Dogberry, the Constable and the Watchmen

            In Act 3, Scene 3, in Shakespeare’s play, Much Ado about Nothing, the character Dogberry, the Constable is introduced along with the watchmen. The watchmen served the city of Messina in the play as kind of a police force with Dogberry acting as if he is kind of the chief of police. In this scene Dogberry is trying to select one of the men that are a part of the watch to be in charge of the other watchmen and to keep guard that night. One of the men suggested to Dogberry that he should choose one of the two men, who can read and write. Dogberry takes the man suggestion and chooses one of the men, who can read and write but he stated, “Well, for your favor, sir, why, give God thanks, and make no boast of it; and for your writing and reading, let that appear when there is no need of such vanity. You are thought here to be the most senseless and fit man for the constable of the watch; therefore bear you the lantern.” Dogberry considers it vain the fact that the man can read and write because it is apparent there are only two men, who are a part of the watchmen, who can read and write. If there are only two men, who can read and write then it is revealed that the most of the men in the watchmen are not the smartest men because they can’t read and write. The play kind of paints the image of the watchmen in a bad light because they are not the smartest group of men but they are in charge of keeping the peace and order in Messina.

            There is more revealed about the watchmen when Dogberry is advising them on their duties in Act 3, Scene 3. He advised that they are to order any men to stop in the name of the prince that are “vagrom men.” One of the watchmen asked Dogberry what if the man doesn’t stop in the name of the prince then Dogberry advised him to do nothing to the man because if he doesn’t stop in the prince’s name then he is not one of the subjects of the prince’s and the watchmen are to deal with only the prince’s subjects. Dogberry also advised the watchmen to go to the “ale-houses, and bid those that are drunk get them to bed,” and if they do not go he advised the watchmen to leave them alone until they are sober. Dogberry as the head of the watchmen is not giving the other men very good advice. He basically advised them to do nothing. The watchmen in the play appeared as unintelligent group of men, who just so happen to hear the conversation between Borachio and Conrade, where Borachio revealed his plans of how he deceived Claudio and Don Pedro.