Themes of Much Ado About Nothing

The entire plot of “Much Ado about Nothing” is based on elaborate deceptions, some spiteful and others benign. Each of the main characters was, at one point, the victim of deception, and it is because they are deceived that they act the ways they do. The deception of Claudio and Don Pedro results in Hero’s disgrace. Conversely, the scheme involving her death [instigated by the friar, of all people] allows her redemption and reconciliation with Claudio. All Characters plot to deceive Beatrice and Benedick into thinking that each is loved by the other causing them to realize that they really did love one another. Lines like “men were deceivers ever” [Shakespeare 33] in Balthasar’s song show that deception is a key theme. However, nothing in the play terms deceit as being wholly good or who

The other type of love demonstrated is that between Claudio and Hero. They fall in love purely because of what their eyes see, rather than what their hearts feel. Each has been captivated by the other’s appearance. There is nearly no communication between them, and there is absolutely no trust. When Claudio learns of Hero’s indiscretions, he is convinced of her guilt before he is ever offered any evidence. This, I think, is the connection to today. Our culture seems to have forgotten what real love is. We often confuse or substitute infatuation for real, true love. As a result, many times the relationship is crippled by a lack of communication and trust. For this reason, the divorce rate in America is at an outrageous all-time high.

After examining “Much Ado about Nothing,” I do believe it’s true that Shakespeare’s work is timeless. Themes of deception, love, and society are ones that are still written about and will continue to be explored simply because they themselves are eternal.

lly evil; rathe

Some topics in this essay:
Claudio Hero, Beatrice Benedick, Ado Nothing”, Benedick Beatrice, Don Pedro, , Don John’s, Claudio Characters, “much ado, “much ado nothing”, ado nothing”, deception love society, themes deception love, thinking loved, love society, themes deception, deception love, shakespeare 63, claudio hero,