3.3.2

Key Lines

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Don John

DON JOHN: it must not be denied that I am a plain dealing villain.

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Key line

  • DON JOHN: it must not be denied that I am a plain dealing villain.
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Villainous character

  • Don John willingly embraces his villainous character, fulfilling the role that would be expected of him due to his illegitimate nature.
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Othello

  • Don John's duplicitous character is similar although nowhere near as subtle as Shakespeare’s later villain Iago from Othello (1603) who reveals to the audience in Act 1 “I am not what I am.”

Don John

DON JOHN: I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his grace.

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Key line

  • DON JOHN: I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his grace.
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“canker”

  • The use of the noun “canker” illustrates Don John’s villainy.
  • He would rather be a fungus, spreading disease and disharmony rather than love his brother, Don Pedro.
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Names

  • Interestingly, Don John does not refer to Don Pedro by his name.
  • This perhaps reflects the bitterness he feels towards him.
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The two characters

  • Additionally, the two nouns “canker” and “rose” represent the two characters of the half-brothers and their deceptions.
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Don John

  • Don John’s trick is poisonous and destructive, intending to ruin and corrupt the relationship between Claudio and Hero.
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Don Pedro

  • Don Pedro's deceptions are performed to bring about love.
  • First between Claudio and Hero and later between Benedick and Beatrice.

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