Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing- How Does Shakespeare Present Difficulties In Relationships In Much Ado About Nothing? 'Much Ado About Nothing' was written in 1600 by William Shakespeare. The play is set in Messina, Sicily however it shows typical English comedy characteristics for that time. I find this unusual because not many people travelled far from home. Relationships are shown in various ways throughout the play using themes such as love, romance and patriarchal society. The main relationships which are portrayed are between Hero and Claudio and Beatrice and Benedick. Act two scene one is the masked ball. Conversations take place between a number of couples; this makes the scene seem lively and gives a sense of movement. The character Beatrice is attracted to Benedick. However Shakespeare confuses the audience by having Beatrice pass insults to Benedick, "masking" her real feelings. Beatrice says to Benedick "why he is the Prince's jester, a very dull fool; only his gift is in devising impossible slanders". Beatrice is teasing Benedick so that her real feelings towards him are concealed. Don John appears to deliberately try to cause problems in the relationship between Hero and Claudio by claiming "how canst thou cross this marriage?" Don John is showing his distaste for the marriage his brother arranged. This is because Don John is jealous of his brother's higher status
In "Much Ado about Nothing", Shakespeare presents us with a conventional and unconventional heroine in Hero and Beatrice. Which do you prefer?
In "Much Ado about Nothing", Shakespeare presents us with a conventional and unconventional heroine in Hero and Beatrice. Which do you prefer? In "Much Ado About Nothing", Shakespeare presents us with both the (Elizabethan) conventional and (the more modern) unconventional heroine in Hero and Beatrice, using a variety of effective literary methods, to demonstrate the extreme differences in character. A central theme in "Much Ado about Nothing" is that of the literary tradition of a heroine within the social conventions surrounding women. The literary tradition of the time (and indeed, in many cases, up to the present day) bestows the conventional heroine with beauty, modesty and etiquette, submissive and obedient to men's will. Literary convention also presents the heroine with a variety of obstacles which, through no fault of her own, she is forced to overcome. Ultimately, she prevails and the Shakespearean tale typically ends with a joyful marriage ceremony, often an alliance between two families. However, modern literary tradition breeds the unconventional heroine, an independent, assertive and articulate young woman, overcoming prejudice and injustice. In "Much Ado About Nothing", Shakespeare presents us with both the Elizabethan conventional and (the more modern) unconventional heroine in Hero and Beatrice, using a variety of effective literary methods, to demonstrate
The Title In Much Ado About Nothing
The Title In Much Ado About Nothing Much Ado About Nothing exemplifies a kind of deliberately puzzling title that seems to have been popular in the late 1590s. Indeed, the play is about nothing; it merely follows the relationships of Claudio and Hero, and in the end, the play culminates in the two other main characters falling in love, which, because it was an event that was quite predictable, proves to be much ado about nothing. The pronunciation of the word "nothing" would, in the late 16th Century, have been "noting," and so the title also apparently suggests a pun on the word, "noting," and on the use of the word "note" as an expression of music. In II.2 (l.54), Balthasar is encouraged to sing, but declines, saying, "note this before my notes; there's not a note of mine that's worth the noting." However, Don Pedro retorts, "<sum>Note notes, forsooth, and nothing," playing on Balthasar's words, and also demanding that he pay attention to his music and nothing else. In addition, much of the play is dedicated to people "noting" (or observing) the actions of others (such as the trick played on Beatrice and Benedick by Leonato, Hero and Claudio); they often observe and overhear one another, and consequently make a great deal out of very little. At the beginning of the play, Claudio and Hero eventually come to admire one another, and Benedick and Beatrice play off each
The strength of Much Ado About Nothing lies in its balance of contrasting elements
The strength of Much Ado about Nothing lies in its balance of contrasting elements. Do you agree? Much Ado about Nothing is a romantic comedy which depicts a story of love, tragedy and mistaken identity. The story is told with a typical comic edge which incorporates witty wordplay with simple slapstick situations; however it also has contrasting elements of potential tragedy which completely contradict the otherwise romantic stance of the story. The balance of these contrasting elements certainly improves the overall effect of the play, adding viewing value in the form of interest and enjoyment. However, does the strength of the play lie in the balance of contrasting elements or the principal comic romanticism? In the sense of Comic Romanticism, Shakespeare takes the same route with Much Ado About Nothing as many modern comedy directors, using the same age old conventions to amuse the audience. However it is in the complex and articulate language he uses to invent and conduct the comic interplay, complex courtships and overall predictability of the story line that makes Much Ado About Nothing so successful in the terms of a romantic comedy. One of the main conventions of romantic comedy is the possibility for potential tragedy. Shakespeare achieves this to a very successful level, incorporating changing levels of tension and still managing to take a comic route. The
An Exploration of the Theme of Love inMuch Ado About Nothing The Shakespeare comedy Much Ado About Nothing is considered to be a play about deception
Katy Fullilove An Exploration of the Theme of Love in Much Ado About Nothing The Shakespeare comedy Much Ado About Nothing is considered to be a play about deception. However, love in its various forms is intertwined with this and is one of the central themes. Throughout the course of this essay I will explore how Shakespeare has presented the different forms of love to his audience. Shakespeare took his inspiration for the main love theme of the play from many sources. The basic story is an ancient one; a lover from the couple is betrayed by an enemy into believing that his loved one is false. In Much Ado About Nothing, these two lovers are represented by Claudio and Hero, and the love which Shakespeare presents between them is meant to be romantic love or love at first sight; in my opinion, this is simply lust. There is no evidence in the play to suggest that Claudio's motivation for marriage is actually real love, the love of Hero's personality. He 'loves' her for what she is, not who she is; she fits Elizabethan society's ideal of the perfect woman. Claudio describes her as 'modest' (Act one, Scene one, line 147), meaning chaste, an essential quality of an unmarried woman in the Elizabethan era, and in lines 167-168 of Act one, Scene one says: '...she is the sweetest lady that ever / I looked on.' He makes no comment on her character, but this would have been seen as
How does Shakespeare challenge the conventional role of women within the patriarchal society of Much Ado About Nothing.
How does Shakespeare challenge the conventional role of women within the patriarchal society of 'Much Ado About Nothing'. 'Much Ado About Nothing' is set in a patriarchal society in the late 16th century. In a patriarchal society, men are the dominating sex and women are the oppressed ones. The title of the play also plays a part in showing how things are overly based on sexual relationships between men and women. The play takes place over a course of three days. As so much happens during these three days, the events take place rapidly and can create confusion and misunderstanding. 'Much Ado About Nothing' is a play of wit, deception and slander. It is full of darkness just as much as it is full of light. For Beatrice, a pre-occupation with death arises from her entrapment within a court whose practices she does not admire. She constantly tries to oppose the views of her society with which she doesn't agree. The treatment of gender issues in 'Much Ado About Nothing' would have been central to its impact on Elizabethan audiences. Women, stereotypically, were expected to be silent, gentle, passive and submissive. Independent women were regarded with suspicion and interest. In the first three scenes, the male characters continually criticise the females. Benedick voices the traditional patriarchal ideology through his constant criticism of women's actions and sexual
Much Ado is a play of wit, deception and slander. Although the play consists of many other themes, nature is probably
The contradictions of Human nature "Much Ado about nothing" is all about nature. The word nothing is derived from noting, the Elizabethan pronunciation. The central importance of noting, eavesdropping has been remarked. Much Ado is a play of wit, deception and slander. Although the play consists of many other themes, nature is probably the most significant topic. Shakespeare has explained nature exploring a variety of different techniques. Much Ado is a romantic comedy and also a probable sharp attack on superficial society. At the beginning of the play Benedick imposes the dullness of marriage, which is quite ironic as he inevitably becomes "Benedick the married man." Beatrice however occupies an obsession with death because of her entrapment within a court she cannot respect. She has no patience with all the military hyperbole and the dominion of men thus she has segregated herself from all the courtly ceremony and custom. The play is claustrophobic as spies are hidden in its many rooms. Scenes of togetherness in one room are followed by those of conspiracy in another, which emphasises human isolation and vulnerability. In other words actions mean consequences. Claudio's conventional lover's exaggeration to Hero indicates his estrangement from his natural desires. The denunciation scene takes place at the altar of a chapel, which exaggerates the huge power of
Much Ado About Nothing
M.Ibrahim Aftab Khan 1548 10.3 Q. Imagine that you a Beatrice at the end of Act 4 Scene 1. Write your thoughts and feelings about the men's treatment of Hero. Die Claudio Die!!! What men with such honour and pride would have the thought of embarrassing a woman on her wedding day which is supposed to be the most beautiful day of a woman's life? God curse these foolish men and let them die in the boiling liquid of hell. During the wedding, Claudio harshly announces that he isn't going to marry our dear sin-less Hero and fired up with insults which were like swords and daggers through Hero's innocent lovely heart calling her a common stale, a rotten orange and that her blush is that of guiltiness causing Hero to faint. There, behind him stood Don John and Don Pedro acknowledging every word that Count Shame-less said and assisted him further in insulting my poor innocent lamb Hero. There, they stood Don Pedro and Don John nodding to whatever filthy lies came out of Claudio's mouth. But this came to me like a shock that Don Pedro assisted him in doing so as I expected to be different from that Claudio. Being a Prince, especially the Prince of Aragon he needs to gain respect from wherever town or person he can get from but he has lost that from the people of Messina and especially me. He did not only stand there acknowledging every word Claudio said but also added more insults
Much Ado About Nothing - Which man would you prefer to marry? Benedick or Claudio? Consider the ways in which each is presented before coming to a decision.
Laura McPherson 11.4(7) Shakespeare Coursework - Much Ado About Nothing Which man would you prefer to marry? Benedick or Claudio? Consider the ways in which each is presented before coming to a decision. Benedick and Claudio are the main male characters in the play. They are very contrasting in their action, words and approaches to love, which is shown throughout the play. The first impressions we have of each are derived from their entrance and first words from Act1, Scene 1, when the soldiers have returned from war. Benedick shows he is a witty and somewhat cocky character from even his first line, in which he and Leanato are joking about the fact that Hero is Leanato's daughter. Leanato says 'Her mother hath many times told me so,' Benedick's reply being 'were you in any doubt, sir, that you asked her?' (1:1:79), showing his quick-witted and light-hearted nature. Claudio's first words however, speak of Hero, 'the daughter of signor Leanato' and he makes known to Benedick that he thinks she is a 'modest young lady' (1:2:119-121), meaning she is sweet and he likes her a lot. As the play continues we begin to establish more of the men's characters. The remainder of Act 1, Scene 1 shows Benedick's objections to love, for example his comment 'shall I never see a bachelor of three score again' (1:1:147) suggests that to him it seems all young men decide to get married
Discuss Shakespeare's treatment of courtship and marriage in "Much Ado About Nothing". In your essay you should refer to modern interpretations of the play and consider the context in which they were produced as well as the context of the original play.
Discuss Shakespeare's treatment of courtship and marriage in "Much Ado About Nothing". In your essay you should refer to modern interpretations of the play and consider the context in which they were produced as well as the context of the original play. In 'Much Ado About Nothing' there are two love interests on which the play is mainly focused. The courtship between the two couples Beatrice and Benedick and Hero and Claudio gives the audience a glance at two completely different forms of love. The relationship between the characters Claudio and Hero is one which is very traditional and a very safe way of communicating their feelings to one another. Shakespeare borrowed the story of Hero and Claudio from a man called Matteo Bandello, this shows that this may not be his own view of how love should be expressed. He did however invent the story of Benedick and Beatrice; this may mean that he believes that the way in which love is expressed should be much more spontaneous and heart-felt. The way that Beatrice and Benedick treat each other offers humour as this is one of Shakespeare's comedies whilst also providing a relationship which seems much more modern and extraordinary for the time. The courting between Beatrice and Benedick is slightly vicious as they seem never to compliment each other but instead comment on each others faults 'he is no less than a stuffed man' and the
