Much Ado About Nothing Analysis
Raashi Mehta
Professor Bruster
FS 301
November 19, 2007
A Hidden Role
The Humoural Theory is the theory that the human body consists of four basic substances or humours: black bile, bile, phlegm, and blood. In balance, these humours bring health and sanity, but in excess or deficit of one of the humours, a person’s psychological health and personality are affected. In Much Ado About Nothing, William Shakespeare creates Don John, a character of an imbalance of humours. Don John is clearly an unbalanced individual because he comes up with twisted ways to meddle with people only to seek pleasure in their pain. The bluntness in his speech in the beginning of the play gives the impression that he wreaks havoc for no reason. Although his actions seem motiveless, a closer examination of his role shows that they are actually driven by an excess of black bile distorting his psyche. The state of melancholy that Don John possesses triggers him to desire the melancholy of others in order to dismiss his own sensations of solitude and loneliness. With his role, Shakespeare proves that Don John may appear to be an evil character for his own contentment, but it is in fact the imbalance of humours that procures a deeper psychological problem expressing itself. Don John seems motiveless in his actions when he bluntly identifies himself as a villain. He declares, “[…] I cannot be said to be a flattering honest man, it must not be denied but I am a plain-dealing villain” (1.3.28-30). By associating himself with one who performs acts of evil, he boldly makes known his identity that normally one would not boast about. We would think that a man calling himself a villain, which makes him seem cocky and proud for undeserving reasons, would basically act with no motive besides his own egoistic pleasure. Conversely, in the same speech within lines of verbalizing his malevolent character, Don John exposes a part of his internal make-up by using literal diction when he claims, “I
Professor Bruster
FS 301
November 19, 2007
A Hidden Role
The Humoural Theory is the theory that the human body consists of four basic substances or humours: black bile, bile, phlegm, and blood. In balance, these humours bring health and sanity, but in excess or deficit of one of the humours, a person’s psychological health and personality are affected. In Much Ado About Nothing, William Shakespeare creates Don John, a character of an imbalance of humours. Don John is clearly an unbalanced individual because he comes up with twisted ways to meddle with people only to seek pleasure in their pain. The bluntness in his speech in the beginning of the play gives the impression that he wreaks havoc for no reason. Although his actions seem motiveless, a closer examination of his role shows that they are actually driven by an excess of black bile distorting his psyche. The state of melancholy that Don John possesses triggers him to desire the melancholy of others in order to dismiss his own sensations of solitude and loneliness. With his role, Shakespeare proves that Don John may appear to be an evil character for his own contentment, but it is in fact the imbalance of humours that procures a deeper psychological problem expressing itself. Don John seems motiveless in his actions when he bluntly identifies himself as a villain. He declares, “[…] I cannot be said to be a flattering honest man, it must not be denied but I am a plain-dealing villain” (1.3.28-30). By associating himself with one who performs acts of evil, he boldly makes known his identity that normally one would not boast about. We would think that a man calling himself a villain, which makes him seem cocky and proud for undeserving reasons, would basically act with no motive besides his own egoistic pleasure. Conversely, in the same speech within lines of verbalizing his malevolent character, Don John exposes a part of his internal make-up by using literal diction when he claims, “I