| Leonato welcomes Don John with great hesitation, “An I welcome YOU as well”. He represents the suspicions the Messina society hold towards him. | “If you swear my lord, you shall not be forsworn.” (A1S1) |
| Don John recognises the distrust held towards him and so takes on a reticent (withdrawn) character; another reason why the society distrust him. | “I am not of many words, but I thank you.” (A1S1) |
| Don John opens up to Conrad and shows a clear self awareness; the audience begin to relate to such an honest character. | “I cannot hide what I am. I must be sad / when I have cause, and smile at no man’s jests.” (A1S3) |
| Don John admits that it is his “blood” (bastard background) which forces himself outside of society and, therefore, makes him “evil”. | “It better fits my blood to be disdained of all.” (A1S3) |
| Don John has an on-going battle with an unkind society. He feels that no-one truly trusts him. | “I am trusted with a / muzzle, and enfranchised with a clog.” (A1S3) |
| Don John’s redeeming quality is his utter honesty. This, however, and his embracing of his roots, becomes his downfall… | “I am a plain-dealing villain.” (A123) |
| Don John is keen to thwart the coming marriage as a means of a revenge on a society in which he cannot participate. | “Will it serve for any model to build mischief on?” (A1S3) |
| When Don John realises it is Claudio who is getting married, he becomes full of anger. Desire for mischief turns to malice. | “This may prove food to my displeasure…If I can cross him any way, I bless myself every way.” (A1S3) |
| Don John becomes a passive villain, letting Borachio lead the plot to stain Hero’s honour. | “Be cunning in the working this, and thy fee is a thousand ducats.” (A2S2) |
| Don Pedro deems his brother to be evil through and through on discovering his flight from Messina and involvement in the Hero scandal. | “He is composed and framed of treachery.” (A5S1) |
| Leonato announces that all problems have been fixed by the end. This excludes Don John from all festivities and forgiveness. | “all things sort so well.” (A5S4) |
| Benedick’s final words emphasise the hyprocrisy of the Messina society; one which has made Don John into a marginalised victim and which will only interact with him by punishing him. | “Think not on him till tomorrow, I’ll devise thee / brave punishments for him.” (A5S4) |
MUCH ADO Don John quotes
July 12, 2019