Don John, the Angry Bastard

Don John, in Shakespeare's Much Ado about Nothing, is not fairly treated by critics and readers alike. His actions are, perhaps, acts of villainy but they can in some ways be at least understood, if not justified. He is man robbed of rightful social position by conditions outside of his own control, and thusly, he reacts violently and with great force against those who he feels have taken his rightful position. This not a great villain but man forced into an undesirable condition and thusly he rages against a world aligned against him.
Don John's actions are taken out of a plain desire…