In William Shakespeare’s comedy ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ the characters contribute to the humourous essence of the novel as they engage in several misconducts of sorts. Although several characters do in fact display much comical gestures and language, Dogberry is by far the most hilarious of the few.
Dogberry often utters malapropisms (the ludicrous misuse of words, especially through confusion caused by resemblance in sound otherwise known as ‘verbal faux-pas’) because although he is uneducated, illiterate and is of very limited intelligence, he still tries to use words which he is not yet fond of in meaning to impress others. His consistent usage of malapropisms throughout the book makes the readers and other characters within the book tend to take him for a simpleton.
For example, He states “You are thought here to be the most senseless and fit man for the Constable of the watch”. It is quite obvious in this sentence that he mistakenly says ‘senseless’ instead of ‘sensible’ but as it is the first time the readers witness his stupidity they dismiss it as just a ‘simple mistake’. However, as the plot thickens so too does the evidence as to Dogberry’s lack of vocabulary.
In Act 3 Scene 3 he says “True, and they are to meddle with none but the Prince’s subjects: you shall also make no noise in the streets: for, for the .watch to babble and to talk, is most tolerable and not to be endured”. He meant to use the word ‘mingle’ instead of ‘meddle’ and ‘intolerable’ instead of ‘tolerable’. The readers after this sentence begin to put the pieces together and establish that Dogberry is undeniably doltish.
The stupidity however doesn’t end there. In that very scene, he postulates “Truly I would not hang a dog by my will, much more a man who hath any honesty in him”. He, instead of using the word ‘more’ meant to use the word ‘less’. “Adieu, be vigitant, I beseech you” he continues in response to the watch. Instead of ‘vigitant’ he indeed means ‘vigilant’.
In Act 3 Scene 5, he states to Verges “Goodman Verges sir speaks a little off the matter, an old man sir, and his wits are not so blunt, as God help I would desire. they were, but in faith honest as the skin between his brows”. Once again, he mistakes ‘keen’ for ‘blunt’. He continues, in response to Verges, saying “Comparisons are odorous”. He means odious in this sense.
In Act 3 Scene 5 Page 74 Line 24, he says, “Our watch sir, have indeed comprehended two auspicious persons". He meant to use the words ‘apprehended’ and ‘suspicious’ instead of the underlined words.
His last few malapropisms occur in Act 4 scene 2 where he states “Is our whole dissembly appeared?” instead of ‘dissembly’ he intended to say ‘assembly’. In this latter sentence, “O villain! thou wilt be condemned into everlasting redemption for this” Dogberry means to say ‘perdition’ instead of redemption.
It is said that “Dogberry’s incongruous vocabulary becomes the main comic relief in the play and provides an important contrast to the troubles encountered by Claudio and Hero. Just as Beatrice and Benedick’s banter detaches us emotionally, Dogberry stops our lamenting over Claudio and Hero’s grave situation by preoccupying us; we are busy with the mental exercise of searching for his absurd mistakes. If the farcical comedy of Dogberry and his men were not present, nothing would exist to combat the evil Don John and his cohorts perpetrate, nothing to reaffirm the fact that everything will work out.” According to Free Much Ado About Nothing Essays:LittleHumour.
