Early Modern Drama · Character Archetypes

DON JOHN

in Much Ado About Nothing — Shakespeare, William

Metadata

PlayMuch Ado About Nothing
AuthorShakespeare, William
Year (catalogued)1600
First performance1598
Decade1600s
GenreComedy
Play typeAdult Professional
CompanyLord Chamberlain's (Hunsdon's) Men
Speech prefix(es)Iohn | Bastard | Bast. | Bastar.
Words921
Characters4602
Typicality0.23 (cosine to cluster centroid)
TCP idA11991
BritDrama no.1148
ClusterCluster 13 — Attendant courtiers & citizens

Important excerpts

No keyword-matching excerpt could be extracted (the cluster label doesn't share vocabulary with this character's speech).

Full speech

I thank you, I am not of many words, but I thank the There is no measure in the occasion that breeds, there before the sadness is without limit. And when I have herd it, what blessing brings it? I wonder that thou (being as thou sayest, thou art, born under Saturn) goest about to apply a moral medicine, to a mortifying mischief: I cannot hide what I am: I must be sad when I have cause, and smile at no men jests, eat when I have stomach, and wait for no men leisure: sleep when I am drow sie, and tend on no men business, laugh when I am merry, and claw no man in his humour. I had rather be a canker in a hedge, then a rose in his grace, and it better fits my blood to be disdained of all, then to fashion a carriage to rob love from any: in Thy, (though I cannot be said to be a slatering honest man) it must not be denied but I am a plain dealing villain, I am trusted with a mussel, and en fraunchisde with a ogge, therefore I have decreed, not to sing in my cage: if I had my mouth I would bite: if I had my liber ty I would do my liking: in the mean time, let me be that I am, and seek not to altar me. I make all use of it, for I use it only, Who comes here? what news Borachio? Will it serve for any model to built mischief on? what is he for a fool that betrothes himself to unquietness? Who, the most exquisite Claudio? A proper squire, and who, and who, which way looks he? A very forward March-chick, how came you to this? Come, come, let us thither, this may prove food to my displeasure, that young start up hath all the glory of my over throw: if I can cross him any way, I bless my self every way, you are both sure, and will assist me. Let us to the great supper, their cheer is the greater that I am subdued, would the cook were a my mind, shall we go prove whats to be done? Sure my brother is amorous on Hero, and hath with drawn her father to break with him about it: the Ladies foe low her, and but one visor remains. Are not you signior Benedicke? Signior, you are very near my brother in his love, he is enamoured on Hero, I pray you dissuade him from her, she is no equal for his birth, you may do the part of and honest man in it. I herd him swear his affection. Come let us to the banquet. It is so, the Count Claudio shall marry the daughter of Leonato. Any bar, any cross, any impediment, will be med cinable to me, I am sick in displeasure to him, and whatsoever comes athwart his affection, ranges evenly with mine, how canst thou cross this marriage? Show me briefly how. I remember. What life is in that to be the death of this marriage? What proof shall I make of that? Only to despite them I will endeavour any thing. Grow this to what adverse issue it can, I will put it in practice: be cunning in the working this, and thy fee is a thou sand ducats. I will presently go learn their day of marriage. Fie, fie, they are not to be nam my lord, Not to be spoke of, There is not chastity enough in language, Without offence to utter them: thus pretty lady, I am sorry for thy much misgovernment. My lord and brother, God save you. If your leisure served, I would speak with you. If it please you, yet Count Claudio may hear, for what I would speak of, concerns him. I will disparage her no farther, till you are my wit nesses, bear it coldly but till midnight, and let the issue show it self. Oh plague right well prevented! so will you say, when you have seen the sequel. Sir, they are spoken, and these things are true. Come let us go: these things come thus to light, Smother her spirits up. Means your Lordship to be married to morrow? I know not that when he knows what I know. You may think I love you not, let that appear here after, and aim better at me by that I now will manifest, for my brother (I think, he holds you well, and in dearness of heart) hath help to effect your ensuing marriage: surely suit ill spent, and labour ill bestowed. I came hither to tell you, and circumstances shortened, (for she has been too long a talking of) the lady is disloyal. The word is too good to paint out her wickedness, I could say she were worse, think you of a worse title, and I will fit her to it: wonder not till further warrant: go but with me to night you shall see her chamber window entered, even the night before her wedding day, if you love her, then to morrow wed her: But it would better fit your honour to change your mind. If you dare not trust that you see, confess not that you know: if you will follow me, I will show you enough, and when you have seen more, and herd more, proceed ac cordingly. Even she, Leonatoes Hero, your Hero, every men Hero.

Plot summary

Plot — Much Ado About Nothing
Returning to Messina after a war, Claudio falls in love with Hero. At a masked revel, Don Pedro woos her for him by proxy; Don John maliciously tells Claudio that Pedro has wooed her for himself, but the truth soon purges Claudio’s jealousy and he and Hero are engaged to be married in a week’s time. In the interim, Don Pedro undertakes to make Beatrice and Benedick, who have a humour of mutual hatred, fall in love with each other. This is done by letting each of them overhear a conversation about how much in love the other is. Don John attempts to prevent Claudio’s marriage by showing him what he takes to be a nocturnal assignation between Hero and another man; in fact it is Margaret in Hero’s clothes, wooed by Borachio whom Don John has suborned. Claudio rejects Hero at the wedding, and the Friar proposes that she feign death to inculcate remorse in him. Borachio and his associate Conrad are arrested and examined, and confess the plot. As penance, Claudio undertakes to marry another ===== PAGE 61 ===== 1598 lady, said to be Leonato’s niece, without first seeing her; she is actually Hero. Benedick and Beatrice join Hero and Claudio to make it a double wedding. Don John flees Messina, but is apprehended and brought back to face punishment.