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Shakespeare's Use Of Masquerade In Much Ado About Nothing

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In the play “Much Ado About Nothing”, by William Shakespeare, the plot is driven by deception and trickery. Every romantic relationship that is manifested in this play is made possible by an act of deception. Beatrice and Benedick fall in love because of a prank played by their family and friends; Hero and Claudio are brought together through a masquerade ball. These two relationships are perfect examples of Shakespeare’s use of masquerade in this play. At the beginning of this play, a war has just ended and Leonato, the governor of Messina, is preparing to welcome soldiers back home; some of these soldiers are his friends Don Pedro, Don John, Claudio, and Benedick. From the time when Benedick is first mentioned in Act 1 Scene 1, Beatrice,

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