9.1.14

Don John

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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: 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.
Jump to other topics
1

Key Terminology

1.1

Key Terminology

1.1.1Key Terminology1.1.2End of Topic Test - Key Terminology
2

Structure & Form

2.1

Structure

2.1.1Structure2.1.2Acts 1 - 32.1.3Acts 4 - 5
2.2

Form

2.2.1Tragicomedy2.2.2End of Topic Test - Structure & Form
3

Act 1: Plot Summary

3.1

Act 1, Scene 1

3.1.1Summary3.1.2Key Lines3.1.3Key Lines 23.1.4End of Topic Test - Act 1, Scene 1
3.2

Act 1, Scene 2

3.2.1Summary3.2.2Key Lines
3.3

Act 1, Scene 3

3.3.1Summary3.3.2Key Lines3.3.3End of Topic Test - Act 1, Scenes 2-3
4

Act 2: Plot Summary

4.1

Act 2, Scene 1

4.1.1Summary4.1.2Key Lines4.1.3Key Lines 24.1.4Key Lines 34.1.5End of Topic Test - Act 2, Scene 1
4.2

Act 2, Scene 2

4.2.1Summary
4.3

Act 2, Scene 3

4.3.1Summary4.3.2Key Lines4.3.3Key Lines 24.3.4End of Topic Test - Act 2, Scenes 2-3
5

Act 3: Plot Summary

5.1

Act 3, Scene 1

5.1.1Summary5.1.2Key Lines
5.2

Act 3, Scene 2

5.2.1Summary5.2.2Key Lines
5.3

Act 3, Scene 3

5.3.1Summary
5.4

Act 3, Scene 4

5.4.1Summary
5.5

Act 3, Scene 5

5.5.1Summary5.5.2End of Topic Test - Act 3
6

Act 4: Plot Summary

6.1

Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 1)

6.1.1Summary6.1.2Key Lines6.1.3Key Lines 2
6.2

Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 2)

6.2.1Summary6.2.2Key Lines6.2.3Key Lines 2
6.3

Act 4, Scene 2

6.3.1Summary6.3.2End of Topic Test - Act 4
7

Act 5: Plot Summary

7.1

Act 5, Scene 1

7.1.1Summary
7.2

Act 5, Scene 2

7.2.1Summary7.2.2Key Lines
7.3

Act 5, Scene 3

7.3.1Summary
7.4

Act 5, Scene 4

7.4.1Summary7.4.2End of Topic Test - Act 5
8

Key Themes

8.1

Key Themes

8.1.1Love & Marriage8.1.2Deception, Appearances & Noting8.1.3Gender8.1.4Reputation8.1.5End of Topic Test - Key Themes
9

Recap: Main Quotes

9.1

Characters Quotes

9.1.1Beatrice9.1.2Beatrice 29.1.3Benedick 19.1.4Benedick 29.1.5Benedick 39.1.6Benedick 49.1.7Benedick 59.1.8Beatrice & Benedick9.1.9Beatrice & Benedick 29.1.10Beatrice & Benedick 39.1.11Claudio9.1.12Claudio 29.1.13Claudio & Benedick9.1.14Don John9.1.15Don John 29.1.16Don Pedro9.1.17Hero9.1.18Leonato9.1.19Leonato & Messanger
9.2

Text Structure - Quotes

9.2.1Deception, Appearances & Noting9.2.2Gender9.2.3Reputation

Practice questions on Don John

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Don John's duplicitous character is similar to which of Shakespeare’s later villains?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    Why might Don John's character be the expected villain? Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Which character says __"it must not be denied that I am a plain dealing villain"__ in Act 1, Scene 3?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    What is a __“canker”__?Multiple choice
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Claudio & Benedick

Don John 2