Explore the possible meanings of the title 'Much AdoAbout Nothing'.
Explore the possible meanings of the title 'Much Ado About Nothing' How important are titles? The title of Much Ado About Nothing is very imprecise. The word nothing has four different meanings and Ado also has the meaning of 'fuss and bother' and 'excitement'. These meanings relate to the plot of Hero and Claudio's love, the wedding, the Beatrice and Benedick deceits as well as Hero's 'death' closer to the end of the play. In the Longman Dictionary the first meaning of the word 'nothing' is 'not anything' and it refers to existence and being none i.e. preference that something exists, but it doesn't. This meaning is demonstrated throughout the plot within the theme of deceit. The deceits where this occur involve Don John with Hero and Claudio, Leonato's court with Benedick and Beatrice, and the Friar with Hero's 'death'. When Don John tells Claudio that he 'heard [Don Pedro] swear his affection' for Hero in line 125 of Act 2 Scene 1, he is deceiving Claudio because it is not true. Don John only says this because he enjoys being evil and is a 'plain-dealing villain'. It is possible that this evil is in Don John because he is the bastard brother of Don Pedro, who will get all the inheritance from their father leaving Don John with nothing from their father's estate. The first deceit in the Beatrice and Benedick plot takes place in Act 2 Scene 3. Don Pedro, along with
Macbeth by William Shakespeare coursework piece:
Archie Mustafa 13th February 2007 Macbeth by William Shakespeare coursework piece: Who is to blame for the tragedy? The play, Macbeth, is the last of Shakespeare's four great tragedies. The Scottish play raises many questions, however, I am going to focus on what made Macbeth commit some of the most terrible deeds in Scottish history. In the play, Shakespeare adds a sense of the supernatural that conspires against Macbeth and Scotland. The play is set in Scotland where Macbeth is a triumphant, brave soldier who is the co-leader of the Scottish army and is a national hero. His loyal reputation increases due to further victories against the Norwegians but all of this soon changes as a prophecy leads him to believe that he will be King of Scotland. This takes Macbeth on a bloody rise to power and, on the way, he ends up committing the horrible deed of regicide. Is this prophecy the beginning of a guilt ridden path of evil, generating still more cowardly, evil actions which results in his death and downfall? Macbeth's rise to power and his reign over Scotland is very corrupt and during this time the natural order of the country is overturned causing everyone to live in an atmosphere of suspicion and fear. However, the real question is, was Macbeth completely to blame, and what made him actually
Analyse how Shakespeare creates an effective dramatic framework for Romeo and Juliet to meet for the first time in Act 1, Scene 5
Analyse how Shakespeare creates an effective dramatic framework for Romeo and Juliet to meet for the first time in Act 1, Scene 5 Romeo and Juliet is most probably the most famous play in the world. It has been made into films, remade as modernised plays and even performed by puppets. It was written by the greatest influence to English theatre, William Shakespeare. The story of Romeo and Juliet was created after William Shakespeare read a poem about them and decided to make it into a play. The entire play centres around two families, the Montagues and the Capulets feuding houses bred from hatred for one another, stuck in a stalemate, each bearing a child; yet fate does not bid them well. Love is what overcomes the hearts of the heirs of this feud. Romeo a Montague, Juliet a Capulet, foes by heritage lovers by a hearts plea. Can this love last or is there tragedy in store for them. I will be studying the first ever meeting of Romeo and Juliet. It takes place at the Capulet mansion, where a ball is being held. Romeo and his friends decide to sneak in. Just before the scene Romeo has a premonition. He says "Some consequences yet hanging in the stars Shall bitterly begin this fearful date" This premonition by Romeo tells the audience about what is going to come. We are told from the start that death shall come to both Romeo and Juliet and this premonition adds context to
Act 3 Scene 3 of Othello is a pivotal scene - explain how act 3 scene 3 is a pivotal scene and how it builds on previous events and foreshadows events still to come.
Act 3 Scene 3 of Othello is a pivotal scene In what ways does it build on previous events still to come? In this essay I am going to explain how act 3 scene3 is a pivotal scene and how it builds on previous events and foreshadows events still to come. In act 3 scene 3 events happen to build on previous events and foreshadow events still to come. One of these events is Desdemona frequently talking about Cassio, as she says. "Your lieutenant, Cassio" Desdemona also defends Cassio by saying that he should get his job back. "Good love call him back" This foreshadows Othello getting suspicious and going to do something bad to Desdemona. Iago tells Othello to beware of jealousy. "Beware my lord of jealousy" This foreshadows Othello getting jealous of Desdemona. Iago mentions that if Desdemona can deceive her father she can deceive Othello. "She did deceive her father marrying you" This will make Othello even more suspicious about his wife. Othello is quick to judge, he jumps to conclusions without having a fair trial. We know this because he gave Iago Cassio's job without thinking twice. "Cassio, I love thee; but never more be officer of mine." This foreshadows that Othello will not think twice about hurting Desdemona. Othello trusts Iago and that is his downfall as he is used as a puppet of Iago.
Is Shylock More Sinned Against Than Sinning? Discuss...
Is Shylock More Sinned Against Than Sinning? Discuss... In the play 'The Merchant Of Venice' by William Shakespeare, the main characters, Shylock and Antonio are money lenders. Shylock lends money for a business making money from interest whereas Antonio lends money without interest, his main occupation being a tradesman. Shylock hates Antonio for not charging interest along with many other things and Antonio also hates Shylock, mainly for being a Jew. Shylock has a daughter, which makes her Jewish, but she is deeply in love with Lorenzo, a Christian man. Shylock is highly against this, he wishes for his daughter to marry a fellow Jew as he thinks that Christians are all bad, they are mostly against him. Jessica runs away from home with Lorenzo to get married, Shylock is very distraught at this. Antonio is very good friends with Bassanio. Antonio is always willing to lend any money he has to Bassanio, they are both very loyal to each other. Bassanio wishes to impress Portia so she will become his partner, he wishes to borrow money from Antonio, Antonio needs to borrow the money from Shylock. Antonio signs a bond saying he is allowed to borrow 3000 ducats to be paid back over three months, if not paid back in time Shylock is allowed to take the pound of flesh closest to Antonio's heart. Antonio is confident he will be able to pay back the money but while some of his ships
Looking in particular at Act 3, Scene 5, discuss how Shakespeare uses language to create different atmospheres, thus adding to
Looking in particular at Act 3, Scene 5, discuss how Shakespeare uses language to create different atmospheres, thus adding to the audience's appreciation of the play. Refer also to the social, cultural and historical aspects of the scene and the play in general. 'Romeo and Juliet' is a tragedy about forbidden love between two young people from rival, feuding families: 'the Montagues and the Capulets'. Romeo and Juliet meet and instantly fall instantly in love before finding out each others true identities (i.e. from the rival families) and they promise to marry. However, after the wedding, Tybalt, Juliet's cousin, tries to get Romeo to fight him. He will not and Mercutio, Romeo's best friend, ends up being killed by Tybalt. Consequently, Romeo kills Tybalt in a fury for revenge. When this is discovered, Romeo is banished from Verona. Juliet learns that that her father, Lord Capulet, has arranged for her to marry Count Paris, but Juliet refuses. She goes to the Friar, who offers her a potion to make her appear dead for 42 hours so she can escape to Mantua to avoid the wedding and can be with Romeo. Friar Lawrence sends a message to Romeo to tell him the plan, but it does not reach him. Romeo hears that Juliet is dead, so he buys some poison and goes to see her. He drinks the poison and dies just before Juliet wakes up. Then she stabs herself and dies next to Romeo. The
How is Death And Violence Portrayed In Romeo And Juliet By William Shakespeare?
How is Death And Violence Portrayed In Romeo And Juliet By William Shakespeare? Romeo And Juliet is quite possibly the most famous love story of all time. It has many concurrent themes running throughout the course of the entire story and one that is very prevalent is that of death and violence, the violence being both verbal and physical. Shakespeare merged the themes of death and violence with those of passion, love, and affection, which contrast beautifully with the more macabre themes to create a distinctive mood and atmosphere. In this essay I will be showing exactly how Shakespeare portrayed the said issues of death and violence in Romeo And Juliet. Violence often plays a part in media, being shown more and more on film and television. Nowadays we have trailers or commercials to tell the prospective viewer of the details of what will happen in what they are watching. In Shakespeare's time they had prologues at the beginning of the plays. Prologues were an outline of the story of the play and the prologue of Romeo and Juliet was no different. It instantly shows how death and violence was going to be a major aspect of the play. The lines " From ancient grudge break to new mutiny / civil blood makes civil hands unclean", show instantaneously how there has been a grievance between some people who are quite obviously of the nobility and how the grievance has turned violent
Use of Language in Macbeth
Macbeth Coursework Shakespeare uses various different ways to introduce the character of Macbeth and also to show how his actions will build up causing the tragedy to come. The ways Shakespeare does this is by using some of the following; the themes, imagery, the language and the supernatural. Shakespeare introduces Macbeth as a strong, power wanting and noble fighter. Macbeth talks to the witches in the start of Act1 scene 3 by commanding them to speak to him and for them to tell him what they are. "Speak if you can. What are you?" Indicating that Macbeth talks with authority, that he has power over the witches, as he does not politely ask the witches. The way that Macbeth is speaking here is by using imperative verbs. Shakespeare here uses language to show us what Macbeth's character is like. He also tells us by using language that Macbeth is respected by others at the start of the play. In Act 1 scene 2 it states "O valiant cousin, worthy gentlemen." Duncan expresses this about Macbeth. This reveals that people do respect Macbeth and that he is brave and are Gentlemen meaning that his status is quite high. Once Macbeth has introduced Macbeth he then starts using different means to show Macbeths downfall and his actions that lead to tragedy. Another way he uses to show the downfall of Macbeth and the tragedy to come through the uses of dramatic devices. In Act 1 scene 5
She ran up the wooden staircase, her hand brushing along the ornate handrail, her long skirt sweeping against the red-carpet flooring
She ran up the wooden staircase, her hand brushing along the ornate handrail, her long skirt sweeping against the red-carpet flooring. She came to the white door, the mahogany handle shining as she reached out and grasped it. She pulled it open in a sudden movement. The lady was sitting, seemingly asleep, in the cushioned chair by the blazing fire. The girl walked over to her. Then she realised the fact that would change her life. Lady Victoria Peterson was dead. She was dead, and it was all her fault. WATSON'S NARRATIVE A young man opened the door to us. I saw his hands were pale and shaking, shadows under his eyes as though he had been deprived of many hours sleep and a fearful look on his face as though he was scared of Sherlock Holmes in his deerstalker hat and the characteristic pipe poking out of his pocket. "Mr Holmes," he greeted us, "and Dr Watson, I presume? Very good to meet you, very honoured indeed. I've heard so many great tales about you. But my, how inconsiderate of me! Please, do come in and sit by the fire. The maid will be along shortly with the tea." We were led along to a room of medium size on the ground floor of the house. It was furnished exquisitely, yet simply. The large, slightly torn armchair that sat in the corner seemed out of place somehow with the rest of the room, the neat, smaller armchairs and the mahogany table that stood in the middle
Examine three of the pre-1914 mystery stories you have read, commenting on the different approaches of the writers and explaining what you think makes a good mystery story.
I studied three short stories, "the Red Room, "the Signalman" and "the Speckled Band". The stories are all linked together as they all have a sense of mystery, however they all have a different emphasis. "The Speckled Band" is a detective, murder mystery story yet the other two are ghost stories. All of the stories were written before 1914. It was around this time that people had gained a fascination with the criminal mind; they liked the idea of the clumsy criminal being outsmarted and captured by the genius detective. The Victorians also had a liking for the workings of the mind/psychoanalysis "set against the interest in the spirit world and the supernatural". When they were first used, the railways represented glamour and mystique, and were the most advanced mode of transport. At the time of the Victorians they had an interest in scientific advances, so you had the conflict between this interest and the interest in the spiritual world, for example, in "the Red Room" - the old people believed in ghosts, however the man did not, the author did this in a way to provide conflict, as arguments could be brought up from both sides. In general, all mystery stories have a feeling of "safe fear", meaning we can relate to the characters and the feeling of tension, this is created as the author involves the reader in the story by including questions or puzzles for them to solve,
