To Lie or Not to Lie. That is the Question.

I think that lying is technically never ethically justified. And it generally causes a mess, especially in works by Shakespeare. I think the difference in a truly horrid lie and a lie that seems ok is the intent. People may intend to hurt someone through a lie, making it ethically wrong...obviously. But someone who tells a lie with the intent to help someone, makes the ethically justified line much blurrier. I mean in real life, you think, was it really so bad that she said she like my outfit...even if she didn't? The answer is no, probably not. What can a little white lie hurt? I think it depends on the little white lie you tell. Even the simple idea of telling someone you like their outfit when you really don't, is alright at first, unless they find out what you really think; and it is very possible that they would have their feelings hurt. Well maybe not about the outfit(although maybe they would) but you get my point. But you never intended to hurt them, you just wanted to spare their feelings. But does that make it ok to lie to them? Just like in Much Ado About Nothing. The Prince, Leonato, and Claudio scheme to get Beatrice and Benedick together. They do this by lying to Benedick. They have him "overhear" a conversation where the three amigos are discussing how in love with Benedick Beatrice is. Claudio even says "Bait well the hook well-this fish will bite"(II.3.113), which means that they are trying to reel Benedick into loving Beatrice. Their only want is to see the two in love, and it is not have a hating nature that they commit this act. They are also not forcing the two together, merely giving them a push. But I'm still not sure that makes it ok. In short, the line is blurry, but if the intent is good, then hopefully nothing will go too wrong.

In the play Don John lies with the intent of hurting those around him, imparticularly Claudio the man resposible for his downfall. This is a much more obvious ethical violation. Lying to hurt someone is always wrong. Don John wants to take away the love of Claudio's life, Hero, because he doesn't really want Claudio to be happy. At the reveling ball he tells Claudio; "Signior, you are very near my brother in his love. He is enamored on Hero"(II.1.69-70). He wants Claudio to think that the Prince has stolen his beloved, creating tension. Don John's sole purpose in this endeavour was to hurt Claudio and perhaps the Prince, thereby making it wrong, very wrong.