Tricks and Manipulation

Essay by bwaldon22High School, 12th gradeA+, August 2004

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The plot of "Much Ado About Nothing" is a well thought out display of schemes and tricks. This is confirmed throughout "Much Ado About Nothing". The play has many examples of tricks and schemes that are used to manipulate the thoughts and feelings of the characters.

The key examples of such manipulation includes Don Pedro, Claudio and Leonato tricking Benedick into believing that Beatrice loves him, and also Hero and Ursula tricking Beatrice into thinking Benedick is in love with her. The relationship between Claudio and Hero is also manipulated. For example Don John and Borachio trick Claudio and the Prince into believing Hero is unfaithful. As in the tradition of Shakespeare, the Friar deceives everybody into thinking Hero is dead. An occurrence of trickery involves Benedick being manipulated to believe Beatrice is in love with him. Don Pedro, Leonato and Claudio carry out trickery playfully when they realize Benedicks's stubbornness.

In Act II Scene iii, Benedick states that "man is a fool when he dedicates his behaviors to love." Due to Benedick's stubbornness Don Pedro, Leonato and Claudio must create a way to bring out the love between Benedick and Beatrice. In Act II Scene iii the men accomplish this by waiting for Benedick to be within ears reach, then raising the topic of Leonato's niece, Beatrice. Don Pedro accomplish's such manipulation when he tells Leonato, "your niece Beatrice was in love with Signor Benedick." This scheme is completed when it is overheard by Benedick and due to his insecurity about love he falls for their trick and as a result he starts to fall in love with Beatrice. The same trick is played on Beatrice. Like Benedick, Beatrice's feelings about love are strong and opposing. When she states, "Not till God make men...