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Does Shakespeare depict true love in Much Ado About Nothing
Much ado about deception and lies
HOw does benedick feel about beatrice in much ado about nothing
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Just like many other times before, I have never read this play or actually even heard of it. Overall, I thought the story was a little difficult to understand but the storyline was actually entertaining. With this reader response, I would like to discuss my favorite scene with Beatrice telling Benedick how much she hates him; how I wonder whether or not Beatrice knows she is talking to Benedick; and finally, Balthasar’s song and how I believe that it could be a possible theme to the play.
To begin, if I were to pick out my favorite scene in the play, it would have to be Act 2, Scene 1. I love how Beatrice starts to belittle Benedick without her realizing she is speaking to Benedick. One reason I love this scene is because situations like this happen even today. I could not tell you the number of times I started to talk about someone and either that person was around me or else I was talking to his or her family member or close friend. I really enjoy Shakespeare’s works when I can make a connection with them. Anyways, another reason I love the scene is because it is funny. If reading word-by-word without an in-depth analysis and we assume Beatrice does not know she is talking to Benedick, which I will discuss in my next paragraph, this scene is funny because of the awkwardness. Imagine being told by someone how much he or she dislikes you and he or she does not realize he or she is speaking to you. Would that not be awkward? Benedick has to stand there and listen to all of this criticism and he responds with “If I ever meet him, I’ll tell him what you said” (2.1.124-125)
Also, after reading and analyzing, I pondered whether or not Beatrice actually knew she was speaking with Benedick during Act 2, Scene 1. Even though there is no...
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...nough textual evidence to make a solid theory. Also, I thought that Balthasar’s version of “Sigh No More” could actually be taken as a theme to the story; I think that the song is telling us a few things like how we should realize life and love is not everlasting and that people are deceitful. In today’s world, we often forget and think that things will last forever; also, we tend to pretend we are somebody that we are not.
Works Cited
Greenblatt, Stephen. "Much Ado About Nothing." Introduction. The Norton Shakespeare: Based of the Oxford Edition. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt et al. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. New York: W.W. Norton, 2008. 1412. Print. Early Plays and Poems.
Shakespeare, William. Much Ado About Nothing. The Norton Shakespeare: Based of the Oxford Edition. Ed. Stephen Greenblatt et al. 2nd ed. Vol. 1. New York: Norton, 2008. 1416-1470. Print. Early Plays and Poems.
Much Ado About Nothing. The Riverside Shakespeare, 2nd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1997. 366-398.
Benedick and Beatrice both benefit from the deceit that they encounter. At first, both are enemies in a battle of insults and wit, until they are each fooled into thinking that the other loves them. When Benedick hears that Beatrice is supposedly attracted to him, he thinks that it is “a gull, but that the white-bearded fellow speaks it: knavery cannot, sure, hide itself in such reverence” (111). Little does he know, Leonato, the "white-bearded fellow," is also in on the joke (111). Benedick starts to admire her when he is aware that Beatrice might actually be attracted to himself, as well. She is also astonished when she first hears that he loves her. However, when Beatrice comes to terms with their affection, she hopes "Benedick [will] love on... And [she] Believe it better than reportingly" (134). In other words, she falls in love with Benedick as soon as she believes that he, too, is fond of her. They each start to fall in love with one another under the pretense that other was hiding their affection from them. Now that they are both in love, they start to open up to each other and prove that the deception they endured was worth it in the end.
William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing is a play involving by deception, disloyalty, trickery, eavesdropping, and hearsay. The play contains numerous examples of schemes that are used to manipulate the thoughts of other characters; it is the major theme that resonates throughout the play. Ironically, it is one of these themes that bring serenity to the chaos that encompasses most of the play.
With its entangled double plots and eloquent use of words, Much Ado About Nothing is a story that has the ability to entertain the masses both young and old. Shakespeare’s use of figurative language along with situation creates such vivid imagery for which carries the drama from beginning to end. For example, when we look at Act 1 Scene 1 of the play ...
In this play I will be mainly focusing on act 4 scene one, looking at "How Friar Laurence is presented" whether it be through; language, plot, relationships or his character. I will also be making comparisons between Zefferelli and Lurnman film versions looking at their interpretations of shakepeare's "Romeo and Juliet"
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.
...e down by weeping. Shakespeare shows us that Beatrice is the only character despite some of these positive attributes of Beatrice’s character, she is very rude about men. She says ‘but manhood is melted into curtsies’ showing Benedick her lack of respect towards men. However it is possibly her refreshing honesty that leads her to be a positive role model.
"Much Ado About Nothing: Entire Play." Much Ado About Nothing: Entire Play. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Mar. 2014. .
“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.
Throughout Act one and two, Benedick repeatedly says that he will never love a woman or get married. At some stage in the duration of the play his mindset changes. In the end he is head over heels in love for Beatrice whom he once quarreled with habitually. The turnabout in his behavior was brought about by the deceiving Claudio and Pedro who indirectly told Benedick that Beatrice loved him.
Shakespeare, William, Stephen Jay. Greenblatt, Walter Cohen, Jean E. Howard, Katharine Eisaman Maus, and Andrew Gurr. The Norton Shakespeare: Based on the Oxford Edition. 2nd ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 1997. Print.
Much Ado About Nothing. The Riverside Shakespeare, 2nd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1997. 366-398.
Furthermore, the importance of forgiveness is also presented by the addition of the very first scene of Whedon’s adaptation. The film begins with the morning of an affair between Beatrice and Benedick, a scene that is not present in the original play. This scene, also without any dialogue, shows Benedick, after much deliberation, leaving the bedroom while Beatrice pretends to be asleep. This scene provides an integral background to Benedick and
This is part of her “merry war” with Benedick. Beatrice appears to loathe Benedick and vice versa; they engage in many “skirmishes of wit.” However, although Beatrice appears hardened and sharp, she is vu...
Reelviews review of the film describes the life and vitality of the play as amazing. The majority of this vitality and energy within the play exudes from Thompson and Branaghs sparkling duet. Packed full of passion and charisma they capture the essence of Shakespeare’s original words and deliver a terrific performance onto the silver screen. Between the two they successfully convey the huge amount of chemistry between them onto the screen, undoubtedly leaving any onlooker with a smile on their face. Beatrice and Benedicks developing relationship is such a joy to watch throughout the play. Not only has Branagh successfully kept the comedic value of the original play intact, but also cemented a spectacular romantic one throughout. Word count: 495