Examples Of Inconsistency In Much Ado About Nothing

The play Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare consists of many themes which grow out of the ‘game of love'. The two main themes consist of perception and deception. Through the plot complications, character development and dramatic techniques these themes can be explored. In the play deception is shown on both good and evil sides, the game of love between Beatrice and Benedick and the Don John plot to split up Hero and Claudio. Perception is a theme used in most of Shakespeare's plays. Perceptive views by the characters help portray the game of love. Hero is perceived as dead which then Claudio is sorry and feels for her. Beatrice and Benedick's loved is clouded by each other's perceptions and arguments.

Claudio and Hero’s relationship is not strong because Claudio does not trust anyone in the affairs of love. He says ‘friendship is constant in all other things, save in the office and affairs of love’. He also says ‘and trust no agent for beauty is a witch’.

During the beginning of Act 1 Claudio is introduced to Hero the daughter of Signior Leonato and is immediately interested in her stating that quote, “she is the sweetest lady that ever I looked on.” Though interested in her, Claudio wanted Benedick’s approval. When hearing that Claudio was attracted to Hero Benedick immediately was in disapproval of the thought, for in his eyes she was quote “too low for high praise, too brown for fair praise, and too little for great praise. Though disappointed of Benedick’s disapproval, Claudio chose to still peruse Hero. Later on Claudio and Hero get engaged but when Don John an evil man here’s about the engagement he devises a plan to deceived Claudio and destroy the marriage. When Don John’s plan is put into action Claudio falls right into the trap and believes that Hero is cheating on him. Though Claudio is furious he does not confront Hero with his problem but rather holds on to the information until the wedding. The wedding day arrives, and everything is in place. Once Hero has come down the aisle Claudio then starts accusing her of cheating on him. Instead of confronting Hero alone to talk about what he saw, Claudio choose to humiliate her in front of her family and friends. His reaction

Benedick appears as loyal when he supports Hero instead of Claudio. At the first wedding, Claudio accuses Hero of having an affair with someone else, on the night before their wedding. As much as Hero says that Claudio’s accusation is invalid,

Shakespeare’s use of metaphors throughout “Much Ado About Nothing” helped us better understand the depth to the characters. This was especially true for the hilarious couple Beatrice and Benedict. In the beginning, it seemed as though they would never get along. However, as they continue to bicker, the reader begins to pick up on the playful- flirty nature of the bickering. Shakespeare’s use of metaphors makes this particularly apparent, and quite entertaining. We can see that Beatrice and Benedict don’t really hate each other because they say things that are mean, but are also very hinting and flirtatious.

Claudio falls in love with Hero upon his return to Messina. His unfortunately suspicious nature makes him quick to believe evil rumors and hasty to despair and take revenge.

She throws away her old self, stating "Contempt, farewell! and maiden pride, adieu!"(3.1.109). She also choses not to be so protective of her independence and declares love for Benedick, claiming "I will requite thee, Taming my wild heart to thy loving hand"(3.1.111-112). However, the true change in Beatrice does not show until the first church scene in which Claudio publicly humiliates Hero. Beatrice shows deep concern for her cousin Hero, the first time in the play where Beatrice shows concern for another. She is the first to claim Claudio is a liar and declare "on my soul, my cousin is belied!"(4.1.145). Beatrice then proves once again that she is a better person by demanding justice for Hero is met. Through Benedick, Beatrice plots to right the wrong and asks Benedick to "Kill Claudio"(4.1.290). It is in this scene as well that Beatrice, proving a complete turnaround in behavior, confesses to Benedick that "I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest "(4.1.287-288). This shows Beatrice transforming from someone who would scoff at marriage and love, declaring things like "I may sit in a corner and cry heigh-ho for a husband"(2.1.312-313), to someone who easily embraces love from the person she once mocked. But such a dramatic change is seen in her love as well.

While Claudio and Hero were having fun matchmaking Beatrice and Benedick, Don John was devising a plan with the help of Borachio and Conrade to “… misuse the Prince, to vex Claudio, to undo Hero, and kill Leonato” (2.2.28-29). Don John tells Don Pedro and Claudio that Hero is disloyal. At first, they do not believe him, but when he leads them outside, to a place at a distance from Hero’s chamber window, he bears them witness to Hero’s disloyalty, as they see a woman who is supposedly Hero (but is actually Margaret), and another man (who is Borachio) with her. Since it is the night and it is dark, and because they see them from a distance, they are unable to discern that it is Margaret in Hero’s clothes. Claudio, believing that Hero is disloyal, speaks in front of everyone at the wedding with Don Pedro’s support about what he saw and ruins the wedding.

Each of the main characters in Much Ado About Nothing is the victim of deception, and it is because they are deceived that they act in the ways that they do. Although the central deception is directed against Claudio in an attempt to destroy his relationship with Hero, it is the deceptions involving Beatrice and Benedick which provides the play's dramatic focus.

In contrast, Claudio constantly acts stupidly, hesitant on everything and becoming ruled by his anger and moody temper, which results in serious violence. On the other hand, Hero is insanely quiet, not opinionated, and cannot defend herself from public humiliation, as shown during the wedding scene when Claudio exposes her as a fake. Beatrice and Benedict’s love relationship is supposed to be a sub-plot, while Hero and Claudio’s relationship is the main plot in the play. Contrary to that, the relationship between Beatrice and Benedict seems much more interesting because of the opposing views from both of these characters. As the viewers of Branaugh’s film come to understand these aspects of the characters in the storyline, they begin to see that the relationship between Hero and Claudio is your cliché typical love story from the Elizabethan Era. They then look towards Beatrice and Benedict’s relationship for a true interpretation of modern day love in our

Leonato chose to believe Claudio’s words over his daughter’s. Even before he was completely convinced, Leonato did not budge when Claudio threw Hero to the ground: he merely sought to understand why Claudio had done so. Ultimately, Beatrice believes Hero’s innocence and shielded her. The love of a cousin was stronger than that of a father. Moreover, Leonato tells Hero not to live - his latent animosity besting him.

At the end Claudio had the idea of Don John really falling for hero, though it was false it was a misconception between one another that caused claudio to be triggered. Though hero fell in love with Don John, who was disguised to be Claudio, Claudio felt jealous and turned against even though it was not what it had looked like. I believe this section of the book shows strong deception between multiple characters and what they were under the impression of. With Heros feeling toward claudio, “Hero thinks surely she will die, for she says she will die if he love her not...” (2.3.180-181) Claudio felt the happiness between the couple when Hero had explained her love out loud.

Much Ado about Nothing is a romantic comedy written by William Shakespeare. Deception is a repeated theme throughout the play and it performs an essential role in the matters relating to romance. There are two couples who unwittingly are participants in the matchmaking and the match breaking schemes of others. There is Claudio of Florence and Benedick of Padua who arrive at Leonato’s house in Messina with Don Pedro, after being away in battle. Then, there is Hero, Leonato’s daughter, and heir, as well as her devoted cousin, Beatrice. In Much Ado about Nothing Shakespeare uses language and literary devices to reassure the audience that love will persevere and prevail in the end. He achieves this by juxtaposing Benedick and Beatrice with Claudio and Hero.

As losing him becomes an unbearable thought Hero uses her sacrifice to remind Claudio of the promise he made to her true self, when the situation comes to a resolution. Eagerly awaiting marriage, Hero profoundly admires Claudio for many reasons. Although in many aspects, their relationship were far less complex than others involved in the story, the pair grew to love each other for a multitude of reasons. As a woman of the time period, as well as being the virtuous woman she was, marriage was not a delicate matter. Knowing herself that the unchaste lies surrounding her name were false, but believed by Claudio, Hero was unwilling to let them impede on the commitment he made to her.

Throughout the play, readers will notice Claudio is gullible because he fell in love solely based on Hero’s appearance, his need preserve his exceptional image and the lack of trust between them. Claudio’s