Download
1 / 11
120 likes | 351 Views
Much Ado About Nothing. Character presentation of Don John and Don Pedro. Don Pedro- an overview. We start with the character analysis of Don Pedro as a reflection of his status in the play. Of Messina’s aristocrats the Prince of Arragon ranks the highest.
E N D
Much Ado About Nothing Character presentation of Don John and Don Pedro.
Don Pedro- an overview • We start with the character analysis of Don Pedro as a reflection of his status in the play. • Of Messina’s aristocrats the Prince of Arragon ranks the highest. • Although the social gap between him and Leonato is smaller than in the sources, everyone defers to him.
Interpretations of Don Pedro • Through certain events in the play Don Pedro can be seen to be a number of rather contrasting characteristics. • He has ‘bestowed much honour’ upon Claudio and as his patron woos Hero in his guise. When informed of Hero’s alleged infidelity, Don Pedro sanctions Claudio’s vengeance by offering to ‘join with thee to disgrace her’. Such is Don Pedro’s influence and arrogance that Claudio agrees to leave with him. • One may infer that Don Pedro is harsh in his judgement, since infidelity seems out of character of a woman, although ‘small’ will only do ‘modest office’ to assist the influential prince.
How the character of Don Pedro is influential in the plot • He has a renaissance prince’s belief in the prerogative of his power’ tis once thou lovest, And I will fit thee with a remedy.’ This shows his absolute confidence that he will win Hero for Claudio • Similarly when he flirtatiously offers himself to Beatrice, she demurs, as he expects ‘ your grace is too costly for wear everyday’. He shows princely magnanimity when she blushes at a faux pas ‘ Your silence most offends me, and to be merry, best becomes you.’ • He exerts himself to arrange the affairs of others and maintain a position of superiority himself.
Introduction Of Don John • Don John is merely sketched as the melodramatic villain so typical to Shakespeare. A stereotypical bastard serving a thematic and narrative function • His first line ‘ I thank you, I am not a man of many words, but I thank you’ is in direct contrast to his confession- ‘I can not hide what I am; I am a plain dealing villain, let me be that I am, and seek not to alter me.’ • His overuse of the first person singular indicates his egocentricity, he insists that malice is honesty or truth to the base selfishness within everyone.
Interpretations of Don John • Some critics suggest that Don John’s lack of ingenuity and initiative makes him baser and less admirable. His language can appear shifty and over elaborated. His logical structure implies intelligence and control but its too rigid for wit and too egocentric and mean in its imagery to be aphoristic
Comparative literary features • Counterfeiting - The idea of counterfeiting, in the sense of presenting a false face to the world, appears frequently throughout the play. A particularly rich and complex example of counterfeiting occurs as when Don Pedro pretends Beatrice is head over heels in love with Benedick (II.iii.98–99). • Noting - In Shakespeare's time, the "Nothing" of the title would have been pronounced "Noting." Thus, the play's title could read: "Much Ado About Noting." Indeed, many of the players participate in noting. In order for a plot hinged on instances of deceit to work, the characters must note one another constantly. Don John's deceptive plot hinges on noting. • The Prose is varied according to character. Don John uses rhetorical, halting and stiffly formal language. There is a similar egotism is that language to that of Don Pedro’s, but without the playfulness, which makes it cold and aggressive. Don Pedro’s speech is witty and allusive in contrast to that of Don Johns which is claustrophobic.
Comparative literary features • Deception as a Means to an End- The plot of Much Ado About Nothing is based upon deliberate deceptions, some malevolent and others benign. Much Ado About Nothing shows that deceit is not inherently evil but something that can be used as a means to good or bad ends. In the play deceit is neither purely positive nor purely negative: it is a means to an end, a way to create an illusion that helps Don John in particular to succeed socially. • Don Pedro’s language is always grand and never subordinate. He has the princes belief in the prerogative of his power; ‘tis once',' thou lovest’, (1.224-5).Upon hearing the truth behind Don John’s, Don Pedro is conscience-stricken and contrite. There is both humility and pomp in his wonderful image. • Don John insists that malice is a virtue ‘I cannot hide what I am’ ‘I am a plain dealing villain; let me be that I am’. He is awkwardly repetitious in response to Don Pedro, whose gracious words are over enthusiastic. For example, the opening line ‘I thank you, I am not of many words, but I thank you’ (1.116)
Don John Vs Don Pedro • Like his half-brother, Don Pedro manipulates characters. • Although Don John and Don Pedro are similar in terms of deception, Don Pedro’s intentions are good and Don John’s are bad. • This emphasises Shakespeare’s continued theme of “Nature Vs Nurture.”
