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Much Ado About Nothing: Pretense - Paper

Much Ado About Nothing: Pretense

All of the main characters in "Much Ado About Nothing" are the victims of deception, and it is because they are deceived that they act in the ways that they do. Although the central deception is directed against Claudio in an attempt to destroy his relationship with Hero, it is the deceptions involving Beatrice and Benedick, which provides the play’s, dramatic focus. Nearly every character in the play at some point has to make inferences to what he or she sees, has been told or overhears. Furthermore, every character in the play at some point plays a part of pretending to be what they are not. This poses a few questions. Why the sub-theme of pretense? Why does Shakespeare use ...

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know the truth about someone, a situation or ourselves?
In "Much Ado About Nothing", everyone is pretentious. Don Pedro deceives Hero by acting the part of an honest friend, concerned for his brother and Claudio's honour. Leonato and his family act as if Hero were dead, encouraged to this deception by, of all people, the Friar who feels that deception may be the way to get at truth and all the main characters in the plot pretend to Benedick and Beatrice so convincingly that they reverse their normal attitudes to each other. In scene I.1 Don Pedro offers to play Claudio and win Hero for him. But, this plan is overheard, and misreported to Antonio. His excited retailing of the false news of Don Pedro's love for Hero to Leonato is, however, not without some caution: the news will be good as 'the event stamps them; but the have a good cover, they show well outward' (I.2.6). Leonato shows a sense here that he could well do with later in the play: 'Hath the fellow any wit that told ...

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Much Ado About Nothing: Pretense. (2005, February 24). Retrieved October 1, 2025, from http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Much-Ado-About-Nothing-Pretense/22788

"Much Ado About Nothing: Pretense." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 24 Feb. 2005. Web. 1 Oct. 2025. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Much-Ado-About-Nothing-Pretense/22788>

"Much Ado About Nothing: Pretense." Essayworld.com. February 24, 2005. Accessed October 1, 2025. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Much-Ado-About-Nothing-Pretense/22788.

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PAPER DETAILS

Added: 2/24/2005 08:39:52 PM
Category: Arts
Type: Free Paper
Words: 1233
Pages: 5

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