Dogberry's Men example essay topic
465 words
In Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, there are many different subplots all taking place at the same time. There are several love stories, tricker ies, and deceptions. Of all of them, though, one conflict stands above the rest - the slandering of Hero. Don John and his men set up a plan so that Claudio will think Hero is unfaithful and therefore, will not marry her. The plan works, but in the end, there is one man responsible for everything getting straightened out - and that man is Dogberry. Dogberry is the constable of Messina. He is a rather eccentric man, and is among the lower class of people in the town. He is very filthy and talks in a sort of gibberish so that no one can understand him. The other townspeople do not respect him, but just use him for his information and then dismiss him. I think he deserves more respect simply because he represents the law, not to mention he is greatly needed source of information.
One night, Borachio is talking about the scheme they pulled off to ruin the marriage of Hero and Claudio. Dogberry's men overhear Borachio and arrest him. Meanwhile, Claudio and Don Pedro had wrecked Hero physically and emotionally in front of the entire town and accused her of being an unfaithful tramp. Dogberry questions Borachio and discovers that he and Don John are the guilty parties. Dogberry goes and reports this news to Leonato, but Leonato blows him off and tells him to go away. Dogberry goes through the legal process and proves Borachio guilty.
He then brings him before Leonato and saves Hero's name. Leonato again treats Dogberry in a condescending manner and just uses him for his information. Dogberry gets no thanks or appreciation even though he is the true hero of the play. Without him, ther would be no evidence to prove Hero's innocence and she would have been condemned for life. Dogberry is the protector of Messina, but even though he serves the upper-class, they treat him poorly. He is very different from most people, but that should not make a difference.
He should get even more respect than the common man because he is a hero. He does not care, though, he still goes about his job being the unsung hero. It is interesting that such a small character can play such a major role in the plot and outcome of a story. Dogberry goes unnoticed by the reader as well as the other characters in the play. No one really recognizes Dogberry as the hero of the story right away... but he definitely is.
