Don John, the Angry Bastard

Don John, in Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing, is not fairly treated by critics and readers alike. His actions are, perhaps, acts of villainy but they can in some ways be at least understood, if not justified. He is man robbed of rightful social position by conditions outside of his own control, and thusly, he reacts violently and with great force against those who he feels have taken his rightful position. This not a great …

…a true villain but instead one by necessity. His actions are not those of a truly evil bent on the destruction of but instead of a man who lashes against a world aligned against him. He does what he has to do to protect himself from a social order aligned against him. In this we must excuse his actions and accept them for what they are the acts of a man with no other choice.