William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing

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William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing In much ado about nothing act 4 scene 1, is the most dramatically significance scene of the play, I will analyse the many ways in order to show how Shakespeare dramatically explores the society of his time. The social traditions of Shakespeare time, where men were much higher ranked than women as women were not allowed power and women were discriminated against and were not allowed to have a say in their lives. The men and fathers felt they had authority over their daughters and women on a whole. At the day of the wedding Claudio wants to humiliate hero because he thinks she is a 'common stale' and is still very immature. Claudio waits until the wedding day to denounce Hero how he feel's that will be the best way to humiliate her and get his own back as he feels he's right and a woman in his times could not ever sleep with another man as he feels he's not stepping down his role or letting his pride slip. This scene is extremely important because it emphasizes where Don John deceives Claudio and Don Pedro, where Claudio humiliates through the denunciation of Don John. Claudio does this in order to preserve male honour, which was very important to men at this time. Claudio uses over exaggerated language to express his feelings when he meets her, he says 'can the world buy such a jewel?' This tells us he straight away jumps to conclusions. We know this because he has not even spoken to her before and he wants to marry her. Leonato uses abusive and offensive words towards his daughter. Leonato says 'Why ever wast thou lovely eyes? Why had I not with charitable hand took up a begge... ... middle of paper ... ...udio's and hero. As the women didn't really have their own role they were told what to do. Women of today can now have a more equal marriage like Benedick and Beatrice. It shows us that not all women in relationships have to be arranged and ruled by the men but can come together through true love and feelings. This scene is important because it illustrates how men treated women, how their families were treated, it shows how women were treated if they were not to obey their so called women like role and shows their attitude towards women. As well it tells us how we should treat women referring to Benedick and Beatrice which is how Shakespeare must have felt about the inequality of men towards women. This is also a powerful scene to watch with lots of drama, hate and love which is why it attracts lots of audiences.

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