From the beginning of the play there is constant dialogue, the audience would become tired of this and would probably become disruptive so Shakespeare counters this by incorporating the masked dance and adding music to the play.
In England masked dances were very popular and so by having a masked dance in the play there would be a connection between the audience and the actors, as the upper class people, such as the courtiers, would often attend masked dances such as these and the lower class would be intrigued and fascinated at how the courtiers lived.
There would be a wide range of people in the audience and the play would have to engage and sustain the interest of all of these different types of people. This is why Shakespeare included the masked dance as it does this well.
The second reason for using a masked dance is to create hidden and mistaken identities. There were a lot of different types of audience and Shakespeare would have to entertain all of these people. He would have to include jokes, classical references and sexual innuendo. In this scene there are three different couples; Antonio and Ursula, Beatrice and Benedick, and Balthasar and Margaret. He used these 3 couples as there behaviour is very contrasting for example Don Pedro and Hero’s behaviour is very polite, demure and courtly, whereas Margaret and Balthasar’s behaviour and language is much more bawdy and lewd.
Antonio and Ursula’s relationship is a good example of how Shakespeare included comedy in the play.
‘At a word I am not’
‘I know you by the waggling of your head’
‘At a word I am not’
Antonio would have said this in a comic way and with these repetitive actions; it would have been very comical visually for the audience. They would be talking in a fun and flirtatious way. By repeating the phrase ‘at a word I am not’ Antonio is adding a comical angle to the dialogue, which would get the audience in the true spirit of the masked dance.
Beatrice and Benedick are very proud, stubborn and headstrong. They both despise each other or so it may seem. They are constantly arguing and trying to score points off one another. The masked dance is an excellent opportunity for their personality’s to be shown.
‘Well you are a rare parrot-teacher’
‘A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours’
By calling Beatrice ‘a rare parrot teacher’, it would be very insulting as he is saying that she is unoriginal and imitative. Beatrice replies by comparing him to a beast. She is saying that he is ugly, dull and foolish. This shows the audience how well matched Benedick and Beatrice is, they both throw quick-fired insults back and forth and they are both sharp witted and intelligent.
In this conversation in Act 1, Scene 1 it ends with Benedick humiliating Beatrice in front of her friends.
‘I would my horse had the speed of your tongue, and so good a continuer: but keep your way a God’s name. I have done’
Benedick insults Beatrice by saying that she talks rapidly and constantly. Benedick ends the conversation by saying ‘I have done’ he would have said this decisively, surely and authoritatively. By using this short sentence, Shakespeare adds a more final tone to the conversation.
Shakespeare wants the audience to think that Beatrice and Benedick are well suited, as he wanted them to marry at the end; therefore Beatrice needed to get her revenge so that they were even-handed and so that the audience did not like or feel sorry for one of the characters more than the other. Shakespeare uses this situation for Beatrice to get revenge and to embarrass Benedick so that they both become equal.
When Benedick approaches Beatrice he pretends not to be himself and uses the mask to hide behind, but Beatrice can see right through him. Shakespeare makes a point to tell the audience that Beatrice knows it is Benedick; therefore she can control the conversation and have the upper hand. She can also say what she wants to Benedick as he is trapped behind the mask
‘I am sure you know him well enough’
The ‘you’ in this sentence would probably be said with more emphasis than the other words to communicate to the audience that she knows that it is Benedick. This dramatic irony would involve the audience, as they would feel they were in on the joke and would become interested to see what happens. Beatrice knows that Benedick is behind the mask and so she can say whatever she wants as he is trapped behind the mask and would look foolish if he was to take it off. This provides the perfect situation for Beatrice to get her revenge, as Benedick will have to listen to what she has to say and is being thoroughly embarrassed in front of the audience. This would make the audience feel sorry for him and therefore they would feel she had had her revenge.
In this encounter between Beatrice and Benedick, Beatrice has by far has the most dialogue compared to Benedick this is because Shakespeare wanted Beatrice to be in control of the conversation so that Benedick would be humiliated, having no opportunity to retort and throw insults back.
‘Why he is the Prince’s jester, a very dull fool, only his gift is in devising impossible slanders: none but libertines delight in him’
The word jester would be very insulting to Benedick, as she is saying he is not humorous in a clever way but people just laugh, at him, Benedick values his wit highly and so Beatrice would be mocking him deeply. This is also a good visual effect on the audience as a jester wears colourful and silly costumes.
Shakespeare based Beatrice’s character partly on Queen Elizabeth 1, as they are both independent, strong minded, confident, and loyal. The queen would be flattered that Shakespeare has made this similarity between them, as it is a way of complimenting her and recognition of her importance in their society. Also if the Queen enjoyed the play then more people would go and watch it, therefore Shakespeare tried his best to make it appeal to the Queen and to secure her approval.
Another of the partners in the masked dance is Margaret and Balthasar. Their relationship is much more bawdy, and direct. They use many sexual innuendoes. Shakespeare included this pair so that he used three contrasting couples and contrasting behaviours so that it will appeal to all the types of audience and so that every one would be able to identify with at least one couple.
The third reason Shakespeare used a masked dance in ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ is to move the plot on.
Firstly Beatrice needed to get her revenge so that the audience had a balanced view on both Beatrice and Benedick.
Also Shakespeare needed Don John to pretend to mistake Claudio for Benedick.
‘Borachio: And that is Claudio, I know him by his bearing.
Don John: Are not you Signor Benedick?
Claudio: You know me well I am he.
Don John: Signor, you are very near my brother in his love, he is enamoured on Hero, I pray you dissuade him from her, she is no equal for his birth: you may do the part of an honest man in it.’
Don John knows that it is not Benedick but he is trying to cause trouble but to Claudio he looks like the kind and considerate one who is looking out for his friends. Up to this point Don John had not played a major part in the play and the audience knew that Don John was considered a villain but they had no direct evidence to prove this but now the audience would be very angry with him. Borachio and Don John then leave Claudio alone. He is devastated after hearing this news.
‘Let every eye negotiate for itself, and trust no agent: for beauty is a witch’
This shows how trusting and innocent Claudio is, as he believes Don John immediately. This dramatic irony again would involve the audience and they would feel in on the plot. By using the oxymoron ‘beauty is a witch’ Claudio is saying that she must have cast a spell on him and that she is evil. This would produce a powerful and dramatic image for the audience and would create a big impact for them.
In this soliloquy Claudio has a complete change of heart and decides he no longer loves Hero.
‘Farewell therefore, Hero.’
Shakespeare uses very short and sharp sentences; this produces a final and blunt effect. The audience would become very involved and would be angry with Don John. This would leave the audience with a cliffhanger and they would want to find out what happens next and how it is resolved. This scene starts off merry and cheerful but by the end the mood is heavy and sad this would keep the audience focused and interested in what was going on. For the plot to move on there had to be a masked dance, as mistaken identities are needed, a masked dance is the best way to do this.
In the end, it does not matter how or why two people are drawn to each other. It does not matter what stumbling blocks are thrown in their way, whether those blocks be malicious plots of one's own stubborn will. Love conquers all, and any attempt to stand in love's path is simply a lot of fuss with no chance of success. (Much Ado About Nothing).
So why does Shakespeare use the dramatic device of a masked dance? For three reasons, to engage and sustain the interest of the audience, create hidden and mistaken identities and to move the plot on. If Shakespeare had not incorporated a masked dance in ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ then it would have been extremely hard to maintain the audience’s attention. I think the masked dance was a great idea and succeeded in catching and maintaining the attention of the audience.
