Lies In Much Ado About Nothing

680 Words3 Pages
Is Lying Really Bad? When people tell lies, they often do nothing but cause damage. But in Much Ado About Nothing, written by William Shakespeare, betrayal and lies shape the play’s plot. Whether the lie is told by a character who is kind and loving such as Hero, or someone as cruel as Don John, all the lies impact one another. While some characters in Much Ado About Nothing tell lies that cause trouble, some of the lies told in the play are considered necessary in order to cause a positive effect. One of the main lies that influence the whole play is told by Don John. Don John is an irascible, and an unpleasant man who despises Claudio. Don John declares that he would “rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his grace” (1.3. 25-26), and because of his hate for Claudio, he plans to ruin Claudio’s marriage with Hero. Don John intends for Claudio to see Hero having an affair with Borachio, when the truth is that Claudio will see Margaret and Borachio making love. John is caught in the lie when Dogberry says “six, and lastly, they have belied a lady” (5.1.227-228). This lie forms the main plot. It had a negative effect…show more content…
Leonato lies about Hero having a cousin to Claudio and forces Claudio to marry the cousin. He tells Claudio “since you could not be my son in law/ Be yet my nephew…Give her the right you should have giv’n her cousin” (5.1.300-304). At the altar when Claudio is marrying Hero’s cousin, Leonato forces Claudio to vow to marriage before revealing the cousin’s face. When the vail reveals that the cousin is really Hero, Claudio is elated and the two reconnect and declare their love for one another. Leonato’s lie is a fine example of how lies can cause a positive effect. It shows Leonato’s intense love for his daughter Hero, and how sometimes you have to tell a lie in order to get good
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