(Much Ado About Nothing) Remind Yourself Of Act 2, Scene 1, Consider The Effect The Scene Has In Terms Of The Dance Being Viewed As A Metaphor For Life Or As A Microcosm Of The Messina Society

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(Much Ado About Nothing) Remind Yourself Of Act 2, Scene 1, Consider The Effect The

Scene Has In Terms Of The Dance Being Viewed As A Metaphor

For Life Or As A Microcosm Of The Messina Society

The dance in Act 2, Scene 1 is an important scene of the play, with the dominant themes of the play being present and also a scene in which the relationships between the characters develop, but it can also be seen as a microcosm of the Messina society.

        A key of theme throughout the play is deception, and this is present in the scene. The four men are masked in an attempt to hide their identity from the women, which adds to theme of deception throughout the play, but when the dance is viewed as a microcosm of the Messina society, this could be seen as Shakespeare being critical of the men presenting themselves falsely to woo the women, and how this could weaken the marriage between them.

Shakespeare also presents the characters as keen to meet the chivalrous and proper expectations of them within the dance. As Balthasar and Margaret dance, the dialogue between them is full of religious references, as both characters mention ‘prayer’ and ‘amen’. This shows the strong belief that the society has in God, and the natural order of God being at the top, and the characters show this in their attempts to be chivalrous, again Shakespeare invites the audience to criticise how the Messina society is too concerned with appearance.

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        Shakespeare uses this scene to extend his criticism and examination of the patriarchal society. Shakespeare uses the structure of the dance as a metaphor for the marriage situation in the society of Messina, and parodies this. ‘Will you walk about with a friend?’, Don Pedro asks Hero, this shows how it is the responsibility of the men to gain the women’s hand in marriage, and could also show how the women aren’t free, and instead are either owned by their father or by their husband.

        We see an element of rebellion against the structure and practices of he Messina society ...

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