Much Ado About Nothing Character Analysis

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 also says that Hero has known a “luxurious bed”, a shocking accusation which implies that she has slept with another man just the night before their wedding; something extraordinarily shameful for Hero as women at that time were valued for being a virgin up to the time they got married. Claudio then refers to Hero explicitly as an “approved wanton” in line 41 provides extra shock as his rage is now very high. Calling her a proven whore in front of every one at the wedding is very mean and at the same time scandalous.

Earlier in the play, a scene was described where Borachio and Don John plan to trick Claudio into thinking that Hero is diwsloyal because of a man in her chamber the night prior to her wedding. After the stated quote, the intent is to try and trick Claudio and show that Hero is disloyal when she is actually not. This quote presents significance by describing the overall trait of the entire act and scene which is the trickery and sabotage of Borachio and Don John upon the hapiness of all of the other characters in the play. Overall, the previouly described scene, in part with an already confused Claudio, makes this quote important to the wedding of Claudio and

Leonato deceived Claudio and Don Pedro by telling them Hero had died because of Claudio's words; when in reality her death was portrayed to prove the innocence of Hero. The news devastated Claudio, and is instantly feeling guilty for the accusing her and humiliating the young bride in front of all of Messina.

In William Shakespeare’s play Much Ado About Nothing, love has played a major rule as theme in this play. Shakespeare discussed different kinds of loving relationships; romantic love, family support and loyal friendship, and he shows how different characters react to love in many different ways. The main plot of Much Ado About Nothing is that of the relationship between Claudio and Hero, and the hidden love between Benedick and Beatrice. Similarly, deception is a big concept to consider as a theme in this play. Each of the main characters being the victim of deception; Shakespeare in this play shows that deception is not inherently evil, but can also be pure.

Claudio slanders and publicly shames his soon-to-be wife, while Benedick believes that wasn’t the right decision. When Claudio hears news that Hero is cheating on him, he says, “If I see anything tonight why I should not marry her… I will shame her.” (Shakespeare, Page 50) He would rather openly shame his love than to talk through the problem. After the public humiliation, Benedick goes to talk to Beatrice saying, “Surely I do believe your fair cousin is wronged.”

The purpose of this essay is to look at the Tropes that are present in the play Much Ado About Nothing and explore how they’ve influenced Modern Media. Specifically the genre of the Romantic Comedy which borrows heavily from Shakespeare’s Comedy plays. TV Tropes is a website dedicated to documenting and explaining these kinds of tropes so this is a necessary resource for this essay. In explaining what Romantic Comedy is and for the sake of having a consistent label for the tropes that will be discussed within this essay.

The humiliation caused to Hero in the event would be inconceivable to an audience at the time, being accused of adultery would no doubt ruin a woman’s reputation and therefore create difficulty for her when finding a husband; especially for a woman of high status such as Hero. Claudio is being presented as a potential threat at this part in the play, contrasting with the gallant war hero we were first introduced to. This emphasizes how bitter and sinister Claudio has turned, consequently reminding the audience by irony that is he only interested in wealth and status when marrying Hero. Claudio’s shallow fickleness plays into the villain’s hands. Shakespeare uses the threat of Claudio to generate further anxiety in the audience and concern for Hero’s welfare. This scene shows the men of the play coinciding with each other in their response to the defamation of Hero. Don Pedro personally insults Hero during the commotion of this scene, “to link my dear friend to a common stale,” he suggests here that he believes her status has been lowered by what she has supposedly done and rendered her ‘common’. This personal attack on Hero which has come from someone who shouldn’t really be involved advocates the idea that she is isolated in a patriarchal society in which men group together to defend male interests. Hero’s reputation is being publicly ruined here, and at the time this would have ruined Hero’s life and her

Shakespeare’s fundamental understanding of language is, arguably, what makes the imaginative design of his various works so transcendent. With layer upon layer of meaning, his words leave an infinite amount of room for speculation and analysis. This legacy shines particularly bright within the Shakespearean comedy Much Ado About Nothing. The entire play is driven by witty banter and passionate speeches – even the play’s title is given dimension through Shakespeare’s choice of words! The words “nothing” and “noting” were pronounced in a similar way around the time Shakespeare wrote this play, so it is reasonable to assume that he was implying a connection between the driving force of the play (deceit) and “noting” when he chose the title. This connection is supported by multiple instances of “noting” throughout the play, though a particular passage from the final act and scene of this play in which Beatrice and Benedict become engaged (5.4.74-98) especially exemplifies this connection. This passage in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing plays on the concept of “noting” in a literal sense to exemplify the imaginative design of the title’s designation: the characters create a bizarre set of circumstances out of “noting.”

The opinions of Antonio and Leonato differ by many standards of their own. This is happening during the wedding of Hero and Claudio and it happens after the shaming. An example of this is when Leonato said “Hence from her, Let her die”(Shakespeare 70). When Leonato says this he is at a wedding for his daughter hero, but has become enraged when he hears false

Lying is complicated in that the effects of it vary based on the motivations and character of the one who tells it. This is prominently displayed in William Shakespeare’s play Much Ado About Nothing with foil characters Don Pedro and Don John. Don Pedro is motivated by the idea of being a good friend, and, as a result, his lies have a positive effect on those affected. In contrast, Don John, the play’s antagonist, is motivated by revenge to lie. When he lies, these falsehoods have negative consequences, which mirror his intentions. Thus, foil characters Don Pedro and Don John illustrate that lies motivated by good intent have positive effects while lies motivated with ill intent have negative consequences.

The power of language can allow one to seek identity and an opinion. Like many of his past comedies, William Shakespeare's 1598 play, Much Ado About Nothing allows Beatrice, a powerful, plot-changing woman to have a voice and a sense of equality. Beatrice uses wit and disguise to become Shakespeare’s strong female character in Much Ado About Nothing. This is evident by the analysis of the typical 15th century woman and Beatrice herself.

This has to be done in order to evoke feelings of sadness and regret in Claudio. Leonato blames Claudio harshly, claiming that this was out of character for his family to be shamed, especially as inaccurately as they were by saying, “And she lies with her ancestors O, in a tomb where scandal never slept, Save this of hers, framed by thy villainy” (5.1.77-79). Claudio realizes what he has done and bursts into tears. The lie about Hero dying does lead to Hero and Claudio reuniting in the end. This deception does indeed lead to love and

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.

A few themes that are present in Much Ado About Nothing include, deception and the importance of honor. In the play, Claudio falls in love with Hero, and Don Pedro decides to woo Hero for Claudio, but Don John plots to deceive them. He has Borachio to woo Hero’s maid at Hero’s window. He then informs Claudio that Hero is going to be unfaithful. This results in Hero’s disgrace, and the only solution that seemed fit was to pretend to be dead as a way for her redemption and reconciliation with Claudio. On another note, Beatrice and Benedick are tricked by their friends into thinking that each loves the other, and soon they actually do fall in love. Much Ado About Nothing shows that deceit is not always evil, but it is something that can be used