In four of Shakespeare's plays, he presents an illegitimate character. Philip Faulconbridge, Don John, Thersites and Edmund were all children born out of wedlock. Additionally, all four characters were antagonists, if not the main antagonists, of the plays. In Much Ado About Nothing, Don John sows doubt in Claudio's mind, which leads to the collapse of Claudio and Hero's relationship. However, as the play is a comedy, the relationship was eventually repaired and Don John is captured. Don John, while speaking about himself, says that he cannot hide what he is: "a frank and honest villain." (Much Ado 1.3.28) In contrast, Edmund, while still a villain, seems to have been created due to the social stigma of being a bastard, rather than being born evil. At the end of King Lear, Edmund, as the villain, is killed. Both Don John and Edmund are shaped by the social stigma surrounding their birth, but also by their nature. So, comparing the characters of Don John and Edmund, we can see that a villain is sometimes both born and made, rather than born or made. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why violent video games should not be banned"?Get the original essay As an illegitimate child, Edmund is not entitled to any inheritance from his father once Gloucester dies. Instead, the entire wealth would go to Edgar. While Gloucester proclaimed that he would treat both his sons equally, it was well known that his lands and possessions would be inherited by Edgar alone, not shared with Edmund. Even as a younger, legitimate son, Edmund would have received some of Gloucester's money. However, because Edmund is not legitimate, Edmund receives nothing once Gloucester dies. It is because of the stigma of being a bastard that Edmund hopes to overthrow his brother and father to obtain the inheritance that is rightfully his. “Edmond's bastardy is not in itself the source of his evil, and Gloucester should not be blamed for his humane treatment of his illegitimate son. But bastardy is clearly a terrible stigma that Edmond is forced to endure, a condition from which he can never escape. (Summers 227) Rather than illegitimacy itself, it is stigma that distorts Edmund and motivates his evil. In Shakespeare's time, illegitimate children were considered in the eyes of the Church, and therefore of society, not only as bastards, but also as illegitimate people. From Edmund's first introduction, it is clear that he is not a legitimate child. Everyone he meets, from his brother to the Duke of Kent, knows that he is illegitimate and most make sarcastic remarks that could pass as jokes about his birth. “'I cannot wish sport to be destroyed,' laughs Kent, 'for it is so fitting' (II 17-18); but his jokes revolve around a cruel play on words, because to be a "proper" person in 17th century England... means "to own [...] to possess", while Edmund's alienation in relation to what Lear calls "proximity and ownership of blood" (II 112) makes him a fundamentally inappropriate "bastard without possession" (II. I. 67). (Neill 283) Even Edmund's own father does nothing to deny the stigma. Although he claims to love both Edgar and Edmund equally, he takes the circumstances surrounding Edmund's birth, as well as him as a person, lightly. “Indeed, Gloucester emphasizes the stigma of bastardy, calling Edmund a “knave” and a “whore” – words which are repeated throughout the play as labels of contempt – and emphasizingobscene “good play he played”. (Summers 227) It is this stigma, propagated by society and by his own father, that pushes Edmund to adopt the bastard stereotype and become one of the villains of the story. Rather than being motivated solely by selfish means, Edmund, while still a bad person, becomes one due to the circumstances of society rather than nature. Edmund has much to say on the subject of bastardy and nature, even going so far as to call nature his goddess. This makes sense, because Edmund is a bastard and illegitimate children were often called "illegitimate children." However, the nature that Edmund reveres is not the “natural” social order that society seemed to revere, in a sense. He despises this nature. One of the themes of King Lear is the natural social order and its disruption. Gloucester believes very much in a natural social order, unlike Edmund. For Edmund, nature and society do not mix. Nature is something free and which exists outside the limits of social constraints. The distinction between nature and what society considers natural is emphasized by Edmund's rejection of children's "natural" loyalty to their fathers in favor of nature, as shown in his soliloquy. He said: “You, Nature, are my goddess; to your law my services are bound. (Lear 1.2.1-2) Edmund goes on to say that he will take Edgar's land and that "the base will be lawful." I am growing, I am thriving. Now, gods, defend the bastards! » (Lear 1.2.20-22) In his soliloquy, Edmund distinguishes between the natural social order and nature. He completely rejects the natural social order in favor of nature, seeking help from the gods to usurp the natural social order. If the natural social order had not existed, Edmund might not have felt the need to overthrow it. Not only does Edmund hope to overthrow his father and brother, but he also tries to insert himself into the lives of Lear's two eldest daughters, Regan and Goneril. . Although he doesn't seem to have as much love for them as they do for him, he uses them as a means to an end. All he cares about is getting the best out of both. He views both marriages seriously, weighing the advantages of being married to each sister. It doesn't matter to Edmund that Regan and Goneril are, and subsequently will be, hurt because of his actions. In fact, the injured are not only Regan and Goneril. Albany, Goneril's husband is hurt by his wife's infidelity. Edmund only serves to distract attention from their common enemy: the French. He is only too eager to provide this distraction, as he enjoys the fact that both women love him. It is not until Edmund's death that he feels remorse that one sister was driven to kill the other and then commit suicide. This need for love from others could come from the fact that Gloucester, while claiming to love him too, Edgar only loves him as an illegitimate son, not as a son equal to Edgar. Again, this can be seen through Gloucester and Kent's banter about his "creation". “Edmond's failure as a human being is ultimately also a failure in love. The stigma he carries as a bastard makes him feel unloved and makes him incapable of loving others. In the realm of love, “Nothing will come of nothing” (Ii92). (Summers 228) This explains why Edmund doesn't seem to love Goneril and Regan as much as they love him. The audience can still feel a modicum of sympathy for Edmund as he dies. Seeing that Goneril and Regan died for him, he says, “Yet Edmund was beloved. » (Lear 5.3.216) That these were some of the last lines spoken by Edmund is incredibly telling, especially since Goneril and Regan didn't actually love Edmund, but therather coveted. Although it cannot be said that Edmund is a villain, he was also the victim of mockery, sarcastic remarks and criticism over something he could not help: the circumstances of his birth. “Edmond's selfishness is evident in this remark, as is his need for love. Edmund is a villain, but he is also a victim; and his wickedness can only be fully understood in terms of victimhood. (Summers 229) Perhaps if Edmund had been treated as an equal to Edgar, or even more civilly, he would not be the villain he was. Although he was mostly a villain, it seems that he was made that way by having to endure the social stigma of being a bastard. Shakespeare also introduced the illegitimate character in one of his comedies, Much Ado About Nothing. Don John, Don Pedro's bastard brother, is the main antagonist of the play. Rather than trying to usurp his father and brother to gain land, as Edmund does, Don Pedro tricks Claudio into believing that his future wife, Hero, is unfaithful to him. He is a great example of how a villain can be mostly born, rather than mostly made, as Edmund shows. “In Don John, Shakespeare paints a vivid portrait of the mind of a slanderer. There is no complex ambiguity here, no admirable character traits tainted with tragic flaws – just simple evil. Don John, the brother of Prince Don Pedro, lived a discontented and envious life in the shadow of his ruling brother. (Kornstein 174) While both Don John and Edmund live in the shadow of their lawful brothers, the audience never feels sympathy for Don John, as it does for Edmund. This may be because Don John's illegitimacy is not openly ridiculed and ridiculed like Edmund's. Regardless, Don John does not attempt to defend his actions, or even justify them. Instead, he states that "...this is not to be denied, but I am a blatant villain." I am given a muzzle and freed from a hoof; that's why I decreed not to sing in my cage. If I had my mouth, I would bite; If I had my freedom, I would do what I want. (Much Ado 1.3.28-32) Don John compares himself to a dog with a muzzle. Rather than denying his nature, he willingly accepts it. He does not seek approval from others and does not want to be changed. Don John goes on to tell Conrad, his closest associate: “in the meantime, let me be what I am and do not try to change me.” (Much Ado 1.3.32-33) It seems that Don John enjoys being a bad guy. He likes to cause trouble for fun, rather than to prove something about nature. His goal is not to prove anything, but to have fun deceiving others, especially Claudio. Unlike Edmund, his villainy is not at all motivated by personal gain or a desire to see the natural social order destroyed. “We cannot recognize a certain goal. Don John simply does things and acts in villainous ways without pursuing any goals or benefiting from his actions. (Richters 7) When Borachio enters the room in which Don John and Conrad are speaking, he brings the news of Claudio's planned marriage to Hero. The first thing Don John asks is, “Will this serve as a template on which to build misdeeds?” » (Much ado 1.3.40) He doesn't even know yet that it's his brother's close companion who wants to get married. Therefore, as a villain, it would seem that Don John is born rather than born. When Conrad asks him if he can use his discontent, Don John replies, "I take full advantage of it, for I only use it." (Much Ado 1.3.35) It seems that Don John's sole existence is defined bystirring up mischief and strife in whatever endeavor he can, whether it has to do with his lawful brother or not. However, Don John's nature appears to be predetermined by the social circumstances of his birth. This is understandable, since Don John is Don Pedro's illegitimate brother. “To emphasize the evil nature of Don John, Shakespeare emphasizes his illegitimacy. Time and time again, he is called “the bastard,” as if the circumstances of his birth explained his bad temper. (Kornstein 174) It is well known that illegitimate children were not treated equally. In most cases, illegitimate children were mocked and ridiculed. Although this is not shown in great detail in Much Ado About Nothing, it is nevertheless clear that such a distinction exists, since Don John is constantly referred to as "the bastard". Don John would also be motivated by resentment towards his brother. In some ways, Don John has more reason to resent his brother than Edmund. Despite Gloucester's treatment of Edmund, he still claims to love Edmund as much as he loves Edgar, his legitimate son. From the beginning of the play, a contrast is made between Don Pedro and Don John among the other characters in the play. The first description of Don John by another character is Beatrice. She calls him "acerbic" and says she "can never see him but...my heart burns an hour later." (Much Ado 2.1.3-4) Hero also says that "he is of a very melancholy character." (Much Ado 2.1.5) The first time Leonato meets Don John, he greets him by saying: “Let me welcome you, my lord: being reconciled with the prince your brother, I owe you all my duty . » (Much Ado 1.1.147-149) This greeting must have had some impact on Don John, because it only emphasizes the fact that his brother is a prince when he is not, and that It was only because of his brother that Leonato's invitation to visit the house was expanded in the first place. On the other hand, Don Pedro is appreciated by everyone, held in high esteem and above all a prince. He is a warrior, generous, courteous and powerful. From the beginning of the play, the distinction between Don John and Don Pedro is very clear. While Don Pedro is the golden boy of the two, Don John is definitely the black sheep, taking joy and pride in sowing evil and deceiving those who are easily deceived, including his brother. One similarity that Don John and Edmund have, aside from the circumstances of their birth, and the fact that they are both evil, is the fact that they only deceive those who are already gullible. Don John's deception of Claudio, Don Pedro and Leonato was incredibly easy. All it took was a few words against the Hero's honor, as well as a woman, not even disguised, who was supposed to be a Hero. “…the villains only emphasize how easily the characters are manipulated by perception, for example Claudio believes Don John's plot. Now Claudio believes that Don Pedro has wooed Hero for himself (Act 2.1). When Don Pedro and Claudio see Margret aka Hero having sex with Borachio, they believe their perception without hesitation. (Richters 7) For Don John, cheating on Claudio is not only fun, but it's also incredibly easy. Claudio takes Don John at his word, without even questioning his information. He takes the word of a man he barely knows, rather than listening to the woman he claims to love. Likewise, Edmund is able to deceive his father, Gloucester. Edmund convinces Gloucester that Edgar is secretly plotting against him by forging a letter in which Edgar plans to kill Gloucester so that he can inherit his lands and wealth more quickly. "As the scene shows.