Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

Much Ado About Nothing, by William Shakespeare emphasizes the three major themes of marriage, deception and gender power.

There are two visions of marriage in the play: the first one, characterized by Hero and Claudio, is a positive vision: Although their story is supposed to be the main plot of the play, they are two passive characters in love, ready to get married to one another without any misunderstanding. Benedick and Beatrice characterize the second aspect the matrimonial institution takes. Their relationship is a lot more complex since they both have very strong personalities and they both fear marriage will trap their identities. Beatrice would “rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me”(I,1.123); and Benedick “will not be sworn but love may transform me to an oyster” (II, 3. 22,23). Benedick and Beatrice's use of words is extremely clever and witty, which makes the reader take part of their story a lot more than Hero and Claudio's. The climax of the play can be described as “broken nuptials” (Neely Carol), when Claudio puts an end to the wedding, the day of the ceremony, transgressing the holiness of the institution. The theme of honor is strongly linked with the one of marriage. Claudio is a man of honor and he is humiliated when he thinks he sees Hero in a compromising situation with Borachio. He had wooed her in public therefore he had to take a public revenge to save his honor. Hero has been humiliated and unjustly accused. She is being reported as dead as a drastic measure to save her honor, and Claudio will repent and mourn Hero by accepting a substitute bride.

Like in most comedies, the theme of deception is very present in the play. At the beginning of the play the ball scene is an introductory scene to the future deceptions happening in the text. The masks everyone are wearing help establish confusion, and the theme of deception of appearances is introduced. The theme of deception in the play is beneficiary both for the comedy and for the tragedy. In the case of Don Pedro's attempt to unite Beatrice and Benedick, the effect is definitely comical. They are both being tricked the same way overhearing a set up conversation in the garden. This scene emphasizes the romantic setting, when Benedick says; “sigh no more, ladies sigh no more” which adds grace to the scene.