Deception, Appearances & Noting
English Lit: AQA GCSE Much Ado About Nothing, topic 9.2.1
Deception, Appearances and Noting
Whilst the contrasting plots of Don John and Don Pedro form the main narrative strands to the play, there are other forms of deception throughout the play, too. Here are key quotations relating to appearance:
Value of female appearance
- Claudio asks Benedick in Act 1, Scene 1 “Can the world buy such a jewel?” when talking of Hero’s beauty.
- Having been deceived by Don John at the masked ball, he claims “beauty is a witch” indicating he feels that Hero’s appearance has had a bewitching effect on him.
Deceptive appearances
- Claudio may look young and innocent “in the figure of a lamb” yet has proven himself beyond his years in the war against Don John “performing the feats of a lion.”
Test yourself on Deception, Appearances & Noting
Who is “in the figure of a lamb” while “performing the feats of a lion”?