Much Ado About Nothing:
Discuss The Character And Role Of Beatrice In "Much Ado About Nothing". What Do You Feel She Adds To The Play For The Audience? The play "Much Ado About Nothing" is set in Sicily, Italy. Shakespeare uses the character Beatrice to contribute to central themes such as Love and Comedy. This central character helps Shakespeare to write about the attitutdes towards women in the late 16th century. Shakespeare present his two leading ladies, Hero and Beatrice, in very different ways. Hero illustrates the perfect 16th Century woman, whereas Beatrice is the complete opposite of this. Shakespear refers to ladies as posessions, available to be bought and cold, Hero is seen as a posession to both her father, and her suitor, "...could the world buy such a jewel?" Claudio clearly feels strongly for Hero and his admition of these feelings prompts Benedick's reply "...yea, and a box to put it in..." adding to the imagery of women being posissions and to the comedy of the scene. Shakespeare uses Beatrice's position in the household as a reason for her more outrageous behaviour - she lives with her Uncle, and doesn't feel the pull of resposibility towards her parents that Hero feels. This causes many differences in the behaviour of Beatrice and |Hero; Beatrice can be herself, "warring" with men and is critical of many male values, Hero on the other hand is the perfect 16th Centurye woman -
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 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
Much Ado about Nothing Extract - 1st wedding
In Shakespeare's MAAN, this scene is made dramatic as it creates a sombre mood in an otherwise comedic play, as Claudio slanders Hero in public at their wedding and claims she is not a maid after the audience has been shown Don John's plot to ruin Hero's reputation, revealing how their relationship, based on appearances, cannot hold when threatened but is resolved with Hero and Claudio's eventual wedding as is appropriate to the ending of a comedy. First of all, the extract is made dramatic because of how appearances and reality are portrayed, revealing to the audience how Claudio and Hero's public relationship can so quickly fall apart, because of it being built on reputation and image. Claudio calls Hero a "rotten orange", illustrating how he feels her sweet exterior is actually only a front, "rotten" implying that she is just that - ruined by something and deceiving him by being seemingly so 'good' on the outside. However, Claudio also claims "her blush is guiltiness, not modesty" which lends credence to the idea of Hero's appearance not actually reflecting who she is. A blush normally symbolises virginity, yet here is used against her, making her seem only more guilty. This adds to the dramatic atmosphere, as the audience is now well aware of Hero's innocence, yet Claudio still views her as an "approved wanton" and shuns her attempts to rectify herself, adding to the
english much ado about nothing
What is there about act IV scene 1 that makes it a very dramatic scene? Act 4 scene one is a very dramatic scene and holds the main event and climax to the play in this act. In this scene we know that Claudio is going to reject Hero publicly because of Don Johns plot to stop the marriage. But we (the audience) know that Hero has been faithful. We also know that because its a romantic comedy it will have a happy ending and everything will turn out o.k. and all the couples will be together at the end of the play in Act 5. In Shakespeare's plays there are always 5 acts. Everything usually comes to a head in act 3 and we also know that because it is a romantic comedy every thing will work out. Acts 4 & 5 bring the play to a happy conclusion. In the opening scene of the play we have seen Don Pedro's army stay with Leonato in his house Leonato feels honoured and privileged that Don Pedro choose his house to stay at. Claudio is in love with Hero but thinks his love is unrequited. Benedick and Beatrice have lots of fights and arguments to hide how the both really feel towards each other. We can tell that Claudio loves Hero because he says things like " can the world buy such a jewel" referring to Hero as the jewel and also plainly says " if Hero would be my wife" this obviously shows that Claudio likes Hero. It is clear that Beatrice and Benedick relationship is very different at
Shakespeare presents courtship in Much Ado - How might a modern audience respond to these? Examine at least two examples of relationships in the play.
Shakespeare presents courtship in Much Ado. How might a modern audience respond to these? Examine at least two examples of relationships in the play. The themes of love, marriage and courtship are an important part of 'Much Ado about nothing'; they are presented in a way that reflects the attitudes of the society at that time. I will explore the different attitudes of modern audiences and Shakespeare's audience towards these themes in the play. The two examples of relationships I have chosen are Beatrice and Benedick's and Hero and Claudio's. This is because I think they are in contrast with each other, at the beginning of the play it appears that Hero and Claudio will be the perfect couple formed in a conventional way, Claudio goes through the right channels and their marriage is arranged. Later we learn that even though Beatrice and Benedick seem to deeply dislike each other and think they would be a rather an unexpected couple we realise later their love is more sincere and genuine. The couples communicate on different levels; this reflects how comfortable they are in each other presence. Hero and Claudio's marriage was by proxy; Don Pedro was to woo Hero in Claudio's name. Hero's father is then immediately asked for Hero's hand in marriage. This highlights the fact that there is little if no communication between the couple before they decide to marry. Both Hero and
To What Extent is Much Ado About Nothing seen as a Satire?
Alex Ezrati 12*6 To What Extent is Much Ado About Nothing seen as a Satire? This essay will analyse the way in which Shakespeare makes this comedy bitterly satirical, and a comment on not only the pretentious style and swank of Spaniards, namely Don Pedro and his gang, but human stupidity as a whole. Much Ado About Nothing portrays the issues of sex, war, marriage and chivalric courtly love in an ironic and satirical way. On a topical level, the play satirises Spanish, Sicilian and Italian aristocrats in the 16th Century, and their comical dress sense, style of speech and general outlook and their anachronistic concepts. The appearance of Don Pedro's group of friends from the outset would be funny, as not only do they affect this aristocratic culture and lifestyle, but also they are complete travesties of it. At the very start of the play, we see Beatrice's satirical nature as she addresses the messenger, bringing news of the wars won, and the bravery of certain soldiers. The mood in this opening dialogue would be deadly serious if it wasn't for Beatrice making a mockery of the brave and valorous 'Signor Mountanto'. "How many hath he killed? For I promise to eat all of his killing." She claims here that Benedick doesn't actually have the stomach to kill anybody, and retorts to every sincere statement with a wry satirical comment about Benedick's courage. This sort of
What do we learn about the Society of Messina in the play Much Ado About Nothing?
GCSE ENGLISH LITERATURE COURSEWORK: "Much Ado About Nothing" What do we learn about the Society of Messina in the play Much Ado About Nothing? The elaborate society of Messina is an apposite setting for the plot of Much Ado About Nothing being based upon premeditated deceptions, full of social grace ideals, packed with entertainment and churned with aristocracy and hypocrisy. It is darkened with counterfeiting and tricks that manipulate the thoughts and feelings of characters which exist in its setting. The sinister element of concealing reality by ornamented outward outlooks plays a major part in this civilization. In my personal opinion, it is a flamboyant world where ceremony dominates and, likewise, one's affluence, power and social class hold great value upon one's position in the society - they are very important social indicators. To start with, Messina is full of courtiers of social elegance which constantly aim to serve the individuals who are higher up in the ladder of societal standing. The typical conventions of courtiers as described in Baldassare's Casitglione's sixteenth century manual "The Courtier" were to use highly manufactured lingo, yet, crafting the show of effortlessness in their self-lifting and judicious performances. The characters' exaggeratingly polite manner of speaking and gracious demeanour represents the principle that Renaissance courtiers
What do you find Interesting about Shakespeare's Presentation of Deception in 'Much Ado about Nothing'?
Jinita Batavia page 1 What do you find Interesting about Shakespeare's Presentation of Deception in 'Much Ado about Nothing'? In Much Ado about Nothing, Shakespeare presents us with a romp through the realms of truth and deception. The play is full of characters plotting and deceiving, for both noble and repugnant reasons. It is a study in the importance and necessity of malevolent and ambiguous deception in everyday lives, and shows how deeply ingrained deception is in our social behaviors. The ambiguity of the word 'Nothing' in the title, which was, pronounced the same as "noting", creating a grand pun with regards to the title of the play. One of the meanings that is implied is female genitalia, an Elizabethan euphemism, which Shakespeare pokes fun at the fuss created by male desire to gain control of the female nothing. "I noted her not, but I looked on her" Benedick replies Claudio, pointing at the subjectivity of perception. The main characters in Much Ado about Nothing are all victims of deception, and it is because they are deceived that they act in the ways that they do. Although the central deception is directed against Claudio in an attempt to destroy his relationship with Hero, it is the deceptions involving Beatrice and Benedick, which provides the plays dramatic focus. The power of illusion is enhanced when fabrications oblige Beatrice and Benedick to express
What Impressions do an Audience get of Benedick from the Different Ways in Which he Speaks and Behaves in These 2 Extracts?
What Impressions do an Audience get of Benedick from the Different Ways in Which he Speaks and Behaves in These 2 Extracts? In the first extract, Benedick and Claudio are alone so the focus of the audience is on them. Shakespeare makes all the characters leave the scene except for Benedick and Claudio, which shows that whilst Beatrice and the others are more sociable and keep with the group, Benedick and Claudio want some time to themselves. This shows that Benedick does not like large crowds of people and is automatically portrayed as an introverted character. It is also an ideal time for Claudio to talk to Benedick about Hero because he thinks about her so much that the entry of their conversation is about her. "Benedick, didst thou note the daughter of Signor Leonato?" is the opening line; it suggests that although Benedick might not have observed Hero closely, Claudio obviously has. Benedick replies with very sarcastic answers, like, "Why, i'faith, methinks she's too low for a high praise, too brown for a fair praise, and too little for a great praise." His sarcastic responses imply that he does not think much about Hero and that he finds the whole affair a joke - something to make fun out of. Shakespeare shows Benedick's staunch outlook of love when he says, "With anger, with sickness, or with hunger, my lord; not with love." Benedick compares love with negative
