Deception Is One of the Main Themes of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’.

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Deception is one of the main themes of 'Much Ado about Nothing'. Discuss.

The plot in 'Much Ado about Nothing' is based upon a series of deceptions and lies. There are good deceptions and bad deceptions throughout the play, but in the end, good wins over evil.

In Act I, Don Pedro, Prince of Arragon, returns to Messina, Italy from a war with his bastard brother Don John. Count Claudio of Florence and Signor Benedick of Padua accompany Don Pedro. Don John is accompanied by his followers, Borachio and Conrade. Signor Leonato is governor of Messina, and with him is his brother, Signor Antonio. Leonato's heir is Hero, his only daughter, and his niece is Beatrice, an orphan.

In Act I scene i, we see the 'skirmish of wit' between Beatrice and Benedick. Throughout the play, there are not many mentions of why Beatrice and Benedick continue their 'merry war', although in Act II scene i, Beatrice speaks of how she gave 'a double heart for his single one'. This suggests that they have had a previous encounter where Benedick broke her heart.

The first of the deceptions take place in Act II scene i, the masqued ball. In this, all of the men wear masks to hide their identity, which is a huge deception in itself. The first deception at the masqued ball is a good one. Don Pedro woos Hero while pretending to be Claudio. Don John hears of this and decides to take advantage of the situation. He pretends to think Claudio is Benedick, and confides in him that Don Pedro woos Hero for himself. Claudio believes this evil deception, but when there is a confrontation between Don Pedro and him, he sees his error and good wins over evil. At the end of scene i, Don Pedro proposes to 'undertake one of Hercules' labours' and make Benedick and Beatrice fall in love with each other. This is the beginning of another good deception.
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In Act II scene ii, Borachio, Conrade and Don John discuss their failed plot at the masqued ball. Borachio proposes a plan to:

"Misuse the prince, to vex Claudio, to undo Hero, and kill Leonato." Don John agrees.

In Act II scene iii, Benedick is deceived by Don John, Claudio and Leonato into believing that Beatrice loves him. This good deception takes place in Leonato's orchard, where Benedick hides and listens to their conversation about Beatrice's love for him. The deceivers know where Benedick is, but pretend they don't in order to deceive him. The deceivers ...

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