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Essay on much ado about nothing love
Male honour and female honour in much ado about nothing
Essay on much ado about nothing love
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The theme of honour is of high significance in much ado about nothing. To have honour during shakespeare's time was very important as it earned people their respect and showed their integrity. Because everyone desired this, honour became overvalued and over exaggerated, hence why the outburst of “hero’s infidelity” almost brought the play to an end. The call off of the wedding ceremony, where Claudio rejects Hero and publicly shames her in front of her father is the climax of the play. Claudio’s intentions were to inflict as much pain as possible upon Hero, thus the play takes an abrupt turn and goes from a comedy plunging down to a tragedy. Hero's honor is then quickly called into question when it is believed she has been unfaithful to Claudio
In this world rumors and dishonesty happen to be everywhere, no matter where you are. Nowaday people start rumors just to hurt and insult people’s feelings that later on lead to dramatic events. In the story “Much Ado about Nothing”, we encounter different scenes that lead to rumors and deception. One scene that we encounter is when Don John, the bastard brother spreads rumors about Hero being disloyal to Claudio and Don Pedro to corrupt Claudio’s and Hero’s relationship. Another scene that we run into is when Ursula and Hero have a talk in the garden about how Benedick has love affection towards Beatrice. Later on, these two scenes play a huge role and become dramatic elements of the story. We will encounter on how rumors and dishonesty can destroy and corrupt not just one person, but many.
The characters in Much Ado About Nothing are easily fooled into inadequate situations that could easily be prevented by a little investigation. We can only imagine how simple their lives would be if Claudio simply inquired to Hero about her supposed actions the night before the wedding. On the other hand, Beatrice and Benedick may never have fallen in love if it were not for the trickery that entangled them. Yet again, if their friends come right out and suggest that it might be a possibility, they could grow fond of the idea and embrace it none the less. Shakespeare convinces us that it is easier to uncover the truth rather than to clean up a mess from premature actions based on an illusion.
William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing is a play involving by deception, disloyalty, trickery, eavesdropping, and hearsay. The play contains numerous examples of schemes that are used to manipulate the thoughts of other characters; it is the major theme that resonates throughout the play. Ironically, it is one of these themes that bring serenity to the chaos that encompasses most of the play.
William Shakespeare said: “Women may fall when there's no strength in men” (Romeo and Juliet). Throughout history gender role have been a big, whether someone is a feminist or someone believes there is no equality between males and females; everyone has different opinions when it comes to the matter of gender roles. The same thing can be said about William Shakespeare who was a feminist (Shakespeare of Stratford). This ideology can be seen in his play Much Ado about Nothing. In this comedy Shakespeare focuses on two pairs of lovers named Claudio and Hero who are set to be married in a week but before their marriage day, they plan to conspire with Don Pedro, the prince of Aragon to trick their friends Beatrice and Benedick to admit their love for each other. Don John, the brother of Don Pedro, meanwhile plots to prevent marriage of Claudio and Hero by accusing Hero of being unfaithful. Don John initially succeeds in his plan as Hero is accused and ashamed at the marriage ceremony, but at the end Claudio and Hero are united and marry each other. Also, Beatrice and Benedick finally declare their love for each and dance at the end of the play. Shakespeare uses a lot of sources for this comedy and one of them is “Orlando Furioso” written in 1591, which gave Shakespeare the idea of Hero and Claudio’s marriage and Don John’s plot to prevent it. Another source Shakespeare used to write the play is the courtier written in 1588, which gave him the idea of the romance between Beatrice and Benedick. And also “La Prima de la Novelle” written in 1554 by Matteo Bandello gave Shakespeare the idea of putting the setting in Messina, Italy (Shakespeare in quarto). Because Shakespeare was a feminist, some of the women appear as supporting and central...
With its entangled plots and eloquent use of words, Much Ado About Nothing is a story that has the ability to entertain the masses, both young and old. Shakespeare’s use of figurative language along with situation creates such vivid imagery that carries the drama from beginning to end. For example, when we look at Act 1 Scene 1 of the play, we are quickly introduced to the sharp tongued Beatrice as she verbally annihilates her unseen co-star Benedick.... ... middle of paper ... ...
In Les Miserables, written by Victor Hugo, it is said “whether true or false, what is said about men often has as much influence on their lives, and particularly on their destinies, as what they do”. The society of Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, is very tight. It is a small town where every person in the city knows each other. The fact that they are all close knit makes it possible for an unscrupulous villain, like Don John, to take advantage of peoples reputation and views. In Much Ado About Nothing, the people of Messina find much importance in a person’s reputation. Don John, Claudio, Dogberry, Benedick, Leonato, and Hero are involved in the opinion of others and their own reputations.
Shakespeare, intending for his plays to be performed as well as published, included the idea of trial by combat in many of his works. During his time, men valued their honor. Based on their friendships and alliances, English men upheld that honor through combat. Because audiences enjoyed the action of one character fighting another, the writer included several duels in his literary works. Shakespeare’s play Much Ado About Nothing reflects the history, philosophy, and offenses marked with a duel; his characters’ conflicts mirror the dueling that was common during the Renaissance in Europe.
“And when I lived, I was your other wife, And when you loved, you were my other husband(Shakespeare 60).” In the beginning of the play it was overwhelming, steeped in love at first sight between Hero and Claudio, until Don John’s evil-manner took a role in ruining the love between them. And because of this a conflict developed between them, but was resolved when their vigorous love for one another overcame the conflict. In Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, Hero serves as the foil character of Claudio because of Hero’s dignified, well-mannered, eminent reputation is illuminated through Claudio’s insecure, accusing, and doubtful weakness; thereby, interminably influencing the conflict in the plot.
Honor is a trait few possess in the modern world. Cyrano de Bergerac, a play by Edmond Rostand set in France during the sixteen hundreds, discusses honor in it’s truest form. But honor is not simply a code or a way to describe a man, there are characteristics that make a honorable individual. The main character, Cyrano, lives what many in his city would call an honorable life. Rostand uses this character to explore what characteristics make a man of honor. Some of the prominent traits the author presents as honorable are possessing controlled wit, bravery on and off the battlefield, and the ability to love unceasingly.
The shocking death of the Prince’s kin, Mercutio, and the revenge killing of Tybalt of the House Capulet, have shaken our city this week. The reason for these senseless deaths was one of ‘honour’. The modern notion of honour is proving to be detrimental to the safety and way of life in our city. Young men who could help build and contribute to our city are being killed in the name of this sickness, boys are learning that violence is good, and traders and travellers are passing by our city in fear, bringing economic decay. If this disease is not cured, then it will mean certain doom for our city.
Katherine Paterson says, “Real maturity, which most of us never achieve, is when you realize that you’re not the center of the universe.” Claudio, a character from Much Ado About Nothing, is a perfect example of this quote. Throughout most of the play Claudio is only concerned about how other people and events affect him. However, the obstacles and positions he is put in do not help the situation. The one of the main themes of this play is deception, which Claudio, as well as most of the other characters in the play, fall victim. In Much Ado About Nothing Claudio begins the play with a tendency to be very gullible and paranoid about everything, and he continues to show his immaturity by seeking revenge when he is upset; Claudio finally matures when he accepts that he was wrong and is willing to take the punishment that goes with his mistakes.
How Shakespeare Presents the Character of Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing and How Interpretations of His Character Can Vary
In Othello, the titular character is a visible minority who holds a high position in the army but falls victim to manipulation by his seemingly trustworthy ensign and friend. While the theme of jealousy remains the main reason for the eventual death of both Emilia and Desdemona, the preservation of honour and reputation also fuel the characters’ actions toward the women. Therefore, the men in the play act cruelly and unjustly in order to defend their honour. While the conflicts between the Othello and Iago seem to be due to jealousy, the play suggests that the men are scared of the women and their power to destroy their honour and reputation.
...e protested against justice being totally pushed into background with mercy holding the field. The Duke compels Angelo to get married to Mariana, the girl whom he had once betrayed and forsaken, and the girl whom he has now seduced. But that is the only punishment which is imposed upon a character who proves to be the worst sinner among all the characters of the play.
Shakespeare’s talent as both a writer and a poet lead to his gift for character development, down to the last detail. Henry IV, Part One contains a variety of deep characters, two of which play key roles in the evolution of the concept of honor in the play. Falstaff and Hotspur symbolize opposing viewpoints concerning the main theme of the play – honor. At the time the play was written, honor was defined as “the special virtues which distinguish those of the nobility in the exercise of their vocation–gallantry in combat with a worthy foe, adherence to the accepted code of arms, and individual loyalty to friends, family, and comrades in arms” (Prior 14). Although honor is an important subject in the play, this is not to say that it can be found as an inherent quality in any of the characters. Where is the honor in peasants uprising against a usurper king whom they placed in office? The reader is invited to see honor through the eyes of either Falstaff or Hotspur. Hotspur’s pursuit of honor becomes obsessive to the point that he is blinded to everything that doesn’t pertain to his quest for honor. Falstaff holds the opposing viewpoint, concluding that honor is rejected due to its limitations on life and therefore must be seen as empty and valueless. To...