Much Ado About Nothing: Pretense

Part I of Essay
All of the main characters in "Much Ado About Nothing" are the victims of deception, and it is because they are deceived that they act in the ways that they do. Although the central deception is directed against Claudio in an attempt to destroy his relationship with Hero, ....

Part II of Essay
.... it is positive or negative. The idea of acting and the illusion it creates is rarely far from the surface. Do we ever undeniably know the truth about someone, a situation or ourselves? In "Much Ado About Nothing", everyone is pretentious. Don Pedro deceives Hero by acting the part of an honest friend, concerned for his brother and Claudio's honour. Leonato and his family act as if Hero were dead, encouraged to this deception by, of all people, the Friar who feels that deception may be the way to get at truth and all the main charact ....