In much ado about nothing act 4 scene 1, is the most dramatically significance scene of the play, I will analyse the many ways in order to show how Shakespeare dramatically explores the society of his time.

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Shakespeare essay

In much ado about nothing act 4 scene 1, is the most dramatically significance scene of the play, I will analyse the many ways in order to show how Shakespeare dramatically explores the society of his time.

The social traditions of Shakespeare time, where men were much higher ranked than women as women were not allowed power and women were discriminated against and were not allowed to have a say in their lives. The men and fathers felt they had authority over their daughters and women on a whole.

 At the day of the wedding Claudio wants to humiliate hero because he thinks she is a ‘common stale’ and is still very immature. Claudio waits until the wedding day to denounce Hero how he feel’s that will be the best way to humiliate her and get his own back as he feels he’s right and a woman in his times could not ever sleep with another man as he feels he’s not stepping down his role or letting his pride slip.

This scene is extremely important because it emphasizes where Don John deceives Claudio and Don Pedro, where Claudio humiliates through the denunciation of Don John. Claudio does this in order to preserve male honour, which was very important to men at this time.

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Claudio uses over exaggerated language to express his feelings when he meets her, he says ‘can the world buy such a jewel?’ This tells us he straight away jumps to conclusions. We know this because he has not even spoken to her before and he wants to marry her.

Leonato uses abusive and offensive words towards his daughter. Leonato says ‘Why ever wast thou lovely eyes? Why had I not with charitable hand took up a beggers issue at my gates, Who smirched thus and mur’d with infamy, this shame derives itself from unknown lair’. He talks to his ...

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