The Plain Villain, Don John.
A villain is someone or something that opposes the protagonist. Don John can be seen as a villain, but his plans only worked because of misunderstandings and miscommunication. In Shakespeare’s play, Much Ado About Nothing, the problems caused by Don John could be fixed easily if the characters had just talked through their issue. Don John does not appear a lot throughout the entire play. Don John is an illegitimate child, but he does not attribute that to why he is a villain. He simply says, “It must not be denied but I am a plain-dealing villain.” (Much Ado About Nothing 1.3 24-25) Don John does not give very good reasons for being a villain, and if he has any he doesn’t share them. With …show more content…
Don John caused Claudio, who was soon to be wed to Hero, to believe that she was cheating on him. Don John simply had someone who looked similar to Hero meet another man and had Claudio see it. Claudio then disgraced Hero at their wedding, causing her much shame and canceling their marriage. “And that Count Claudio did mean, upon his words, to disgrace Hero before the whole assembly, and not marry her.” (Much Ado About Nothing 4.2 55-58) If the two had simply talked about the issue to each other the whole problem could have been solved. By talking to Hero, Claudio would have easily seen that she was innocent, proven by the many scenes they share in the play. Don John does not appear in the play a lot, meaning he easily fools Claudio with little words. Claudio would have taken the words of Hero because he loved her, other than the few that Don John provided. “I looked upon her (Hero) with a soldier’s eye. That liked, but had a rougher task in hand than to drive, liking to the name of love. But now I am returned and that war thoughts have left their places vacant, in their rooms come thronging soft and delicate desires, all