much ado about nothing critique
How does Shakespeare present Love and Romance in Much Ado about nothing, through the relationships of Hero & Claudio and Benedick and Beatrice? Love and Romance are two major themes within "Much Ado About Nothing". They are approached through different relationships that have been developed by the writer throughout the play. William Shakespeare expresses through his creative writing style how romance differs with differing gradients of love. There are two main relationships that Shakespeare explores in the play they are Hero and Claudio and Benedick and Beatrice, there are however other romances that are touched on with Margaret and Borrachio. There was much pressure on couples during the 16th Century period to marry. Especially woman, to marry was at that time one of the key objectives in a woman's life. Love was seen in a very different light than it is viewed in modern times. During the play Claudio falls in love with Hero even before talking to her, he bases his love completely on her appearance and apparent financial stability. I would scarce trust myself, though I had sworn on the contrary, if Hero be my wife" Shakespeare has presented an ideal couple in the sixteenth century with Hero and Claudio. They marry for social enrichment as this is the correct path to follow, this is not because of true love but this is what society at this time is expecting. Hero is wooed
Much Ado About Nothing - Benedick
Mike Innes Benedick Much Ado About Nothing Benedick is a character that changes a lot throughout Much Ado About Nothing, and by the end of the play he contradicts many of the qualities that he has shown at the start. One of the characteristics he displays at the start is that he is joker; and although his being witty is not necessarily a bad thing, he also shows that he does not take anything seriously enough. Shakespeare mainly shows that he is witty through the "merry war" that he carries out continuously with Beatrice - a war of witty insults, where Benedick says things such as: "What, my dear Lady Distain! Are you yet living?" and "I would my horse the speed of your tongue, and so good a continuer." at the beginning of the play. It appears that Benedick has deceived Beatrice in some way, as she says "You always end with a Jade's trick. I know you of old" and talks of "false dice". He also does not take Claudio's "love" at all seriously, and makes it very clear that he does not trust love or want to get married at all, saying he will "die a bachelor". This also possibly relates to a previous relationship with Beatrice. Towards the end of the play, though, his attitude and behaviour change completely. Whereas at the start the Claudio and Don Pedro were seen to be the sensible and serious ones, and Benedick loyal to them, after Hero's humiliation he remains loyal to
Much Ado About Nothing - Relationships
Much Ado About Nothing: Relationships Shakespeare 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 to
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
Much Ado About Nothing
Shakespeare Coursework Benedick certainly seems to be genuine, as all of his speeches seem to be sincere and none pre-meditated. Benedick is the character everyone likes. He seems also to be more passionate than most of the other characters. Benedick is prepared to be humiliated by his friends in order to marry the one which he loves. He is a proud man and does not want to be outdone by a woman, but he will do anything for Beatrice. I think that when the two had verbal insult matches they were just trying to vie for each others attention. Beatrice is a "tomboy" and nearly an anti-male character in the early parts of the play, and seems very confident and loves to better people, especially Benedick. From the beginning of the play you can tell that these two are very powerful characters in their own ways. In the first section you get an intense feeling of hatred as Beatrice and Benedick throw insults back and forth at each other, which surely must symbolize that they don't like each other. You go through the play gradually thinking if they actually hate or like each other. The twist in the play is a surprise but it has been brought on gently as well, not just suddenly placed in front of you. Each of the two know deep down that they do love each other and only when their friends plot against them do they end up declaring their love for each other. Benedick has protested in
Much Ado about Nothing Task: Which character do you feel more sympathetic towards Beatrice or Hero?
Much Ado about Nothing Task: Which character do you feel more sympathetic towards Beatrice or Hero? Shakespeare's attitude toward courtship and romance combines mature suspicion with an awareness that the social realities surrounding courtship may detract from the fun of romance. The need to marry for social superiority and to ensure inheritance, complicates romantic relationships. Although this play is a comedy ending in multiple marriages and is full of witty dialogue making for many comic moments, it also addresses more serious events, including some that border on tragedy. The personalities of Beatrice and Hero vary greatly, leading them in opposite directions with their relationships, with Beatrice headed towards a good relationship and Hero towards a bad one. The conditions under which Beatrice's and Hero's marriages occur are the effect of their personal beliefs, which relate to their personalities. Beatrice's view on the circumstances under which marriage should occur revolve around the fact that true love must be present. This is shown when Beatrice says, "With a good leg and a good foot, uncle, and money enough in his purse, such a man would win any woman in the world, if I could get her good will." (2.1.14-17) Here, she is saying that a man can possess all these qualities, but he can only have a woman is he can get her to love him. Beatrice believes in the
Much Ado About Nothing - movie review.
Movie Review: Cast: Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Denzel Washington, Keanu Reeves, Robert Sean Leonard, Kate Beckinsale, Richard Briers, Brian Blessed, Michael Keaton, Ben Elton Running Time: 1hr 5mins Introduction If you're studying the Shakespeare play, Much Ado About Nothing, be sure to watch Kenneth Branagh's interpretation of this play. This film will provide you with an enhanced understanding of the play. Although, it is misleading at times, this version of the play will keep you fully entertained for the full 111 minutes and provide you with extra knowledge of the play. Casting The majority of the cast was well selected, and the actors lived up to expectations. Denzel Washington played Don Pedro well. He looked noble and therefore suited the part of Don Pedro. Kenneth Branagh made a super decision in casting an African American as Don Pedro. The illegitimacy is more obvious when one of the princes is 'black' and the other is 'white.' However, I feel that Keanu Reeves is not suitable to play the part of Don John. In another version of Much Ado About Nothing, the actor cast as Don John was much older and less handsome, which made him appear more of a villain and I feel, for this reason, he succeeded in playing the role of Don John. I think that Keanu Reeves is inappropriate to play this role because the audience does not immediately recognise him as a
Which of the two loves (Hero and Claudio, and Benedick and Beatrice) seems the most genuine. Much ado about nothing.
Which of the two loves(Hero and Claudio, and Benedick and Beatrice) seems the most genuine. Hero and Claudio represent an idealised love that was a very widespread image of love in the Elizabethan renaissance. With the introduction of Beatrice and Benedick, we see a very different picture- a love that thrives on conflict and tension. While Claudio says of Hero, "Can the world buy such a gem,¨ Benedick refers to Beatrice as "my dear lady disdain." While Claudio and Hero whisper sweet nothings into each other's ears, Beatrice and Benedick bicker incessantly. ("My cousin tells him in his ear that he is in her heart." to "if her breath were as terrible as her terminations, there were no living near her.") However, the play ultimately shows that Beatrice and Benedick's relationship is the more genuine. When early on in the play Claudio asks, "Hath Leonato any son my lord?¨ This is one of the first questions Claudio asks about Hero. This would suggest that he is finding out whether she will inherit all of Leonato's wealth before he finally decides that he loves Hero. When Don Pedro replies, "no child but Hero¨ he immediately delivers a speech about how much he loves her, "How fair young Hero is¨. This speech seems to be sincere but is he simply being shallow? The fact that Claudio says he is in love with Hero having only known her well for a few days raises the question
Personal study - Much Ado About Nothing
"Much Ado About Nothing", a compelling play by William Shakespeare, explores the changing relationships between the characters. Set in Messina during the late 1500s, Prince Don Pedro of Aragon and his men have returned from battle to Governor Leonato's country house. Through conflict, theme and characterisation, Shakespeare reveals a developing relationship between the cynical heroine Beatrice and the egotistical soldier Benedick. At the beginning of the play, there seems to be a possibility of a budding romance between Beatrice and Benedick although they appear to be in conflict with each other. Through dialogue we can assume that they are averse lovers. In the opening act we witness them arguing as lovers; " What, my dear Lady Disdain! Are you yet living?" - Benedick "Courtesy itself must convert to disdain if you come in her presence." - Beatrice (Act1.1.p25) Evidently, this is quite a tongue-in-cheek question with clear signs of attraction as he teases her. Their words, which may imply mutual abhorrence, are easier for them to express than to admit their true feelings. Act 2, Scene 1 is crucial in the understanding of Beatrice and Benedick's relationship. As the play progresses, both strive to conceal their true feelings through verbal sparring; "I will go now on the slightest errand now to the Antipodes that you can devise me on...rather than hold
Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing Much ado About Nothing is a play of courtly love and romance, it is about love and falling in love, where virture is rewarded and viciousness is prevented. The play explores the nature of true love, realistically and critically; the way Shakespeare intended it to be. No one would expect to find a moral to the ways of human beings; nether the less Shakespeare must have seemed infinitely subtler as a writer of comedies than any other dramatist in English there had ever been. The audience were delighted by what he had done, for they saw his achievements a true reflection of the theatre of life, in which they were living. Shakespeare used everyday lessons on stage and gave them a whole new freshness. For Hero and Claudio, courtly love was the way of romance, certain convections had to be followed everything was polite and polished. The basis of a good relationship was when women were pure. Chastity is a symbol of love, the wit of the courtly conversation adds something extra to the straightforward communication of meaning; people show off wit in front of others and confirm to acceptable models of conversation, which are often carefully contrived. Beatrice and Benedicks love is more realistic and understanding, as they don't follow the normal rules of courtly love. Claudio is an impulsive, hot headed, youth and his character unfolds in a complex fashion as
