In the world he creates in Much Ado about Nothing(TM) Shakespeare demonstrates above all the value of friendship as the strongest bond in life. Do you agree with this statement? In your answer you should include an examination of a l

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In the world he creates in 'Much Ado about Nothing' Shakespeare demonstrates above all the value of friendship as the strongest bond in life. Do you agree with this statement? In your answer you should include an examination of a least two extracts from the play.

When studying Shakespeare it is always important to examine the context that his work was written, Shakespeare lived in the Elizabethan age, and age later called 'The Golden Age'. However it is essential to remember that the 'Golden Age' preceded the Age of Enlightenment. In fact Shakespeare was surrounded with a world of unexplained phenomenons as the entire concept of science was only just finding its feet in the world. As Shakespeare was writing there was no explanation for the content of the sky or belief of what was past it, disease went unexplained, and genetics was something far beyond the thought of any person living at that time. His era followed the aptly named 'Dark Ages' and even the most intelligent people could not offer any explanation beyond the supernatural and the existence of witches. God's existence was often questioned as the churches appeared to become more and more corrupt with