MAAN Post 2

I beleive that Shakespeare in Much Ado About Nothing intentionally uses stereotypes. The stereotypes add to the comedy. They also, however, teach the audience that stereotypes are often wrong. Usually a charactor defies the stereotype and acomplishes something which teaches the audience a lesson about judging people too quickly

First, Shakespeare illustrates the stereotype that women are unopinionated and will be seduced by anyone. This is the case with Borrachio who beleives that he can seduce Margaret to trick Claudio. He automatically assume she will fall for him and he brags to Don Jon, “I can, at any unseasonable instant of the night, appoint her/to look out at her lady’s chamber window” (II.2.14-15). He assumes that Margaret will just automatically fall for him. In the end Shakespeare defies this stereotype as Borrachio gets arrested and Margaret continues to live happily with Hero and Beatrice.

Second Shakespeare illustrates the stereotype that the poor lower class people are uneducated and are inferior to the upper class. He illustrates this with Dogberry and his poor use of words. For example, Dogberry states, "Nay, that were a punishment too good for them, if they
should have any allegiance in them, being chosen for the Prince's watch. (III.3.4-6). Dogberry's incorrect use of word allegiance shows how Shakespeare is trying to show that the poor are stupid and insignificant. Dogberry defies this however, when he ends up saving the marriage between Hero and Claudio by proving that Hero was innocent. Through these two charactors Shakespeare proves you shouldn't beleive stereotypes and judge people too quickly.