In four of Shakespeare's plays, introduces an illegitimate character. Philip Faulconbridge, Don John, Thersites and Edmund are all children born out of wedlock. Furthermore, all four characters were antagonists, if not the main antagonists, of the plays. In Much Ado About Nothing, Don John causes doubts in Claudio's mind, which causes the relationship between Claudio and Hero to crumble. However, as the play is a comedy, the relationship is eventually repaired and Don John is captured. Don John, speaking about himself, says that he cannot hide what he is: "an outspoken villain". (Much Ado 1.3.28) In contrast, Edmund, while still a villain, appears to have been created due to the social stigma of being a bastard, rather than born evil. At the end of King Lear, Edmund, as a villain, is killed. Both Don John and Edmund are shaped by the social stigma surrounding their birth, but also by their nature. Therefore, when comparing the characters of Don John and Edmund, it can be seen that a villain is sometimes born and made, rather than born or made. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Being 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 to treat both sons equally, it would be known that his land and possessions would be inherited only by Edgar, not shared with Edmund. Even as a younger and legitimate son, Edmund would have received a share of Gloucester's money. However, since Edmund is not legitimate, Edmund gets nothing once Gloucester dies. It is because of the stigma of being a bastard that Edmund hopes to overthrow his brother and father to gain the inheritance he sees as rightfully his. “Edmund's bastardy is not in itself the source of his evil, and Gloucester should not be taxed for the humane treatment of his illegitimate son. But bastardy is evidently a terrible stigma that Edmund is forced to endure, a condition from which he can never escape. (Summer 227)Rather than illegitimacy itself, it is the stigma that deforms Edmund and motivates his wickedness. In Shakespeare's time, illegitimate children were seen in the eyes of the church, and therefore of society, not only as bastards, but also as illegitimate people. From the first time Edmund is introduced, it is clear that he is not a legitimate son. Every character he meets, from his brother to the Duke of Kent, knows he is illegitimate, and most make snide comments that could pass as jokes about his birth. “'I cannot wish the game to be cancelled,' Kent laughs, 'the fact that it is so appropriate' (II 17-18); but his jokes turn into a cruel play on words, since to be a "decent" person in seventeenth-century England... means "to be possessed [...] to possess", while Edmund's alienation from what Lear calls “property and property” of blood” (II 112) makes him a fundamentally improper “possessionless bastard” (II. I. 67). (Neill 283) Edmund's father also does nothing to deny the stigma. Although she claims to love both Edgar and Edmund equally, she sheds light on the circumstances surrounding Edmund's birth, and also on him as a person. "Indeed, Gloucester insists on the stigma of bastardy, calling Edmund a "knave" and a "son of a whore" - words that are repeated throughout the play as labels of contempt - and obscenely emphasizing "good play in his ways." ( Summers 227) It is this stigma, propagated by society, and by his father, that pushes Edmund to approach the stereotype ofbastard and become one of the villains of the story. Rather than being driven solely by selfish means, Edmund, while still a bad person, becomes so because of the circumstances of society, rather than nature. Edmund has a lot to say on the subject of bastardy and nature, going so far as to call Nature his goddess. This makes sense, as Edmund is a bastard and illegitimate children were often called "natural children". However, the nature that Edmund worships is not the "natural" social order that society seemed to worship, in a sense. That nature, he despises. One of the themes of King Lear is the natural social order and its disintegration. Gloucester believes very much in a natural social order, while Edmund does not. For Edmund, nature and society do not mix. Nature is something that forms freely and exists outside the limits of social constraints. The distinction between nature and what society deems natural is emphasized by the fact that Edmund rejects the "natural" loyalty of children to their fathers in favor of Nature, as seen in his soliloquy. He says that “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 basis will be lawful. I grow, I thrive. Now gods, defend the bastards!” (Lear 1.2.20-22) In his soliloquy, Edmund distinguishes between natural social order and nature. He completely rejects the natural social order in favor of nature, asking the gods for help in usurping the natural social order. If the natural social order had not existed, perhaps Edmund would not have felt the need to overthrow it. Not only does Edmund hope to overthrow his father and brother, but he also seeks to insert himself into the lives of Lear's two eldest daughters, Regan and Goneril. . Although he doesn't seem to love them as much as they do for him, he uses them as a means to an end. All he cares about is getting the most out of both of you. Consider both marriages seriously, weighing the benefits of being married to each sister. Edmund does not care that Regan and Goneril will, and subsequently will, be hurt because of his actions. In fact, there are many more injured than just Regan and Goneril. Albany, Goneril's husband, is hurt by his wife's infidelity. Edmund only serves as a distraction from their common enemy: the French. He is all too eager to provide this distraction, as he enjoys the fact that both women love him. It is only when Edmund dies that he feels remorse that one sister was driven to kill the other and then commit suicide. This need for another person's love may stem from the fact that Gloucester, while claiming to love him equally as Edgar, loves him only as an illegitimate son, not as a son equal to Edgar. Again, this can be seen through Gloucester and Kent's jokes about his "creation". “Edmund's failure as a human being is ultimately also a failure of 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 from nothing' (Ii92).” (Summer 228) This explains why Edmund doesn't seem to love Goneril and Regan as much as they love him. The audience is able to still feel a modicum of sympathy for Edmund as he dies. Seeing that both Goneril and Regan have died for him, he states "Yet Edmund was loved." (Lear 5.3.216) That these are some of the last lines spoken by Edmund is incredibly significant, especially since Goneril and Regan did not actually love Edmund, but rather longed for him. While it can't be argued that Edmund is a villain, he was also the subject of ridicule, derogatory comments, and criticism over something he couldn't help: the circumstances of his birth. “Edmund's selfishness is evident in the observation, but it isalso 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 victimization.” (Summer 229) Perhaps, if Edmund had been treated equally to Edgar, or even more civilly, he would not have been the villain he was. While he was a villain, for the most part, he seems to have been made one by having to endure the social stigma of being a bastard. Shakespeare also introduced the illegitimate character in one of his plays, Much Ado About Nothing. Don John, Don Pedro's bastard brother, is the main antagonist of the play. Rather than try to usurp his father and brother for land, as Edmund does, Don Pedro tricks Claudio into believing that his future bride, Hero, is unfaithful to him. It's a great example of how a villain can be mostly born, rather than mostly created, as Edmund shows. “In Don John, Shakespeare paints a vivid portrait of the mind of a slanderer. There's no complex ambiguity here, no admirable character traits marred by tragic flaws: just simple evil. Don John, the brother of Prince Don Pedro, has lived a discontented and envious life in the shadow of his ruling brother. (Kornstein 174) While Don John and Edmund both live in the shadow of their legitimate brothers, the audience never feels sympathy for Don John as they do for Edmund. Perhaps this is because Don John's illegitimacy is not openly mocked and taken as lightly as Edmund's is. Whatever the case, Don John doesn't try to defend his actions, or even give a reason for them. Instead he states that “…it must not be denied but I am an outspoken villain. I was muzzled and given the right to vote with one hoof; therefore I have decreed not to sing in my cage. If I had a mouth, I would bite; If I had freedom, I would do what I wanted." (Much Ado 1.3.28-32) Don Giovanni compares himself to a dog with a muzzle. Instead of denying his nature, he readily accepts it. He does not seek the approval of others, nor does he want to be changed. Don John goes on to tell Conrad, his closest associate: "in the meantime, let me be what I am and don't try to alter me." (Much Ado 1.3.32-33)Don John seems to enjoy being a villain. He likes to create problems for their own sake, rather than prove something about nature. His goal is not to prove anything, but to have fun by deceiving others, especially Claudio. Unlike Edmund, his evil is not at all driven by personal gain or a desire to see the natural social order destroyed. “It is not possible to recognize a certain purpose. Don John simply does things and acts evilly without serving any purpose or benefiting from his actions. (Richters 7) When Borachio enters the room where Don John and Conrad are talking, he brings the news of Claudio's intended marriage to Hero. The first thing Don John asks is: “Will it serve as some model on which to build evil?” (Much Ado 1.3.40) She doesn't even know yet that it is her brother's intimate partner who wishes to get married. Therefore, as a villain, it would appear that Don John was created, rather than born. When Conrad asks if he can use his discontent, Don John replies, "I make every use of it, because I only use it." (Much Ado 1.3.35) It seems that Don John's sole existence is defined by fomenting mischief and conflict within every possible company, whether it has to do with his legitimate brother or not. However, Don John's nature appears to be predetermined by the social circumstance of his birth. This is understandable, since Don John is Don Pedro's illegitimate brother. “To emphasize Don John's evil nature, Shakespeare emphasizes his illegitimacy. Over and over, he comescalled “the bastard”, as if the circumstances of his birth explained his evil nature”. (Kornstein 174) It is known that illegitimate children were not treated as equals. In most cases, illegitimate children were mocked and ridiculed. While it is not shown in great detail in Much Ado About Nothing, it is nevertheless clear that such a distinction exists, as Don John is constantly referred to as "the bastard". Don John would also be driven 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 continues to claim that he loves Edmund as much as he loves Edgar, his legitimate son. From the beginning of the play, a contrast is created 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 “harsh” and says she “will never be able to see it but… my heart burns an hour later.” (Much Ado 2.1.3-4) Hero is also said to "have a very melancholy character." (Much Ado 2.1.5) The first time Leonato meets Don Giovanni, he greets him by saying: "Allow me to welcome you, my lord: having been reconciled with the prince your brother, I owe you every duty." (Much Ado 1.1.147-149) This greeting must have had some impact on Don John, as it only emphasizes the fact that his brother is a prince while he is not, and it is only because of his brother that he invites him home of Leonato the house was expanded first. Don Pedro, on the other hand, is loved by everyone, esteemed and above all a prince. He is a warrior, generous, courteous and powerful. From the beginning of the opera the distinction between Don John and Don Pedro is very clear. Where Don Pedro is the golden boy of the two, Don John is definitely the black sheep, taking joy and pride in causing harm and deceiving those who are easily deceived, including his brother. One similarity that both Don John and Edmund have, besides 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. A few words against Hero's honor were enough, as well as against a woman, not even masked, who should have been Hero. “...the villains only highlight the ease with which the characters are manipulated by perception, for example Claudio believes in Don Giovanni's intrigue. Now Claudio thinks that Don Pedro has wooed Hero for himself (Act 2.1). When Don Pedro and Claudio see Margret alias Hero having relations with Borachio they believe their perception without hesitation. (Richters 7) For Don John, deceiving Claudio is not only fun, but 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 listen to the woman he claims to love. Likewise, Edmund is able to deceive both his father, Gloucester. Edmund convinces Gloucester that Edgar is secretly plotting against him by forging a letter, in which Edgar is planning to kill Gloucester so that he can inherit his lands and wealth faster. "As depicted in the opening scene of the subplot (I.ii), Gloucester is certainly incredibly gullible in accepting Edmund's forged letter at face value, especially since, in doing so, he shows a total lack of faith in his legitimate son, whom he claims to love "so tenderly and entirely" (I.ii.99) and who, according to Gloucester's testimony, is no less dear to him than Edmund (Ii20) However, the letter is not the only one evidence that Edgar is supposedly trying to kill Edmund.