The Character of Don John in Much Ado About Nothing Essay Sample

Don John is a villain because he’s an unpleasant person who can be described as bitter, and angry who makes the play go down hill. He has a bad relationship with Claudio, and Don Pedro due to his defeat in the war. He gets jealous from Claudio’s relationship with his brother, and Don Pedro taking all the fame instead of him which feels that he’s not as important or powerful. Don John takes it seriously, and decides to make the characters unpleasant which comforts him. He creates the themes of jealousy, betrayal, and disloyalty throughout the play.

Don John is envious because he finds Claudio stealing his brother from him. He describes Claudio as a “young start-up hath” who took “all the glory of my overthrow” (Shakespeare 1.3.64-65). Claudio, and Don Pedro’s friendship makes Don John feel left out. He feels as if he should be Don Pedro’s main man rather than Claudio because he’s his brother. Not only does he dislike Claudio, but takes his envious on Don Pedro. Benedick believes that Don Pedro had “stolen his bird’s nest” (Shakespeare 2.1.227-228). It seems that his brother gets all the fame because he won the just-ended war against him with Claudio. Don John feels he isn’t important or powerful like his brother, and just there because he’s forced to follow the winners. His jealousy gets the best of him, and is eager for revenge.

Don John decides to create destruction between the characters by betrayal, and disloyalty. When he finds out that Claudio is in love with Hero, he wants to block their marriage, so he plans to “rob love from any” (Shakespeare 1.3.27-28). Don John creates a plan with Borachio to falsely accuse Hero of cheating, and using Margaret dressed as Hero to make Claudio think that Borachio is Hero’s lover. Don John makes Claudio believe he “hath wronged his honor in marrying” Hero (Shakespeare 2.2.23). Don John also enhances the theme of deception by manipulating Claudio into thinking that Hero is disloyal, and shames her for cheating. At the masked ball, he makes Claudio think that Don Pedro is “enamored on Hero” making Claudio agree to what he says (Shakespeare 2.1.162). Don John makes Claudio believe Don Pedro has won Hero instead of him, and makes Claudio feel jealous of it, and giving up on Hero. Don John has completely ruined Claudio’s happiness, and blamed Don Pedro for it.

Don John’s importance in the play is to make everything worse or simply cause trouble. Don John not only achieves it, but also fails to do so after they’ve found out that he’s been behind everything. As Benedick stated that “I’ll devise thee brave punishments for him” (Shakespeare 5.4.132). Don John can be described as an outcast because he’s ignored by the others after all the destruction he’s caused, and faces the consequences since his plan had obviously failed because it’s a Shakespearean play that ends in a happy ending. Don John had also called himself a “plain-dealing villain” (Shakespeare 1.3.30). Don John admits he’s a villain because he’s direct, and honest to himself, but untrustworthy to others. He agrees that his behavior is bad, and can’t find his true self. Don John states that “the sadness is without limit” (Shakespeare 1.3.4). Don John describes his life miserable because of his envy of Don Pedro, and Claudio so he decides to make the characters feel suffering, and misery while it pleases him. He feels as if anyone is happy; it'll only make him melancholy.

As the audience, we can see that Don John is mischievous, and only caused trouble because he’s never experienced what the characters had. He hasn’t experienced love like Claudio, or authority like Don Pedro. A lesson can be learned that “what happens in the dark always comes to light” and well Don John doesn’t see that, and is punished for what he has done. Don John fits as a good liar, and believable villain of his evil actions.