Don Pedro Foils

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Pages: 3

Much Ado About Nothing: Siblings Aren't Always Best Friends
Many people believe that sibling are best friends, but that’s not always the case. In the play Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, Don Pedro (a prince) and Don John (Don Pedro’s illegitimate brother) are character foils to one another. Don John and Don Pedro have a simple brother rivalry until Don John takes it a little too far by trying to split up Hero and Claudio (two main characters Don Pedro setup to fall in love). Don John feels like he is inferior to Don Pedro, their relationship illuminates the writing to suggest that when someone feels threatened they will go to great lengths to feel equal.
Don John shows his evil traits by trying many times to hurt Don Pedro’s
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Although Hero was anything but unfaithful to Claudio, this rumor did work, and Don Pedro’s reputation was momentarily hurt. Don Pedro did support Claudio at the altar, he said, “I stand dishonour’d, that have gone about to link my dear friend to a common stale” (Shakespeare 67). Don Pedro was embarrassed to have put these two together when Hero wasn't worthy, but still stood up and admitted he was wrong. Don John’s main goal throughout the matter was to hurt Don Pedro, but the plan did hurt others too. Even though Don Pedro’s reputation was damaged, he still tried to help his friend.
Don John feels less than Don Pedro throughout the whole play, this causes him to do horrible things to make Don Pedro look bad in the eyes of others. Don John tried to be an equal person to his brother, but in doing so he lets his selfish side get the better of him. He acts as the villain and creates the problems, and Don Pedro acts as the hero and fixes them.
Throughout this play Don John and Don Pedro are foils to one another. When Don Pedro is good, Don John is evil, and when Don Pedro is brave, Don John is a coward. They never resemble the same traits at the same time. All Don Pedro wants is for his friend to be happy and have a good life, but Don John wants the opposite of that for the prince. These two men might be related, but they are far from