The dramatic importance of Benedick
What is the dramatic importance of Benedick in Much Ado about Nothing? This essay will explore the presentation of Benedick in light of the developing relationship between Beatrice and Benedick. It is crucial to explore the importance of Benedick alongside Beatrice as they are the characters who Shakespeare uses to draw out humour and sympathy through the theme of love. From the moment Shakespeare introduces us to Benedick, the audience is immediately amused. His quick wit when he enters the scene and makes the joke about Hero; 'If Signor Leonato be the father she would not have his head for all Messina', instantly enlivens the audience and when he and Beatrice meet, the 'merry war' between them creates a jovial and humorous atmosphere. Despite their determination to conceal their true feelings for each other; 'Is it possible Disdain should die, while she hath such meet food to feed as Signor Benedick?' Shakespeare indicates to us that Beatrice's language is infact ambiguous, the word 'meet' also has sexual connations as it fits in with the pun 'meat' and 'mate'. The ambiguity in Beatrice's language indicates us that Beatrice has deeper feelings for Benedick; her insults may appear to be harsh, but underneath her rebellion there are emotions which she tries to mask. Shakespeare hints to us that Benedick is the perfect match for Beatrice not only because they are similar in
Comic elements in the first act of much ado about nothing
Sam Lewis Comic elements in the first act of “much ado about nothing” In the era in which “much ado about nothing” was set the wealth and power of someone was far more credible than their personality and this is portrayed in the first few lines of the play when Leonato asks “how many gentleman have you lost in this action” and the messenger replies “but few of any sort, and none of name” he segregates the wealthy from the poor as though they are two different beings and doesn’t tell us how many lower class people died as if it is irrelevant. Vanity and hypocrisy are prominent themes that occur throughout the play, in the times of “much ado about nothing” the people were so focused on how they looked towards other people that their extravagant clothes, over the top mannerisms and the contrast in language in comparison to modern day were all somewhat outrageous and in turn humorous. Don John, the typical villain, only says one thing in act 1 scene 1 “I thank you, I am not of many words, But I thank you” this is quite a disappointing first line, the audience expects him to stamp his authority on the play but instead he stays relatively quiet, it Is an anti-climax with no climax accept the anticipation of how he will be portrayed in the play. The main comical relationship in this play is between Beatrice and Benedick and they also feature hugely in
Through comparing the relationship of Claudio and Hero with that of Beatrice and Benedick we understand how differences in experience, maturity and conformity can seriously affect a relationship
BATTLE OF THE SEXES IN SHAKESPEARE’S “MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING” It is fascinating that a dramatic narrative can create such a strong representation of a person through words alone, determining their social class, their gender, their relationships and even their intelligence. ““Much Ado About Nothing”” by the respected dramatist William Shakespeare explores the shallowness, the naivety and the innocence of human beings through the characters of Hero and Claudio, the two protagonists who dominate our generation today. However through the seemingly minor characters of Don John and Don Pedro, a contrasting analysis may be made of how someone’s actions can affect others and through comparing the relationship of Claudio and Hero with that of Beatrice and Benedick we understand how differences in experience, maturity and conformity can seriously affect a relationship. Count Claudio, the leading male in ““Much Ado About Nothing”” is an impulsive, handsome, young man, who initially gives us the impression that he will make the ideal husband. However we soon learn that in that traditional, militaristic ideology of feudal aristocracy, male comradeship is much more important than really loving a female. Claudio is insecure and wanting as a lover, forcing us to question whether underneath his flawless brilliance there really is the heroic soldier that we hear about
HONOUR IN "MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING"
HONOUR IS SHAKESPEARE’S “MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING” When we look closely at the romance of Beatrice and Benedick, we see the problems that a rational lover has in putting aside his concept of honour in order to love a woman and Shakespeare cleverly contrasts this relationship with our idealistic lover Claudio, who is incapable of rejecting the restrictions that honour places on a man. In a parallel construction we see through the relationship that the boorish Claudio has with the docile Hero that for love to flourish it must reject chivalric notions of honour. The social hierarchy of Messina, is a very class conscious one and being witty is almost a full time occupation for many of its inhabitants. Playing practical jokes and tricks upon each other is a subtle way of maintaining the strict codes of conduct and among the most successful and benevolent of the deceptions practised are the parallel practical jokes played on Beatrice and Benedick in order to trick each of them into admitting their love for one another. In their first encounter, we see Beatrice and Benedick using their superior intellects to ridicule each other. Benedick warns her to ‘keep her ladyship’ and she lashes back with insults around his physicality suggesting that he is so ugly that ‘scratching his face could not make it worse’. Benedick uses his wit to shield himself from her barbs, hiding
Explore how Much Ado About Nothing uses the comic genre to allow Shakespeare to expose and criticise Human Flaws.
Benedict states that ‘happy are they that hear their distractions and can put them to mending.’ Explore how ‘Much Ado’ About Nothing’ uses the comic genre to allow Shakespeare to expose and criticise Human Flaws. When Benedict states that ‘happy are they that hear their distractions and can put them to mending’, he is stating that characters are able to recognise flaws within their own character and, more importantly, are able to fix them. One conventional aspect of Elizabethan society, that is very much evident within ‘Much Ado’ About Nothing’, is social inequality. “In Shakespeare’s play, women are portrayed as being powerless in their own lives and in everything around them.” In Elizabethan society, men were dominant over women and made all the important decisions. In ‘Much Ado’ About Nothing’, the men frequently make bad decisions, and is a recurring theme throughout the play. Although Shakespeare was a product of his time, and accepted social norms and values, he demonstrated an understanding of women’s subjection by men in his work. The comic genre allows Shakespeare to push the boundaries when challenging social conventions. For example, Shakespeare is able to portray Beatrice as a feisty, sharp, intelligent woman. The audience are naturally, more open-minded because they realise that the play is a comedy and they're suppose to find
To what extent does the portrayal of women in Much Ado About Nothing subvert the conventions of the society shown in the play?
To what extent does the portrayal of women in ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ subvert the conventions of the society shown in the play? Freedom for women in the patriarchal society, in which the play is set, appears controlled and constrained in ‘Much Ado About Nothing (MAAN)’. Shakespeare employs the rebellious spirit of Beatrice in his comedy to subvert the social orthodoxy of the Elizabethan era. Hero falls victim to the suppressive nature of the dominating male characters; however Beatrice, our shrew, provides humour with her quick wit and wordplay, and a breath of fresh air for a modern feminist audience. The dramatic genre of comedy is often subversive and ‘MAAN’ definitely does not fail to live up to this expectation. With her opening line, our female protagonist subverts conventional stereotypes as she interrupts a conversation between two male speakers, questioning the return of “Signior Mountanto”. Instantly this informs us of her subversive lack of etiquette in conversation, as women would not typically speak out for themselves, especially not against a man. Her wordplay and double entendre here invokes humour firstly because the name relates to an up thrust in duelling, thus describing Benedick as a show-off, and secondly because it has sexual connotations. Beatrice’s outward smutty nature can be marked in juxtaposition to Hero’s lack of
"Much Ado About Nothing"
"Much Ado About Nothing" AS English Literature Coursework * Extract from Act 2 Scene 1 * Line Antonio: Well, niece I trust you'll be ruled 43 by your father. 44 Beatrice: Yes faith, it is my cousin's duty to make 45 curtsy, and say, father as it please you. 46 Does this extract reflect Shakespeare's presentation of women in the play, and what is your response to this presentation 400 years later? Shakespeare's presentation of the main female characters in "Much Ado About Nothing" is insightfully conveyed in Act 2, scene 1. "Well niece, I trust you'll be ruled by your father". The dominant nature of the male characters in the play is expressed with reference to being "ruled", which suggests the oppression of women in Elizabethan society. In the context of the quotation, this implication of patriarchy is in regards to the act of marriage. However, deeper meaning may be established in assuming this ascendancy in terms of all aspects of an Elizabethan woman's life. To a modern audience, such patriarchy would seem irrational and unacceptable. However, the context in terms of time period to which this play was written must be considered. With reference to the use of the word "father", it may be construed that father figures determined the decisions of Elizabethan women