MAAN Stereotypes

In Shakespeare's play Much Ado About Nothing there are some major stereotypes that occur between social classes. A great example is between Leonato and Dogberry, when Dogberry is trying to tell Leonato about Borachio but Leonato does not care to listen, which in the end caused him great pain. If only Leonato had the sense to listen to Dogberry, the whole catastrophe could have been easily avoided. Because of the social gap between the two men Leonato felt that he didn't need to hear the information that Dogberry had to say. Also the fact that Dogberry uses words incorrectly when he talks makes Leonato think less of him. In a way Leonato is just as much to blame as Don John for event that happened.

I believe that Shakespeare was trying to teach the audience a lesson. Shakespeare was not dirt poor in his time but he was also not fabulously wealthy. When Leonato misjudged Dogberry there was hell to pay over a incident that could have been so much less painful. Leonato at one point was shamed beyond belief and could not control his grief and anger. At the time he blamed it on his daughter because she was the one that caused him the grief but he actually caused himself the grief when he ignored Dogberry. Teaching a lesson that people should listen to others no matter who they are because you never know, what they have to say could change your life forever. This is the point I believe Shakespeare is trying to get across, and it is one that should be abided by everybody.