Much Ado about Nothing
Near the end of the play Antonio says he is glad "all things sort so well". To what extent do you consider the play to have a happy ending? Much Ado about Nothing is a romantic comedy written by William Shakespeare. Although nobody knows exactly when Shakespeare wrote the play, it is thought that the play was written in 1596 to 1599. The main characters in the play are Leonato, Hero, Beatrice, Benedick, Claudio and of course Don John the Bastard. Much Ado about Nothing is still one of Shakespeare's best-known plays after 400 years. The title 'Much Ado about Nothing' has a very deep meaning. 'Much Ado' means a lot of fuss, therefore a lot of fuss about nothing. Also however 'nothing' is a pun on the word 'noting' as the whole play is based on what people note when they listen in on other's conversations. Also the word 'noting' is another word meaning sexual connotation this adds to the comedy in the play. The play is all about relationships and couples, and you meet two very different couples. One couple fall in love almost at first sight and appear perfectly suited to each other. However, the man named Claudio appears to be quite shallow and believes his wife-to-be, Hero, has cheated on him. He leaves her, but is tricked into marrying her later on after he has heard proof of her innocence. Another couple has a very different relationship; they mock each other by small
Much Ado AboutNothing
Much Ado About Nothing "Deception is an important theme in 'Much Ado About Nothing'. How does the choice of setting and use of props build atmosphere on stage and aid characters intent on deception to achieve their aims?" Shakespeare was born in 1564, in Stratford-upon-Avon. Shakespeare did not go to university but worked. There are no documents that can tell us anything at all about Shakespeare, but we have learned that in 1592 he was known in London, becoming an actor and playwright. They play 'Much Ado About Nothing' is set in Messina because it is romantic, a fashionable setting and Shakespeare took inspiration from Italian poets. The restrictions on using large props and changing scenery were difficult because it would almost impossible to carry a large piece of scenery on stage. Therefore language and small props become important at engaging the audience's attention. There are several types of deception in this play, such as eavesdropping, people pretending to be others, self-deception and outright lies. There are several characters that use deception to get what they want. The characters fall into two groups. One of which the characters deceive to cause harm and the other in which the characters deceive to help others. Characters in this play use the opportunity offered by the various settings in the play to deceive others. The first example of this is the
Much Ado About Nothing
Danielle Hay Much Ado About Nothing I am going to describe the techniques used by Shakespeare in 'Much Ado About Nothing'. I am focusing on language, themes, characters, plots and sub plots as well as the play as a whole. I will also be focusing on how the modern day as well as the Elizabethan audience would respond to this play write. Shakespeare is known as one of the worlds best play writers, he has written tragedies, histories, sonnets and comedies. Writing comedies was by far his best talent of all. He used many techniques in writing his comedies, which can be seen in many of his other plays. The basic structure of this play is that love creates conflict in society. In this play there are occasions of delight and distress as well as sarcasm and seriousness. The play is also about contrasts between people. Shakespeare started Much Ado About Nothing in the middle of a conversation, which throws us right into the story, and we pick up what is going on as we read on. Leonato: I learn in this letter that Don Pedro of Arragon comes this night to Messina.' Messenger: 'He is very near by this, he was not three leagues off when I left him.' Leonato: 'How many gentlemen have you lost in this action.' Messenger; 'Few of any sort, but non of name.' The play begins with the happy return of Don Pedro and his friends from war; they are to be
Much Ado About Nothing
Much ado About Nothing Act 2, scene 3 is one of the most important scenes in the play "Much Ado About Nothing". How far do you agree with this statement? Act 2 scene 3 is the most important scene in the play because this is where Benedick changes from being "horribly" against love to being in love. This shows how easy Benedick can fall into a trap. At the end of the scene Beatrice also falls into the same trap. In this scene is it proven that men are "deceivers" but not only that women are "deceivers" too. This is shown when Ursula and Hero talk about Benedick and Beatrice. In Benedick first soliloquy he wonders "how much another man is a fool, when he dedicates his behaviours to love" basically he considers that person a fool who falls in love. He portrays men, who fall in love, as the ones who have "turned orthography". In this case he takes the example of Claudio. Claudio falls in love with Hero deliberately as takes a glimpse of her. So Benedick say what a fool he is. He says before he fell in love he was with no music "... but the drum and the fife". The drum and the fife signify the music of war. So essentially he is describing him as a hard soldier. "Now had he rather hear the tabor and the pipe." The tabor and the pipe signify the music of peace and love. Therefore, later he describes him as an idiot. On the other hand in his last soliloquy he himself becomes that
Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing In Much Ado About Nothing, most of the characters had interesting relationships with each other. For example, Hero and Claudio, were deeply in love. Also, Don Juan, and Don John were fighting with each other. Another example was the close friendship between Benedick, Claudio, and Don Juan. But the relationship between Benedick and Beatrice was different than the others. In their relationship, they hated each other, that brought them together. Their personalities were so similar, that it made them sick of each other, but the similarities in their personalities is also what brought them together. Benedick was a smart, good-looking, and funny guy. He was very witty, and always had a response to anyone's comments. For example, when he was talking to Beatrice, he always had a comment to finish of the conversation. He also didn't like the idea of marriage. Benedick thought that marriage led to the trapping of men. When he heard about Claudio getting married, Benedick thought that Claudio was crazy, because Benedick felt that marriage was going to change the way Claudio lived. Benedick was also very stubborn. He never wanted to give into other people's ideas, and that was why he didn't want to give into the idea that marriage could be a good thing in a person's life. Beatrice was a character very similar
Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing Essay Question Juliet Dunsinberre argues that 'Shakespeare saw men and women as equals in a world which declared them unequal.' How far do you agree with this statement in relation to Much Ado About Nothing? In your answer, you should refer to the context in which Shakespeare wrote and consider how a modern audience might react. Introduction In Much Ado About Nothing Shakespeare portrays a common society in which a common role model of male and female ways of behaviour exists, and contrasts it with a deviant role model. It is Beatrice and Benedick who "misbehave". Beatrice´s behaviour and Benedick´s reactions are odd because they constantly work against society´s decorum. Shakespeare portrayed the common and the deviant behaviour in a way which is reflected in the characters´ engaging in dialogue. Men and women engage in dialogue differently and this can be seen in the composition of the staged dialogues as well as in the stage directions, which indicate body language. In the following essay I will discuss and analyse how Shakespeare develops themes of equality/inequality between men and women in this play by discussing how these themes are developed in key scenes and through contrasting characters, and also by using textual evidence to justify my viewpoints, and showing how context affects interpretation. Patriarchy and Courtly Love are
Explore Two Moments in "Much Ado About Nothing" Where Beatrice and Benedick Are At Their Most Entertaining
Explore Two Moments in "Much Ado About Nothing" Where Beatrice and Benedick Are At Their Most Entertaining As an unconventional and unusual hero and heroine, Beatrice and Benedick are very amusing characters, both together and apart. An perfect example of their hilarity is the first scene in the play. Beatrice, before Benedick has come on, mocks him: she refers to him sarcastically as "Signor Mountanto". She proceeds to insult him as a soldier, by asking "But how many hath he killed? - for indeed I promised to eat all of his killing." The audience would find this kind of witty behaviour extremely entertaining, especially as the messenger tries to defend Benedick - to which Beatrice comments that Benedick is a "valiant trencherman" with an "excellent stomach." She then advances to label Benedick as fickle - "He hath every month a new sworn brother." The audience would find this scene so amusing because Beatrice is nothing like a conventional heroine, so different to Hero, her cousin, and so different to Shakespeare's other characters. She speaks her mind (which is so rare of women to do in Shakespeare's time.) This scene is made even funnier by the appearance of Benedick, and an excellent battle of wits start. A grown man and a grown woman throwing (relatively harmless) insults at each other is so unlike how a classic love would bloom, so unlike the conventional courtship
"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
Much Ado About Nothing
How Does Shakespeare Create a Sense of Conflict in the Opening Scene of 'Much Ado About Nothing'? Although it is a comedic play, Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing' depicts a continuous underlying sense of conflict, which is conveyed using a variety of writing techniques and skills to develop character and character relations. The theme of conflict is used in examples of dramatic irony, inter-character relationships, the masks and schemes of true personalities and physical conflict to create a witty yet thought provoking comedy. The play also draws to question whether or not deception can be a good thing. Shakespeare creates a sense of conflict in the opening of the play by the introduction of characters, their relationships with each other and the underlying tensions created by physical conflict. Dramatic tension is immediately created by the arrival of the messenger who delivers news of a war to Leonato at his home in the Florentine town of Messina. There is no detail of the war or its cause, only the success of losing no gentlemen of importance, and this omission instantly interests the audience and creates a sense of underlying suspense which is carried throughout the play. Shakespeare's introduction of physical conflict is a dramatic device used to prepare the audience for forthcoming events. However this tension is lifted by the report that 'none of name' have been
much ado about nothing
'Much Ado About Nothing' Question - Trace the developments and changes in Benedick's character in the play 'Much Ado About Nothing'. Focus partially on the striking difference in his attitude to love and marriage in Act II Scene iii. 'Much Ado About Nothing' was written by William Shakespeare during the prime of his career. The play was written around 1598-1599, and is said to be one of Shakespeare's most amusing comedies. Even though, the play is a comedy, it also has a dark plot, which is the rivalry between the brothers Don Pedro, the Prince of Arragon and Don John, the bastard. Don John is linked with all evil in the play, and is the cause of Hero's faked death. The secondary plot is the change in relationship between Benedick and Beatrice; this is the joyful part of the play, as it ends with love and marriage. Benedick, a young lord of Padua returns from a victorious battle, with Don Pedro, Claudio, a young lord from Florence and other soldiers by his side. The whole city of Messina gets ready to congratulate Don Pedro and his men. When the soldiers arrive, they catch up with the household, however Benedick starts an ongoing verbal dispute with Beatrice: Benedick: 'What my dear lady Distain! Are you yet living?' Beatrice: A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours' [Act I Scene i] This clearly shows there is dislike between them. As the play
