What do you find interesting about Shakespeare's presentation of deception in 'Much Ado About Nothing'?

The first 200 words of this essay...

Q. What do you find interesting about Shakespeare's presentation of deception in 'Much Ado About Nothing'?

Shakespeare uses a wide range of effective devices in his presentation of deception through the course of "Much Ado About Nothing". These include strong elements of plot construction and characterisation, as well as effective imagery through various sound and visual techniques.

The plot of "Much Ado About Nothing" is an intricate network of scandalous schemes and friendly trickeries. Deception is a rampant theme in the play - each of the major characters is involved in at least one deception - and Shakespeare uses this theme to advance character development through the play, as well as provide comic distraction from the more serious tone present towards the dénouement. Within the matrix of deception ploys in the play, there is also an underlying theme of self-deception, involving some of the most significant characters. Furthermore, all through the play, there is a subtle undercurrent of error. People are often misled by appearances; they make mistakes about others and themselves and can be quite wrong in their judgements of situations. Such failures in understanding are used by Shakespeare to consolidate the setting for plotting and trickery.