What are the differences between Don John and Don Pedro in Much ado about Nothing.

This is a very interesting question, because I actually
believe that there are far more similarities between these two characters than we would
at first suspect. Clearly, overtly at least, they are very different. Don Pedro is a
legitimate son, and Don John his bastard half-brother, which of course means that he
will never possess the same power and prestige as Don Pedro. In addition, we know that
Don John has just tried to mount a rebellion against his brother, which has been
repressed. Don Pedro is seen as representing law and order, whereas Don John himself
admits when we first see him in Act I scene 3 that he is "a plain-dealing villain,"
setting the two characters in opposition with each
other.

However, in spite of the way that we might easily
conclude that one is "good" and the other "bad," let us focus on the way in which they
are similar. One of the key themes of this play is that of deception, and we can see
that both Don John and Don Pedro show themselves to be masters of deception, though of
very different kinds. Don Pedro at the end of Act I scene 1 swiftly tells the lovestruck
Claudio that he will assume the guise of Claudio and woo Hero for him, effectively
deceiving Hero about his identity:

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I will assume thy part in some
disguise,

And tell fair Hero I am
Claudio.

And in her bosom I'll unclasp my
heart

Amnd take her hearing prisoner with the
force

And strong encounter of my amorous
tale.

After succeeding in
this act of deception, he is quick to suggest another in making Benedick and Beatrice
fall in love with each other. In the same way, we see his brother shares his talent for
deception, at first convincing Claudio that Don Pedro is wooing Hero for himself, and
secondly tricking both Claudio and Don Pedro into believing that Hero is unfaithful. The
play thus confronts us with a very complex question: is deception always bad? The
similiarities between these two characters and their different motives for carrying out
acts of deception make this question very difficult to answer.