In Much Ado About Nothing, stereotypes play a huge role in how all the characters and plot is effected. Not only that, but the stereotypes shown throughout the entirety of the play, I believe, really do effect how the reader/watcher interprets the events that take place. Shakespeare uses multiple stereotypes between the lower and upper class. For example, Dogberry and Verges and their attempt to tell Leonato about Don John's scheme. Also, I believe that Shakespeare uses the stereotype that women are mindless and easy to win in love. For example, Claudio tells the Prince that it'll be easy for him to woo Hero for him. Also, Barachio claims that wooing Margaret will be an easy task. Lastly, Leonato rages at Hero after being falsely accused of cheating. These stereotypes portray that women are just emotional and mindless.
I believe that Shakespeare was attempting to teach his audience a lesson about misjudging others or about forcing people to conform to tradition. Throughout the whole play, Shakespeare's main illustration of stereotypes is between upper and lower class men. Dogberry and Verges are lower class men who attempt to tell Leonato about the wrong doings of Don John and his followers (Barachio and Conrade). Leonato shrugged them off even when they contained valuable information about how Don John set Barachio to have a set up affair with "Hero." Shakespeare suggests through this scene in the play that upper class men may look down upon lower class men, which is wrong. I believe that Shakespeare is trying to demonstrate to his audience/readers that one shouldn't look down upon or judge a person based on their standing in society because their motives could be just as pure and morally correct.
