'Much Ado about Nothing' is a comedic play by William Shakespeare thought to have been written in 1598 and 1599, as Shakespeare was approaching the middle of his career. The play was included in the First Folio, published in 1623. 'Much Ado about Nothing' is generally considered one of Shakespeare’s best comedies, because it combines elements of hilarity with more serious issues on honour, shame, and court politics. Like As You like It and ‘Twelfth Night’, ‘Much Ado about Nothing’, though combined with darker concerns, is a joyful comedy that ends with multiple marriages and no deaths
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'Much Ado about Nothing', William Shakespeare
Act 1 Scene 1,2,3
Plot/action -
Characterisation -
Language -
- Men have just returned from war, no people of status was killed
- Scene takes place in Leonato's place - idyllic rural setting
- Leonato looking for a suitable rich and powerful groom for his daughter
- multiple intertwining plots -
- Claudio confesses he likes Hero, Leonato's daughter and wishes to marry her
- Don Pedro plans to help Claudio by pretending to be Claudio to help woo Hero for him. (mistaken identity)
Characterisation -
- Don Pedro powerful and confident meddler - he meddles for right things to help others, not a typical prince
- Benedick and Beatrice are round characters as they have history together and are unaware they have suppressed feelings for each-other.
- Benedick and Beatrice very witty characters - Beatrice seems to more verbally intelligent as the so called verbal war between them, Beatrice has the last laugh-
- As Benedick gracelessly drops out of the verbal sparring, Beatrice declares he’s played a jade’s trick (referring to the habit of old horses, called jades, to drop out of races before reaching the finish line). Beatrice declares she’s not surprised by his lame falling off, as she’s known him a while. (Also, while jade trick refers to his bowing out of this conversation, it might also apply to the relationship Benedick seems to have dropped out of with Beatrice earlier.
- Claudio's is younger and handsome but capable of violence. He wants to marry Hero for inheritance as well.
- Benedick against marriage
- Leonato - typical father figure in the society, wishes his daughter to marry someone rich. Scheming
- Don John also known as the 'Bastard' obvious plain dealing villain.
Language -
- 'Verbal battle of wits' between Benedick and Beatrice.
- Claudio language is overly romantic and poetic, compares Hero to a jewel already thinks of her as a object.
- Animal imagery
Essay Questions & Answers
- Look at all the times Hero Speaks. How often is that? What impression do we receive of her?
Hero in ‘Much Ado about Nothing’ hardly speaks throughout the play. She only talks when she is addressed by her father or someone with status. For example when Claudio confesses his love for her, Hero doesn't reply or respond verbally to him herself instead her cousin Beatrice has speaks on her behalf ‘".... My cousin tells him in his ear that he is in her heart’" which implies Hero is too reserved and inhibited to communicate herself. This a typical stereotype for a girl in Shakespearean society as women are portrayed as people who are seen but not heard. She is shown to the audience as a submissive woman that fits perfectly in the background. - What do we find out about Benedick and Beatrice’s past relationship?
We have found out that they both shared a past relationship together as Beatrice says ‘"... he lent me awhile, and I gave him use of it’" this quote shows in they shared a past relationship but Benedick had tricked her, this also implies that two share love in their history. - What does Don Pedro plan?
He wants to meddle with Beatrice and Benedick by making them confess their love for each other. “... Bring Seignior Benedick and the Lady Beatrice into a mountain of affection” this quote tells us that Don Pedro wants to unite them together. - How do events so far fit with the concerns and traditions of Shakespearean comedy?
Multiple plots – Don John trying to trick Claudio
Love – Claudio and Hero and Beatrice and Benedick
Complications – Don Pedro interfering in Benedick and Beatrice life
Comedy – word play, wit between characters, mistaken identity’s - What and why is Don John plotting?
Don John in the play is the obvious evil villain. He envies people above his status such as his brother and Claudio. Don John is melancholy and sullen by nature, and he wants creates a dark scheme to ruin the happiness of Hero and Claudio by convincing Claudio that Hero is having an affair to ruin their wedding. - What is the Dramatic importance of this scene in the midst of the other 'happy scenes'?
Balances the good and bad scenes to create a balance. Good scenes are followed by a bad complicated scene in order to create more drama and tension within the play. Counter opposites to good characters to evil characters. - Plot in detail how Hero and Ursula play their part in Don Pedro's trick to Beatrice?
In this scene Hero and Ursula help to make Beatrice fall in love with Benedick by saying quite nasty comments about her personality towards men, for example she says "...But nature never framed a woman's heart of prouder stuff than that of Beatrice, this quote said by Hero implies that Beatrice is so arrogant about herself and men and that she is overly confident to judge. By Hero being Beatrice's best friend Beatrice must feel quite guilty about herself. This scene does contain elements of comedy as it is funny to see someone so arrogant and intelligent being fooled by the not so comedic characters. - Why does Beatrice succumb so easily? is it a credible decision?
I believe that Beatrice believed her cousin Hero so easily because she already had feelings for Benedick but didn't want to admit it herself due to her arrogance and ego. Beatrice only needed a push to help realise what she is actually feeling about love.
'Oppositions defines the four principal characters of the play’ do you agree?
Yes I do agree with this statement as Beatrice who is Leonato’s niece, Hero’s cousin, and the sworn enemy/true love of Benedick. As a woman in this century we expect her to be a character who isn't so self assured and outgoing, we expect to see her in the background mostly, however Beatrice goes against this stereotype and is very confident extremely witty and has strong personality. Unlike many characters Shakespeare portrays her as woman who is against marriage and even rejects marriage to Don Pedro who is a Prince she is someone who goes against the typical woman in society. Whereas Hero Leonato’s daughter is the opposite to Beatrice she is seen but not heard and is mainly in the background, she agrees with marriage unlike Beatrice and falls in love with Claudio a man with looks and status. Hero is an example of a typical girl in this century she hardly gets involves in any discussions and even needs Beatrice to talk on her behalf when accepting Claudio’s marriage proposal “...my cousin tells him in his ear that he is in her heart’ this quote is said by Beatrice on Hero’s behalf which implies Hero doesn't talk as much and is shy which is typical elements that women have in Shakespearean plays.
Yes I do agree with this statement as Beatrice who is Leonato’s niece, Hero’s cousin, and the sworn enemy/true love of Benedick. As a woman in this century we expect her to be a character who isn't so self assured and outgoing, we expect to see her in the background mostly, however Beatrice goes against this stereotype and is very confident extremely witty and has strong personality. Unlike many characters Shakespeare portrays her as woman who is against marriage and even rejects marriage to Don Pedro who is a Prince she is someone who goes against the typical woman in society. Whereas Hero Leonato’s daughter is the opposite to Beatrice she is seen but not heard and is mainly in the background, she agrees with marriage unlike Beatrice and falls in love with Claudio a man with looks and status. Hero is an example of a typical girl in this century she hardly gets involves in any discussions and even needs Beatrice to talk on her behalf when accepting Claudio’s marriage proposal “...my cousin tells him in his ear that he is in her heart’ this quote is said by Beatrice on Hero’s behalf which implies Hero doesn't talk as much and is shy which is typical elements that women have in Shakespearean plays.