Act1 Scene1
"Much Ado About Nothing" is one of Shakespeare's most loved plays. This comedy about love, villainy, friendship, parent-child relationships, society and customs presents a rich confusing blend of life's relationships, foolishness and catastrophe. It is a play with two parallel plots given equal coverage and equal focus, one involving Hero and Claudio (the, ordinary couple), the other involving Beatrice and Benedick (the outspoken, unusual couple). There is Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon, who assists in matching-up both couples. He comes to visit Leonato, the governor of Messina (Hero's father and Beatrice's uncle), after a battle against his bastard brother Don John who tries to take revenge for his defeat.
Society
Society had respect only for the noble class"How many gentlemen have you lost in this action?" "But few of any sort, and none of name." This quote gives us the impression that even a welcoming person as Leonato was, had value only for high class people.
In Shakespearean era women had very little rites and were considered inferior to men. There are no quotes about this section as the women seldom speak in the play besides 'sparky' Beatrice
On the whole to conclude this analysis of society, I want to say that in Shakespearean times people only had respect for high class men.
Setting
The play is set in Messina. The place is portrayed as a make-believe fairytale land where nothing goes wrong and everyone is joyous. Although, are given a hint of fighting as we are told the Prince and his soldiers are returning from war: "How many gentlemen have you lost in this action?"
The Messinian society is not reflected upon much as the whole play is set in the governor's home. Shakespeare has tried to direct the play in Messina as it is an exotic place, but the audience is not given much information about what has been happening there.
Hero seldom speaks during the first act. She is friendly and well-behaved, and when she speaks she is very factual, but only speaks when spoken to or to answer a question "My cousin means Signior Benedick of Padua". One thing is for sure, that she is very timid as ...
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The Messinian society is not reflected upon much as the whole play is set in the governor's home. Shakespeare has tried to direct the play in Messina as it is an exotic place, but the audience is not given much information about what has been happening there.
Hero seldom speaks during the first act. She is friendly and well-behaved, and when she speaks she is very factual, but only speaks when spoken to or to answer a question "My cousin means Signior Benedick of Padua". One thing is for sure, that she is very timid as she talks very infrequently. She does not throw a temper and is more docile than her cousin. In comparison to Beatrice, Hero plays an unspectacular role. She's the weaker one, the small, pretty, silent girl.
Beatrice is a prime example of one of Shakespeare's strong female characters she has a character which isn't quite as normal for a woman in this time and maybe that makes her more interesting. She is the niece of Leonato, governor of Messina.
She refuses to get married because she has not discovered the perfect, equal partner "I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me". In addition she is unwilling to disdain her liberty and surrender to the will of a controlling husband.
Though she is close friends with her cousin, Hero, the two could not be less alike. Whereas Hero is polite, quiet, respectful, and gentle, Beatrice is feisty, cynical, witty, and sharp "No; an he were, I would burn my study. But, I pray you, who is his companion? Is there no young squarer now that will make a voyage with him to the devil?"
Beatrice is probably the favourite of the audience; she fascinates them with her vivacious, humorous, witty charm. Beatrice presents the self-confident woman who never let herself be pulled in to pieces and creates movement in the play with her ironical dialogs "It is so, indeed; he is no less than a stuffed man". When Beatrice talks the action turns into amusing comedy. Although these two women are so different, they get along very well. They, help each other, trust each other and stand by each other, in all situations. Beatrice keeps up a "merry war" of wits with Benedick, a lord and soldier from Padua, as Leonato states "There is a kind of merry war betwixt Signior Benedick and her".
When they meet, the two constantly compete to outdo one another with clever insults. Beatrice asks about Benedick with cynicism and harsh wit "I pray you, is Signior Mountanto returned from the wars or no?" Beatrice speaks out against him, illustrating his friendship as a disease "O Lord, he will hang upon him like a disease".
Benedick is the wilful lord, recently returned from fighting in the wars, who vows that he will never marry. He engages with Beatrice in a competition to outwit, outsmart, and out-insult the other. He is the entertainer, indulging in witty exaggeration to express his feelings "What, my dear Lady Disdain! Are you yet living?"
Benedick is a smart, good-looking, and funny guy. He always has a response to anyone's comments. For example, when he talks to Beatrice, he always had a comment to finish of the conversation "But keep your way, in God's name; I have done."
Of course, since Benedick is so invested in performing for the others, it is not easy for the audience to judge his character "Were you in doubt, sir, that you asked her?" Benedick's stubborn refusal to marry though just like Beatrice, appears very firm "I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart; for, truly, I love none."
Beatrice and Benedick seem to be pessimistic towards love and marriage. When Benedick has just come back from the war Beatrice and him are bickering with each other and trading insults Benedick declares. "God keep your ladyship in mind! So some gentleman or other shall scrape a predestinate scratched fac e." This quote explains his persistence towards Beatrice and why he never wants to fall in love. Another time this is demonstrated is when Beatrice is talking to the messenger about Benedick while he is about to come back from war. "I pray you, how many hath he killed and eaten in these wars", Beatrice thinks Benedick is a coward and likes to make fun of him. Beatrice and Benedick display thin outward contempt for one another because they both have there own ideas of different flaws in each other.
After Beatrice had been belittling Benedick for some time he started feeling dreadful. "Then is courtesy a turncoat. But it is certain I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted".
Beatrice and Benedick have a relationship that is bitter and unpleasant. Throughout Act 1 Scene 1, they show dislike towards each other and are fighting and insulting one another "A dear happiness to women: they would else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor". In the midst of their relationship of making fun of each other and never wanting love or marriage there is a hint of a past relationship "I know you of old". Shakespeare is making an example out of these two by showing that there is a fine line of hate and love between them.
The qualities and characteristics of Beatrice and Benedick are factors which bring them together, but also why they are separate. Beatrice and Benedick are not together because they want to be independent. Most of the time, they hurt each other by quarrelling, and trying to seem stronger than the other.
They both believe that marriage is an utterly stupid institution, and neither of them wants to get married. One of their attraction factors might be that they could never get bored of each other, as they disagree on many issues, and both are able to argue well. Benedick and Beatrice also have very similar personalities. They both are portrayed as strong and independent. They both are happier alone, or so they believe...
In conclusion to my essay I believe that it has all the information for the audience to familiarise with all the characters as we are also given a flavour of their character, personality and their qualities so that the audience is able to relate to the characters. Shakespeare has also reflected upon society and what high class people think of the lower class.