Much Ado About Nothing

Dogberry in "Much Ado About Nothing"

In "Much Ado About Nothing," Shakespeare presents a kind of drawing-room comedy, where people's efforts to demonstrate the social graces of the day create all sorts of problems. Beatrice has a sharp tongue but gets away with it because her words are formed in the style of the day. Her cousin Hero, however, is greatly harmed by other people's talk, with her character badly maligned. The story really is much ado about nothing, because the events never would have happened if people had kept true civility behind their words. This misuse of words is emphasized in the play in the character of Dogberry.

Since the play is a demonstration of social norms, including those regarding manner of speaking, gone awry, Dogberry plays an important role. Dogberry's name gives the viewer a clue about his nature, because it evokes an image of dog excrement. Dogberry raises the art of using words in extravagant ways to the height of absurdity. He is proud of his ability to read and write but does not seem to notice how ridiculously he uses language. He speaks plainly enough when speaking to social equals, his fellow watchmen, although his advice is absurd. In Act III Scene iii, he explains how to handle suspicious individuals while on duty. On encountering a thief, he says,

"If you meet a thief, you may suspect him, by virtue of your office, to be no true man; and, for such kind of men, the less you meddle or make with them, why, the more is for your honesty...The most peaceable way for you, if you do take a thief, is, to let him show himself what he is and steal out of your company."

While the advice is absurd, it is witty and to the point.

Dogberry's use of language changes completely, however, when he talks to those who are above him socially. When he speaks to Leonato, a noble, about men seen lurking around Leonato's house, he loses all ability to speak plainly. Leonato complains, saying "Neighbours, you are tedious." Dogberry responds that "... If I were as tedious as a king, I could find in my heart to bestow it all of your worship." Dogberry really doesn't grasp that Leonato does not value Dogberry's obsequious and absurdly flowerly language. Dogberry seems to think it is appropriate. With this language, the character of Dogberry allows Shakespeare to poke fun at language that is more ornate than useful or even interesting to listen to.

Leonato responds sarcastically: "All thy tediousness on me! ha?"

Dogberry misses the sarcasm and prattles on: "Yea, an't were a thousand pound more than 'tis ...."

Exasperated, Leonato finally says, "I would fain know what you have to say!" All that talk, and Dogberry has yet to come close to making his point.

Because of Shakespeare's skill with words the viewer has to assume that Dogberry's ridiculous dialogue serves a purpose, and the purpose is to demonstrate that manners taken too far become absurd, a major point of the play and emphasized by Dogberry's appearance in it.