Much Ado About Nothing 2

One scene in the play Much Ado About Nothing especially portrayed a gender stereotype. At Claudio and Hero’s wedding, Claudio announces that Hero is not a maid. Claudio thinks he saw Hero the night before with another man, “What man was he talked with you yesternight /Out at your window betwixt twelve and one? /Now, if you were a maid, answer to this” (IV.1.81-83). He accuses her of an extremely dishonorable action. Upset, Hero responds, “I talked with no man at the hour, my lord” (IV.1.84). The Prince and Don John continue talking of what they saw that night. Leonato is so ashamed of what he hears, “Hath no man’s dagger here a point for me” (IV.1.107). Notice how no one believes Hero. Later Borachio comes forth and admits, “How you/were brought into the orchard and saw me court Margaret in/Hero’s garments, how you disgraced her when you should/marry her” (V.1.201-204). Borachio was the man with “Hero” who was really Margaret. Suddenly The Prince and Claudio believe Borachio over Hero. Claudio shows his belief, “Sweet Hero, now thy image doth appear/In the rare semblance that I loved it first” (V.1.235-236). When Hero tells everyone she is still a maid, they do not believe her. When Borachio admits his mistake, they believe him. Hero told the truth, why didn’t they believe her in the first place? The major stereotype revealed is that men are believed before women. I believe that Shakespeare was attempting to teach the readers a lesson about misjudging others. He was adding more personality to the characters while presenting a general message.

Much Ado About Nothing

I believe that lying is ethically wrong but in certain situations depending on the significance of the lie, it can be ok. In the play Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, many characters are caught lying. Lying for self-gain has a different ethical view than lying to help others. One scene in this play that is not ethically wrong is when Don Pedro, Leonato and Claudio lie about Beatrice loving Benedick. They lead Benedick to believe that Beatrice loves him. “Bait the hook well; this fish will bite” (II.3.102). In the middle of their lying speech they realize Benedick is believing them, “He hath t' en th'infection. Hold it up” (II.3.113). They lie to help him be kinder and maybe even love her “back”. This lie is for the good of Benedick. These characters lie, while Benedick is listening, to help him. They weren’t lying for self-gain but to assist their friend in finding the right woman. Although many times lying is considered okay, there are also situations when characters lie and it is ethically wrong. Towards the beginning of the play Don Jon tries to stop Claudio from marrying Hero. He goes to his assistant Borachio for help. In the process of Don Jon trying to stop the love Borachio confesses, “Not honestly, my lord, but so covertly that no dishonesty shall appear in me” (II.2.8). In this case Don Jon and Borachio are being unethical. They choose to lie for their own good. Their lie will only hurt others no help them.