In comparison to Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare also uses foreshadowing and dramatic irony, to present conflict within Much Ado about Nothing.

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In comparison to Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare also uses foreshadowing and dramatic irony, to present conflict within Much Ado about nothing. Whilst both plays are similar in the way that the subsequent and misunderstanding relationships between ‘Claudio/hero’ and Romeo/Juliet – drive the plots of love conflicted affairs, on the contrary to ‘Romeo and Juliet’; instead of using deep ‘haunting’ words to present conflict, Shakespeare uses witty insults between Beatrice and Benedick foreshadowing their falling in love:

“She misused me past the endurance of a block”

From this quote we can see how Shakespeare uses metaphorical language through the word ‘block’ expressing how even a block of wood would become upset by Beatrice’s horrible nature. These verbal insults are used as not only does it spur the conflict between ‘Beatrice’ and ‘Benedict’ but also allow the audience to become aware that both protagonists are smarting from what has happened before the play begins.

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Similar to Romeo and Juliet; were Shakespeare immediately heightens the sense of conflict (in the prologue) by the use of dramatic irony, this is presented in Act 1 scene 1 of Much ado about nothing:

“Kind of merry war betwixt signoir benedick and her”

From this quote (by leonato) the idea of conflict is once again introduced straight away, allowing the audience with the knowledge of the war to follow-increasing the tension. The words ‘merry’ and ‘war’ together, show how Shakespeare uses juxtaposition in order to help set up the conflict within the play. In addition to this, he ...

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