Lucy Bench M50
Consider the dramatic significance of Act 1 in “Much Ado About Nothing”
In Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing”, he uses a lot of dramatic significances in Act 1 of the text. Shakespeare wrote Much Ado About Nothing in 1598 and was published in 1600. Shakespeare uses themes in the play to draw the audience in, these themes are: love, battle of the sexes, mis-noting, deception, entertainment and counterfeiting. All these themes play an important part in the play and signifies dramatic scenes with the characters. In Shakespeare’s time, the “Nothing” of the title would have been pronounced “Noting.” Thus, the play’s title could read: “Much Ado About Noting.” Indeed, many of the players participate in the actions of observing, listening, and writing, or noting. In order for a plot hinged on instances of deceit to work, the characters must note one another constantly. When the women manipulate Beatrice into believing that Benedick adores her, they conceal themselves in the orchard so that Beatrice can better note their conversation. Shakespeare also uses a lot of language devices to make the first act dramatic.
At the beginning of the first act, Shakespeare introduces us to the characters: These friends include Don Pedro of Aragon, a highly respected nobleman, and a brave young soldier named Claudio, who has won much honour in the fighting. Leonato’s young daughter, Hero, and her cousin, Beatrice, accompany him. Beatrice asks about the health of another soldier in Don Pedro’s army, a man named Signor Benedick. Beatrice cleverly mocks and insults Benedick. A messenger from Don Pedro defends Benedick as an honourable and virtuous man, but Leonato explains that Beatrice and Benedick carry on a “merry war” of wits with one another, trading jibes whenever they meet. Now this letter is classified as a letter and it is important as it introduces the characters on stage. The first opening line “I learn in this letter, that Don Pedro of Arragon comes this night to Messina” (act 1, scene, lines 1 +2) The letter places the action into context and starts the play off with a dramatic symbol; the letter. In line 11, Shakespeare uses imagery for the first time and is talking about Claudio: “He hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age, doing in the figure of a lamb the feats of a lion” (act 1, scene 1, lines 11 – 12). This point that Shakespeare has made, has introduced Claudio as a young boy. Shakespeare is comparing the young boy (Claudio) who is young and innocent to the features of a lion, who is brave and bold. The question being asked here is, is Claudio a wimp? There is an example of mis-noting comes in the first act. When the messenger said that he had already delivered the letters to Don Pedro, he says that he saw him with so much joy in him, but the sight is unreliable. This is because he may look happy with joy, but in fact he is the opposite, bitter. This was an example of mis-noting. Mis-noting is a key part in the play as it turns the characters against each other later on in the play. The mis-noting is a significant part in the play, because it makes the play what it is in context. Next, Beatrice comes in the play and speaks her mind about Benedick, who is a gentleman of Padua. She implies that he is big-headed in terms of s swordsman. Mountanto thinks he is a ladies man, but Beatrice disagrees with him. Shakespeare has used sarcasm to add more drama into the play as he talks of the messenger saying: “O he’s returned, and as pleasant as ever he was” (act 1, scene 1, line 27). This sarcastic comment adds drama in to the play as he was talking about Benedick. Benedick is a ladies man and does not think of anyone else but himself. Beatrice then chips in talking about Benedick in lines 29-33. Beatrice is a very honest woman who speaks her mind about everything and anything and she thinks that Benedick is too good for anyone. Lines 29-33 can be seen a lot of ways metaphorically. Shakespeare uses a lot of comparison to animals and people and in this case, he is using Cupid who is the god of love. Beatrice is also implying that Benedick is greedy; she is giving him a hidden compliment of his talent as he has just come back from battle.
