William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy about deception. In this play we
discover that there are different types of deception: - good deception
and bad deception. Good deception is deception based on good
intentions and the outcome is constructive. Bad deception is deception
based on bad intentions and the outcome is destructive. The whole of
Act IV Scene I is based, entirely, on deception and deceptive plots
that were laid earlier on in the play. Don John's plot to thwart
Claudio reaches its climax. Don John's plan is an example of bad
deception because from the beginning of the play, he wanted to destroy
Claudio.
"If I can cross him any way, I bless myself every way." (Act I Scene
III Line 62- 63)
From the beginning he wishes to thwart Claudio. His plan succeeds and
brings with it a very destructive outcome. He deceives Claudio about
Hero's loyalty and in turn, Claudio deceives Leonato and everybody
that has gathered at the church for the wedding. Claudio deceives Hero
and Leonato by turning up at the church, giving a false impression
that the wedding will continue. He then goes on to deceive everybody
about Hero's innocence by making a big scene and announcing in front
of everybody that he will not marry Hero because she has been
unfaithful. Claudio's talk about deception in this scene is in fact
ironic because he himself has been deceived, but not by the person he
is accusing. However, Claudio's dialogue about deception was genuine
“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.
Hero in Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare In this essay, I will be looking at the character Hero. I will write about how she interacts with other characters, her personality and her function within the play. The three scenes I will be looking at are Act 3 scene 1, Act 3 scene 4 and Act 5 scene 4. If I was directing Act 3 Scene 1, I would want Hero to come across to.
Much Ado About Nothing presents a picturesque love story between two characters that meet us as individuals full of hate, and leave us as an inseparable pair. These two characters are Benedick and Beatrice and act to us as sweethearts who have fallen deeply and passionately IN love in a way that we would all fantasize over- slowly, and then all at once. Their relationship in Shakespeare’s play has been presented through their matching characteristics, the way they speak and the way the language has been written to show their affection, the events that occur to push them together, other people influencing a bond, the connections between how Shakespeare has presented love in his other plays and finally the different versions of this portrayal through movies and theatre productions. Much Ado About Nothing shows us the difference between Perfect love and perfect love and also depicts the social hierarchy of around the time of the play through characters doing things out of honour and reputation, and not because it is the right thing to do. The title of the play plays a huge role in depicting the ideas of Shakespeare, as nothing is similar to the word ‘noting’ -slang for gossip and therefore it is ideal as the play is entirely ‘A whole lot of fuss about gossip’. This is because the characters are under false knowledge and create aggravation over fabricated rumours.
True love is a bond shared by few and dreamed of by everyone. The appearance of a relationship may not accurately depict the true reality of the situation. The bond between Claudio and Hero appears far stronger than that of Beatrice and Benedict, yet events of the play provide evidence for the converse. In Shakespeare's comedy Much Ado About Nothing, the masked emotions of two couples are evoked through subterfuge.
"Much Ado About Nothing: Entire Play." Much Ado About Nothing: Entire Play. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2014. .
The title of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing has sparked scholarly debates about its meaning for centuries. Some say it is a play on the term “noting”, revolving around the theme of all sorts of deceptions by all sorts of appearances (Rossiter 163). Others claim it has more to do with everyone making a fuss about things that turn out to be false, therefore, nothing (Vaughn 102). Regardless of these speculations, there is something rather profound going on in the play that is worth making a big deal about: four characters in the play learn about love, and eventually, how to love.
In William Shakespeare’s play ‘Much Ado about Nothing’, there are many instances of trickery and deception, which seem to surround the whole of the play.
Blindness is only a disability to those that are mentally eyeless. Shakespeare being a man of keen mental sight, he has had the ability to portray mental blindness in several of his plays. Being one of the best writers, he is actively able to capture the four elements of a well-made play being peripetiea, denouement, timely entrances and exits and incredibly gripping scene entrances and conclusions. Having written 38 plays with two original plots, Shakespeare expresses his themes through passionate romance, sorrow filled tragedy, inviting history and hilarious comedy. One of his most famous comedies is the play called, Much Ado About Nothing. In this play the comedic aspects greatly emphasize the important theme of self-knowledge. Self-Knowledge is the most imperative form of knowledge that one can acquire being that it is the ability to recognize and accept through forgiveness of ones flaws. Thus the ability to love one’s self, love others and participate in the love of god. The two subplots of Dogberry as well as Benedict and Beatrice coincide with the main plot of Don Pedro and Claudio to convey Shakespeare’s main idea that to see reality for what it truly is, self-knowledge is necessary.
Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing While Hamlet and Much Ado About Nothing have the same author, they both have similarities and differences in themes. Some people live their life looking for love and never finding it, it is often said that you will find love when you least expect it. Both plays have common beliefs of love, marriage, however, death is viewed very differently. Love in Hamlet is often depressing, even though love is wanted by all. What is the point in loving somebody if they are going to die anyway?
...e one of the main issues raised is that there is not enough equality and that women do not have enough of a voice. The way that the character Beatrice is represented in this play the way that doesn’t conform, whereas Hero is the idealistic women, wife, daughter of Shakespeare’s time. Whilst Much Ado About Nothing was written 400 years ago the relevance of Shakespeare’s issues of Love and Deception are still universal. The theme of love transcend, Beatrice and Benedick relationship is an archetypal for unconditional and unwavering love. Deception is still a common occurrence in our modern world. Don John is still the most deceptive character in the play even though Don Pedro, his brother deceives; his deception is used for good instead of bad. This play is still popular today as the themes of love and deception are still relevant in daily life and in this society.
"Much Ado About Nothing" is a play categorised as a comedy, and written by the dramatist William Shakespeare. A comic play is usually accepted to be a light-hearted play with a happy conclusion. A play classed as a tragedy is serious and sad, usually ending with the death of the main character. A tragicomedy is a play consisting of both tragic and comic elements. Much Ado is of the comedy genre as it contains humorous scenes and ends happily, however the play also includes serious incidents, which contributes to a tragic element in the play.
Rossiter, A.P. "Much Ado About Nothing." William Shakespeare Comedies & Romances. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1986.
themes is Love. There can be many facets of love found in the play. It
In conclusion, Shakespeare's play "Much Ado about Nothing" intertwines two love stories in Renaissance Italy. Through its characters, it portrays the political and household lifestyles of the Renaissance times.
Rossiter, A.P. "Much Ado About Nothing." William Shakespeare Comedies & Romances. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1986.