Lighthearted Pranks or Dark Deception?

In reading the first two acts of Much Ado About Nothing, it is clear that there is a recurring theme of the use of deception to get what you want. Whether it be for a positive or negative outcome, is trickery and dishonesty the way to get it? Seemingly, according to Shakespeare- Yes! And at times it may be difficult to distinguish between the two. If you take both deliberate and non-deliberate deception and the addition of eavesdropping and misunderstanding, you have a recipe for disaster, which comprises much of this play.

And the deception begins as early as Act I, Scene I when Don Pedro proposes his plan to disguise himself as Claudio and proclaim his love to Hero at the costume ball. While his intentions are good, one can't help to wonder why he insists on involving himself in their affairs. It would make more sense if he would just talk to Claudio to help boost his confidence and overcome his shyness. That way he could woo the woman he loves himself. However, it is this conversation which leads to the confusion in the following scene where Antonio's servant overhears and misunderstands what is being said and reports it back to Antonio. It is like the equivalent to a bad game of "telephone" which seems to carry throughout the play in one way or another. This same conversation is also overheard, but correctly, by Borachio who then takes the information to Don John where they use it plot against Claudio.

The lies continue that night at the ball when Don John, pretending not to recognize Claudio in his mask, makes the comment to him that Don Pedro is actually wooing Hero for himself and plans to marry her that very night. Beatrice also partakes in deception when she pretends not to notice that it is Benedick with whom she is dancing while she insults his wit and sense of humor. On a lighter note, it is the same night that Don Pedro decides to devise another plan to get Beatrice and Benedick to stop fighting and to fall in love with each other. Again, Don Pedro is meddling in others' personal affairs and using trickery in doing so. Even if his intentions do mean well, it is the right way to go about it?

This plan is then cleverly carried out when Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato are in the garden and are discussing Beatrices' fabricated love for Benedick, so that Benedick can hear. They go on to embellish the story even more by commenting on what a fool he would be for denying such a woman. They are very cunning and know how to tune into what Benedick wants and needs.

Then comes the ultimate deception of the two acts- Borachio's scheme to sabotage the relationship, and therefore marriage, of Claudio and Hero. He knows that by accusing and framing Hero in premarital relations, her chances at marriage with Claudio, and any other respectable man for that matter, would be over. This is the most serious case of deception, thus far and the consequences would be devastating if carried out successfully. And while we have only got as far as the first two acts, I have a feeling that based on the way things are going, it is safe to say that there is plenty more to come!