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Don John

Appearance and Deception

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A recurring theme in many of Shakespeare’s plays, and central to Much Ado About Nothing, explores how easily people are deceived not just by the false testimony of others but even by their own senses. Claudio, believing he was deceived by Don John, learned to place no trust in the words of others. With “Let every eye negotiate for itself,”
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What the goodyear, my lord, why are you thus out of measure sad?

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Conrade
What the goodyear, my lord, why are you
thus out of measure sad?
Don John
There is no measure in the occasion that
breeds. Therefore the sadness is without limit.

In this, though I cannot be said to be
a flattering honest man, it must not be
denied but I am a plain-dealing villain.
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Source:
Act 1
Scene 3
Line 1

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O, God defend me, how am I beset!

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Hero
O, God defend me, how am I beset!—
What kind of catechizing call you this?
Claudio
To make you answer truly to your name.
Hero
Is it not Hero? Who can blot that name
With any just reproach?
Claudio
Marry, that can Hero!
Hero itself can blot out Hero’s virtue.
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Source:
Act 4
Scene 1
Line 81

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