Act 1 Scene 3

'I cannot hide what I am.' - Don John is basically trying to say that there is no way he can escape that he is inarticulate and because of this thinks the only thing he can resort to is being the bad guy. However I think that this quote isn't him accepting this fact but instead it's a quote that holds an undertone of shame. He says, 'cannot' implying that something is stopping him whereas I think if he had the choice to hide who he was then he would. Evidence towards suggesting that he is a very weak character.

'There is no measure in the occasion that breeds, therefore the sadness is without limit.' - he is saying that his sadness has no limit because there is no limit to the things that are causing his sadness. He believes his inarticulacy will burden him forever and therefore disallowing him to be happy. However it can be questioned as to whether this is the cause of his sadness. As he is a self-proclaimed villain, I think, all he wants is to be accepted and that can never happen because he cannot speak properly. I don't think that his articulation makes him sad but the by products of it.

'I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his grace; and it better fits my blood to be disdained of all, than to fashion a carriage to rob love from any.' - here Don John is saying that he had rather be a weed in a hedge than a rose in the presence of his brother and that it suits him better to be hated by everyone rather than to fool people into loving him. This shows Don John's refusal to conform to anything that puts him in a position where he feels vulnerable. I think he is scared to be a rose and therefore turns to something where he is in a position that he cannot feel love and by doing that not get disappointed by love either.

'I am trusted with a muzzle and enfranchised with a clog: therefore I have decreed not to sing in my cage.' - he is saying that only if he is muzzled like a dog and with a big block chained to his foot will he be trusted and therefore refuses to sing. As singing evokes happiness in people and a song has the power to make you feel emotions that we are so unwilling to give into without the accompaniment of a song. Don John has lost his happiness and so what is there for him to sing about? As he says he is a villain and is it ever commonly known for a villain to sing?

'In the meantime, let me be that I am and seek not to alter me.' - basically he is saying that until the time comes let him carry on how he is and try not to change him. But I think within that sentence there is a cry that he wants to be altered. But as he does not want to be 'a rose in his grace' he will keep pushing this bravado to push people away.