The Influence of Commedia dell’arte on Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare
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The Influence of Commedia dell’arte on Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare Commedia dell’arte had great influence of Shakespeare’s comedy “Much
Ado About Nothing”. This form of theatre shows many comparisons to
the Shakespearian comedy. Commedia dell’arte created elements within a
comedy that became standards across comedic literature. Love,
deception, matters of out witting one another and jealousy are
components that make up the back bone to a comedy. “Shakespeare made
use of many typical elements found in commedia scenarios” (McQuinn,
Anne), creating plots that parallel those of the Italian comedies. The
characters in Commedia dell’arte have somewhat universal traits and
stereotypical characterizations that were able to cross over into
Shakespeare’s Elizabethan period of writing. Although the
Shakespeare’s plays did not take on the exact form of Commedia
dell’arte; many themes, characters, societal and social based plots
blended into “Much Ado About Nothing”.
Commedia dell’arte is the Italian meaning of “comedy of the
professional artists” (Wikipedia). It is a form of improvisational
theatre that follows a “rough storyline, called Canovaccio”
(Wikipedia). This allowed for the actors to express themselves
fully, as there was no written script to follow. Since the actors had
free will over the script “the dialogue and action could easily be
made topical and adjusted to satirize local scandals, current events,
or regional tastes, mixed with ancient jokes and punch lines”
(Wikipedia). Shakespeare bases most of his plays, i...
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Commedia dell’arte created elements within a comedy that became
standards across comedic literature which Shakespeare used to create
the comedy of “Much Ado About Nothing”. Commedia dell’arte creates
stock storylines and characters that were easily adaptable into the
comedy of “Much Ado About Nothing”. Commedia dell’ arte was partly
improvisational theatre which allowed for much creativity and
expression. This had a great influence on the storylines Shakespeare
created within his comedy Much Ado about Nothing, allowing for him to
satirize scandals or events, and mock aristocratic lifestyle. Much
Ado about Nothing was written with influence by Commedia dell’arte; as
comparisons and similarities arise between the two types of theatre
proves that Commedia dell’arte set standards to what is known as a
comedy.