It has been said that Shakespeare's work, and the issues it deals with, are timeless. This is certainly demonstrated in the play "Much Ado about Nothing" which shows strong themes of deception, love, and society. .
The entire plot of "Much Ado about Nothing" is based on elaborate deceptions, some spiteful and others benign. Each of the main characters was, at one point, the victim of deception, and it is because they are deceived that they act the ways they do. The deception of Claudio and Don Pedro results in Hero's disgrace. Conversely, the scheme involving her death [instigated by the friar, of all people] allows her redemption and reconciliation with Claudio. All Characters plot to deceive Beatrice and Benedick into thinking that each is loved by the other causing them to realize that they really did love one another. Lines like "men were deceivers ever" [Shakespeare 33] in Balthasar's song show that deception is a key theme. However, nothing in the play terms deceit as being wholly good or wholly evil; rather, it is merely a means to an end- a way that allows the characters to succeed socially. I do believe that this has become the ideal of society today. A little white lie is fine as long as it helps us; deceit is acceptable if it keeps us out of trouble. Basically, the ends justify our deceptive means, which is exactly what Shakespeare was showing. .
Even through the deception, the theme of love is powerful. This story shows two distinct types of love: Benedick and Beatrice are first fooled into thinking they are loved by the other, and fight it until almost the very end of the book. Both are determined to remain single, but in the end cannot deny the love they have always had for one another. While their communication is mostly in the form of puns and mockery, there is definite interaction. Their love is eventually nurtured to the point of marriage. Benedick expresses his devout love when he says "I do love nothing in the world so well as you- [Shakespeare 68].
