Much Ado About Dogberry

In Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, there are many different


subplots all taking place at the same time.   There are several love


stories, trickeries, 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, there would be no evidence to
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