3.3.2
Key Lines
Don John
Don John
DON JOHN: it must not be denied that I am a plain dealing villain.
Key line
Key line
- DON JOHN: it must not be denied that I am a plain dealing villain.
Villainous character
Villainous character
- Don John willingly embraces his villainous character, fulfilling the role that would be expected of him due to his illegitimate nature.
Othello
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
DON JOHN: I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his grace.
Key line
Key line
- DON JOHN: I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his grace.
“canker”
“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.
Names
Names
- Interestingly, Don John does not refer to Don Pedro by his name.
- This perhaps reflects the bitterness he feels towards him.
The two characters
The two characters
- Additionally, the two nouns “canker” and “rose” represent the two characters of the half-brothers and their deceptions.
Don John
Don John
- Don John’s trick is poisonous and destructive, intending to ruin and corrupt the relationship between Claudio and Hero.
Don Pedro
Don Pedro
- Don Pedro's deceptions are performed to bring about love.
- First between Claudio and Hero and later between Benedick and Beatrice.
1Key Terminology
1.1Key Terminology
2Structure & Form
3Act 1: Plot Summary
3.2Act 1, Scene 2
3.3Act 1, Scene 3
4Act 2: Plot Summary
4.1Act 2, Scene 1
4.2Act 2, Scene 2
5Act 3: Plot Summary
5.1Act 3, Scene 1
5.2Act 3, Scene 2
5.3Act 3, Scene 3
5.4Act 3, Scene 4
5.5Act 3, Scene 5
6Act 4: Plot Summary
6.1Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 1)
6.2Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 2)
6.3Act 4, Scene 2
7Act 5: Plot Summary
7.1Act 5, Scene 1
7.2Act 5, Scene 2
7.3Act 5, Scene 3
7.4Act 5, Scene 4
Jump to other topics
1Key Terminology
1.1Key Terminology
2Structure & Form
3Act 1: Plot Summary
3.2Act 1, Scene 2
3.3Act 1, Scene 3
4Act 2: Plot Summary
4.1Act 2, Scene 1
4.2Act 2, Scene 2
5Act 3: Plot Summary
5.1Act 3, Scene 1
5.2Act 3, Scene 2
5.3Act 3, Scene 3
5.4Act 3, Scene 4
5.5Act 3, Scene 5
6Act 4: Plot Summary
6.1Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 1)
6.2Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 2)
6.3Act 4, Scene 2
7Act 5: Plot Summary
7.1Act 5, Scene 1
7.2Act 5, Scene 2
7.3Act 5, Scene 3
7.4Act 5, Scene 4
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