William Shakespeare’s comedy Much Ado about Nothing was written sometime between 1598 and 1599 because it was first performed in the year of the comic actor Will Kemp, who played the role of Dogberry. This makes the play one of Shakespeare’s later comedies. Although it is nowadays not regarded as one of Shakespeare’s most brilliant works it was said to be very popular during his days and the following century. The play itself is often described as an atypical Shakespearean comedy. Even though it is comic, it has some disturbing elements because the plot is too serious for a comedy and occasionally the play seems only steps away from becoming a tragedy. Although, like in other Shakespearean comedies, no character dies during the play, Hero’s pretended death makes the topic of ‘death’ more vividly present in this play.
The comedy consists of four plots altogether: the main plot of Hero’s and Claudio’s love, the contrast plot including Benedick’s and Beatrice’s battle of wits, the subplot with Don Pedro, Father Francis and the subject of grace and, finally, Don John’s intrigue against Claudio and Hero.
The aim of this term paper is to analyse the plot of Don John’s intrigue against the aristocrat couple Claudio and Hero. Therefore, Don John’s character has to be pointed out in detail in a first step. The focus is put especially on the question how he is presented in the play and how and when the reader realizes that he has dedicated himself to evil. Afterwards, the Bastard’s intrigue will be described and examined in depth. Actually, Don John carries out two dark schemes during the play: A first one which fails soon and a second one which is mainly known as ‘the intrigue’ today. Both attempts to foil the intended marriage of Claudio and Hero will be illustrated, before the focus is put on Don John’s function in the play. Here the purpose of his existence and his actions will be questioned and analyzed.
Finally, the subject whether the whole intrigue could have been prevented by anyone will be discussed briefly and especially Don Pedro’s and Claudio’s behaviour and its consequences for the whole plot will be in the centre of attention.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Main Part
- Characterization of Don John
- The Intrigues
- Don John's function in the play
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
The objective of this paper is to analyze Don John's intrigue against Claudio and Hero in Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing. This involves a detailed examination of Don John's character, his motivations, and the impact of his actions on the play's plot.
- Don John's characterization as a villain and the methods used to portray his wickedness.
- The nature and execution of Don John's intrigues against Claudio and Hero.
- The role and function of Don John within the overall structure of the play.
- Don John's motivations, including revenge and jealousy.
- The potential for preventing Don John's intrigue and the roles of Don Pedro and Claudio.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This introductory chapter sets the stage by providing background information on Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, including its approximate date of composition and its position within Shakespeare's comedic works. The chapter highlights the play's atypical nature, blending comedic elements with serious and potentially tragic undertones, exemplified by the near-death experience of Hero. The four main plots are outlined: Hero and Claudio's romance, Benedick and Beatrice's witty conflict, the subplot involving Don Pedro, Father Francis, and the concept of grace, and, centrally, Don John's machinations against Claudio and Hero. The chapter concludes by stating the paper's aim: to analyze Don John's intrigue, focusing on his characterization, the details of his schemes, and his overall function within the play.
2.1 Characterisation of Don John: This section delves into Don John's portrayal as the play's villain. His actions are characterized by a desire to cause mischief and ruin the lives of those around him. The chapter explores how Shakespeare presents Don John's character, tracing the audience's evolving understanding of his malevolence. It analyzes Don John's early appearances, highlighting the negative connotations of his name ("bastard") and his prior rebellion against his brother, Don Pedro. The chapter then focuses on a key scene where Don John reveals his inherently wicked nature, explicitly stating his lack of pretense and his embrace of villainy. Finally, the chapter examines Don John's motivations, identifying revenge and jealousy toward Claudio and Don Pedro as central driving forces behind his actions.
Keywords
William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, Don John, Intrigue, Villain, Revenge, Jealousy, Comedy, Tragedy, Characterization, Motivation, Plot Analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Don John in Shakespeare's *Much Ado About Nothing*
What is the overall purpose of this academic paper?
This paper aims to thoroughly analyze Don John's role and actions in Shakespeare's *Much Ado About Nothing*. It examines his character, motivations (revenge and jealousy), the methods of his intrigues against Claudio and Hero, and the overall impact of his actions on the play's plot and structure.
What topics are covered in the paper?
The paper covers a range of topics, including Don John's characterization as a villain, a detailed examination of his intrigues, his motivations (specifically revenge and jealousy), his function within the play's overall structure, and the potential for preventing his actions. It also considers the roles of other characters, such as Don Pedro and Claudio, in relation to Don John's schemes.
What is included in the Table of Contents?
The table of contents includes an introduction, a main part broken down into sections focusing on Don John's characterization, his intrigues, and his function in the play, and a conclusion.
How is Don John characterized in the paper?
The paper characterizes Don John as the play's primary villain, highlighting his inherent wickedness and the methods Shakespeare uses to portray his malevolence. It explores how his name ("bastard") and his past rebellion against his brother, Don Pedro, contribute to his negative portrayal. His motivations are identified as revenge and jealousy.
What are Don John's key motivations?
The paper identifies Don John's primary motivations as revenge and jealousy towards Claudio and Don Pedro. These emotions drive his actions and schemes throughout the play.
What are the main themes explored in the analysis of Don John?
The key themes explored include villainy, revenge, jealousy, the interplay between comedy and tragedy, characterization, and plot analysis within the context of Shakespearean drama.
What is the structure of the paper's main sections?
The main part of the paper is divided into sections that progressively analyze Don John: a section dedicated to his characterization, a section detailing his intrigues against Claudio and Hero, and a final section exploring his overall function and significance within the play's structure.
What is included in the chapter summaries?
The chapter summaries provide a concise overview of each section of the paper, including the introduction (which sets the context of the play and the paper's aim), and the main sections focusing on Don John's characterization and intrigues.
What keywords are associated with this paper?
The keywords associated with the paper are: William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, Don John, Intrigue, Villain, Revenge, Jealousy, Comedy, Tragedy, Characterization, Motivation, Plot Analysis.
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- Tobias Herbst (Autor:in), 2005, William Shakespeare - Much Ado about Nothing, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/64413
