MAAN & Ethics

In the play, "Much Ado About Nothing," there are many examples of characters lying to eachother, some for selfish reasons, and others in the interest of friends. I believe that lying can be ethical, it just depends on the lier's intentions. For instance, when Claudio confides in the Prince of his love for Hero, the Prince wants to help him, and so he agrees to dress as Claudio at the ball and win her over for him, "I will assume thy part in some disguise/And tell fair Hero I am Claudio,/And in her bosom I'll unclasp my heart/.../Then after to her father will I break,/And the conclusion is, she shall be thine," (I. i. 259-265). Sure, this offer may seem strange, but in the end, the Prince acted with good intentions. The Prince lied to Hero to help the two fall in love, which is very noble and ethical, in opinion.

Ethical lying happens every day. For example, for my 13th birthday my best friend planned a surprise party for me at a burger joint. She had to lie to me and tell me we were just going out for lunch together to celebrate my birthday. If she had told me the truth, first of all it would have spoiled the surprise, and second of all, the party wouldn't have been as much fun or as memorable.

Although there are examples of ethical lying, people can also lie for hurtful and selfish reasons. In the play, Don John tells Claudio that his brother, the Prince, has taken Hero for his own, "Signor, you are very near my brother in his love. He is/enamored on Hero," (II. i. 134-135). Don John knows he's talking to Claudio, but pretends he's ignorant, and believes that he is speaking with Benedick. This maneuver is a twisted way for Don John to spit out this lie, and it hurts Claudio very much, although he tries to hide it. Because Don John lied to Claudio to hurt him and turn him against Don John's brother, Don John lied for selfish reasons. This proves that not all lies are ethical.