Pedro’s evil brother, was defeated by the valiant soldier, Claudio. As payback, Don John shows his hatred for Claudio by attempting to ruin his wedding with Hero. In Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare writes,” Signior, you are very near my brother in his love: he is enamoured to Hero; I pray you, dissuade him from her; she is no equal for his birth; you may do the part of an honest man to it.” (II.i.14) Don John pretends that Claudio is Benedick and tells him that Don Pedro is trying to woo Hero for himself. Claudio becomes outraged and confronts Don Pedro about it, therefore falling victim to …show more content…
During the masquerade, Benedick lies to Beatrice by pretending to be another man. As the “other man”, he asks Beatrice what she thinks about Benedick. In Much Ado About Nothing, Beatrice exclaims after he is “not” himself,” Why, he is the prince’s jester: a very dull fool; only his gift is in devising impossible slanders… I am sure he is in the fleet: I would he had boarded me.” (II.i.13) Beatrice tells “Benedick” that he is a fool and nobody would want him for he never acts like a normal person. Benedick got what he wanted, but he ended up hating Beatrice even