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What is the role of women in much ado about nothing
What is the role of women in much ado about nothing
How Shakespeare presents attitudes towards women in Much Ado About Nothing
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Entry 1: Act I: Don Pedro and his men return from the war and visit the house of Leonato and his brother, Antonio. This sudden meeting reunites Beatrice with her archrival, Benedick, and it is here that Claudio and Hero fall in love. React: In Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing, there are the usual characters that show up in most of Shakespeare’s pieces. For instance the characters Hero and Claudio could easily be compared to Romeo and Juliet. Both Hero and Juliet are innocent, quite, and beautiful young women who fall in love instantly without conversing with the other person. Likewise, Claudio and Romeo decide to marry these women within twenty-four hours. Because of these characters’ lack of unique and interesting qualities, I am intrigued by Beatrice. Beatrice is by far the best character Shakespeare created; because of how effortlessly she lightens the mood. Beatrice is gifted with wit, humor, and strength uncommon in Shakespeare’s time. One can tell Beatrice’s drollness is at its best when speaking about or to Benedick. When Benedick greets her as “Lady Disdain” (I.i.109), she snaps, “Is it possible disdain should die, while she hath such meet food to feed it as Signior Benedick? Courtesy itself must convert to disdain, if you come in her presence” (I.i.110-113). Instead of taking offense, she welcomes the name and essentially tells Benedick that she acts contemptuous only because she’s talking to him. She adds that she’s agreeable with everyone, with him as an exception. Benedick retorts that she’s lucky that she doesn’t love him like all the other women he knows, because he loves no one especially not her. Beatrice responds, “A dear happiness to women, they would else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor. ... ... middle of paper ... ...r it’s Hero and both the couples are happily married. Create: The painting that I created is an abstract depiction of fire. Benedick and Beatrice’s love is like fire because it can’t be tamed or put out. They both try to hide the kindling of their affection for each other to no avail. Even after they initially confessed to each other they both tried to douse their feelings and completely denied ever having loved the other. Despite this, their friends revealed their secret letters and the flames rekindled burning fiercer and brighter than ever before. Therefore they can only let it grow with fiery passion and succumb to their emotions and get married just like their friends planned. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. Much Ado about Nothing. Ed. Paul Werstine, Barbara A. Mowat, and Gail Kern. Paster. New York: Simon &ump; Schuster Paperbacks, 1995. Print.
From this we see that Beatrice and Benedick are actually very similar. Both believe that they are joyous and pleasing, for example Benedick states ?I am merry? and is described as ?from the crown of his head to the sole of his foot, he is all mirth?. Beatrice also states that she was ?born to speak all mirth and no matter? and is described as ?a pleasant spirited lady?. Beatrice and Benedick are also similar because of their desire to stay single. We see this in the comments, ?I will live a bachelor? by Benedick and ?She cannot endure to hear tell of a husband? by Leonato about Beatrice. This shows Shakespeare?s dramatic irony as they end up falling in love with each other at the end.
	 The relationship between Benedick and Beatrice is one manufactured completely through deception on the behalf of their friends. Though the plot to unite them was planned, many of the problems that arose were because of things that were overheard accidentally or on purpose. In Act II, Scene 3 Benedick is deceived into thinking that Beatrice loves him because of the speech in the garden between Leonato, Claudio, and Don Pedro. Beatrice is sent to fetch Benedick for dinner, and Benedick notes "some marks of love in her," and he decides to take pity upon her and return her love. In Act III, Scene 1 Beatrice is deceived as she overhears Hero and Ursula talk of Benedick's affection for her. Beatrice then decides to allow herself to be tamed by Benedick's "loving hand," and return his love. Beatrice and Benedick re made to fall in love through the deception of those around them, and ironically find happiness more readily than Claudio and Hero.
The traits and characteristics of Beatrice and Bene*censored* were what brought them together, and also what separated them. Beatrice and Bene*censored* were separated because, they always thought that they had to be independent, and not need each other. Another factor that kept them from coming together was that they always fought with each other over their differences and because of their similarities. In trying to seem strong, they were actually fighting with each other, and hurting each other's feelings. The final thing that kept Bene*censored* and Beatrice from coming together was that they both thought that marriage was a stupid institution.
Because Benedick and Beatrice both share most of their more weird traits (especially for that time period) it makes their relationship much more interesting than Hero and Claudio’s, which is relatively normal of a couple from that time period. In the play Hero represents the formal courtship traditions from the time. When marriage is talked about in the play she tends to not have an opinion on it even if it is her own marriage. At the start of the play she is apparently in love with Claudio but, Leonato has heard that Don Pedro means to ask Hero’s hand in marriage and tells
In William Shakespeare’s comical play “Much Ado About Nothing” it is easily said that trickery and deceit are major themes portrayed throughout the story. With the intense use of deception, it becomes hard to realize whether the deceit was an intentional or righteous act. While using deception the play keeps anyone who comes to read it interested and entertained. Throughout the play there are multiple times that the theme is being used for malicious reasons, however it is also evident that it is used for ethical and logical reasons. These themes lead to love and romance distinctly, considering that most deception used all through the play is unfortunate. Deception and trickery are most evident, in the interaction between Beatrice and Benedick.
He believes he is too good for marriage and is happy just the way he is. This changes when he meets Beatrice. She is a worthy opponent for his wit and gives him a sound fight and wins some of the matches. With the deceptive gulling of his friends, Benedick is led to believe that Beatrice is in love with him. He vows that he is “horribly in love with her” (2.3 line 237) and immediately changes his mindset on marriage. When Beatrice asks him to defend Hero’s honor in a sword duel Benedick is torn between his loyalties of his love for Beatrice and the group of soldiers. Happily, he chooses to defend Hero and sever his ties with the group, forever winning the heart of his beloved
Beatrice and Signior Benedick are suggested to have had an unpleasant past with each other, which is translated to the mocking relationship
Benedick and Beatrice use their wit as a form of flirtation, but what is more important is that both of these characters are significant and noticeable because of their voices and their abilities to speak up for themselves and others. Beatrice confronts and is confronted by various male and female characters throughout the play and Shakespeare makes it very obvious to readers that Beatrice will always have something to say and will always use her voice. She confronts Claudio, Antonio, Leonato, and Benedick, just to name a few characters, and she does so without any hesitation. Beatrice, like Benedick, chooses to talk, she will not remain silent. Benedick is easily the male reflection of Beatrice in that he is also willing to confront and be confronted by any of the other characters. Throughout their dialogues with various characters, both Benedick and Beatrice consistently use the words “tell” and “speak,” and it can be argued that these words are the embodiment of Beatrice and Benedick and separate characters as well as a couple. It is also important to note that unlike Hero and Claudio, Beatrice and Benedick have voices both privately and publicly, such as when Beatrice made jests about Benedick during the masked ball. The uncertainty of whether or not Beatrice knew it was Benedick under mask further fuels the argument that Beatrice will say what she wants publically, if she does not recognize Benedick, and privately, if she does realize it is
Shakespeare makes sure that Beatrice comes off as a woman who is not afraid to speak her mind to anyone. This is portrayed in the beginning of act one, when the mail messenger comes to announce that the soldiers are on their way to Messina. They start a conversation about Benedick and he tells Beatrice that Benedick is a "lord to a lord, a ...
She shows this by verbally fighting with Benedick; Beatrice chooses to display her dominance through arguments and witty comebacks, even though societal standards say to be compliant towards men, especially in conversation. Beatrice shows no mercy or attempt to follow society’s rules but keeps her “acerbic speech” that “appears at times more conventionally male than conventionally female,” she shows this in various conversations, mainly with Benedick (Hunt). In the beginning of the play when everyone is acquainted Beatrice defiles Benedick’s presence. Right after Benedick speaks to Leonato, Beatrice says, “I wonder that you will still be talking, Signior Benedick; Nobody marks you.” Saying this comment, Beatrice shows no fear of saying what is on her mind, though it may be disrespectful. Beatrice shows no care of what we should say or not say but banters with Benedick for her own entertainment and pleasure. However, as comments exchange between the two, Benedick fights but quickly loses his will to continue the witty
Beatrice and Benedick both are some strong-willed individuals. They both don't see their sales married. Benedick signifies this several times throughout the play. He reveals his hatred towards marriage as he exclaims , Benedick: “ Is't come to this? In faith, hath not the world one man, but he will his cap with suspicion? Shall I never see a bachelor of 3 come again? Go to my face, and thou Wilt needs Thursday neck into a yoke, where the print of it, and sign away Sundays”. ( 1. 1. 193-198). This quote means that he doesn't see himself ever becoming a married man, he is also explaining why he doesn't want to get married. Also, Benedick describes that that marriage turns
However, once Beatrice’s friends start to get into her head, she thinks that he has feelings for her and she changes. Beatrice becomes a more loving person and shows her love for Benedick. At one point in the play, Beatrice writes a love letter to Benedick. When he receives this letter from Hero, her true feelings are exposed and her friends see that she really does care for him now. To add, in Beatrice’s soliloquy she states, “And Benedick, love on. I will requite thee, Taming my wild heart to thy loving hand.” Ursula and Hero convinced Beatrice that Benedick had feelings for her. In this quotation, Beatrice was explaining how she changed and how she loves him now. As Beatrice leant about Benedick’s love for her through her peers, she changed herself to be more loving towards him. Additionally, as a result of Beatrice being a witty woman, she was strong and independent too. In the play, Beatrice explained to Leonato that she was very happy and blessed without a husband. She was very picky about getting one and had specific characteristics that would make for a good or bad
Benedick and Beatrice are similar to Odysseus and Penelope because they are equals in wit. Practically the entire play demonstrates their wits brings the struggle they create for each other alive. However, one special moment that they share where their wits are used in harmony comes after Hero’s almost-wedding, and public disgrace. Benedick goes to comfort Beatrice, and confides, “I do love nothing in the world so well as you. Is not that strange?” (Shakespeare, pg. 227). After some prodding and some repartee characteristic of their relationship, he gets Beatrice to admit, “I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest” (Shakespeare, pg. 229). As mentioned previously in another essay prompt, neither one allowed them self to love the other before they felt certain of the other’s feelings. But, once they let themselves love each other, and open up, they were able to be true, and sincere with one another. Their love is strong enough that upon Beatrice’s request to “Kill Claudio” (Shakespeare, pg. 229), Benedick first refuses this challenge, which pains Beatrice; but, in the end, he agrees to challenge Claudio. Love has a lot of power; whether for good, or for bad. But, the point is that no matter the difficulties, and differences between a man and a woman, they can undertake
...he other hand, Beatrice and Benedick are comedy-makers and Beatrice is not ruled by her father as Hero clearly is. It does take Don Pedro’s benevolent plot to bring Benedick and Beatrice together, however. A modern audience would prefer Beatrice to Hero as she is her own self and admirable. The relationships also differ because Benedick and Beatrice’s relationship slowly grew whereas Claudio and Hero’s relationship was love at first sight. Perhaps it was a little hasty as we see in Act 4 how their love turns sour.
... heart in the marketplace.” (A4; S1; L 315-321). When Hero was wrongly accused is when Beatrice showed this the most. She believed that because of what he had done, Claudio deserved to be dead. She wanted no bad deed to go unpunished and what she seen fit was for Benedick to challenge Claudio to a dule and she didn’t want Benedick to stop until he was dead.