Love Found and Conflict Resolved in Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing is a lighthearted play that Shakespeare wrote between 1598 and 1600. It has been described as one of his "more mature romantic comedies" (Bevington, 216). This play focuses on two different relationships, formed by two pairs of lovers. The comparison between how people went about getting married back then and how they do it now is similar in some ways. Much Ado About Nothing portrays the manner in which people fall in love, the way they interact with each other and how they manage to get through the rough times without changing their love for one another. The two couples include the young ladies, who are cousins, Beatrice and Hero, and the
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In fact it is Hero's gentlewoman, Margaret, who is in love with Borachio.
"When they come to church to be married, Claudio denounces Hero as unchaste; she faints, and on the advice of Friar Francis it is given out that she is dead, in the hope that her good name will be re-established" (Halliday, 427). At this time, Borachio is overheard by constable Dogberry and his partner talking about what he did to Claudio. He is then captured and he finally confesses. Claudio repents and asks Leonato for forgiveness and promises to marry his niece, who actually turns out to be Hero.
"The sub-plot is that of Benedick and Beatrice, Hero's cousin . . ." (Halliday, 427). She is the one who has told everyone that she will always be a spinster, confirmed. Beatrice and Benedick are at loggerheads with each other and always have bad words to share with each other.. "Although obviously destined to come together, they are seemingly too independent and skeptical of convention to be tolerant and accepting in love" (Bevington, 216). Their attraction towards one another is very evident, and although they both reveal how they feel, they are not quick to act upon their feelings. Beatrice is not fond of the idea of giving herself to a man, and she jokes about her believing that she will never find the perfect man.
"A dear happiness to women: they would else have been troubled with a
Much Ado about Nothing is a famously known comedy, by William Shakespeare. This novel features two characters, who are to be wed, but because of a wacky plot and deceit these married to be couple takes a surprising turn. There are two weddings, however, there is nothing similar about these weddings. These weddings both have different moods, different outcomes, and different plans.
"Not so neither, but I know that I have tonight wooed Margaret, the lady Hero's gentlewomen by the name of Hero: she leans out of the mistress' chamber window." This narrative effect adds impact and severity of the characters actions and makes us further dislike Borachio.
All throughout the beginning of the play, both Beatrice and Benedick use sarcasm and hide their true feelings for each other, which is the first example of tricky in their relationship. Both of them have vowed never to marry anyone; Benedick stating: "Because I will not do them the wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none; and the fine is, for the which I may go the finer, I will live a bachelor." (1.1.232–35), while Beatrice says, "No, uncle, I'll none. Adam's sons are my brethren, and truly I hold it a sin to match in my kindred." (2.1.59–60.) Their friends see that they are the perfect match for one another, and plan to trick them into confessing their love for each other. When Benedick is in the orchard, he overhears Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato talking about how Beatrice is in love with him but is afraid he will mock her if she tells him. Benedick believes them, saying, "This can be no trick." (2.3.217.) He then goes on to say, "I will be horribly in love with her." (2.3.230–31.) Later, Beatrice hears Hero and Ursula talking about how they can't tell her that Benedick loves her because she is a scornful person. After Hero and Ursula leave, Beatrice states:
Claudio and Hero are the idealised Elizabethan couple in the book because of the patriarchal society that the story is based on. This is because Hero is shown as a weak and powerless young woman while Claudio is described as a powerful and honourable man. In the wedding Claudio decides to shame her and says ‘There, Leonato, take her back again Give not this rotten orange to your friend’. Even when Hero is being insulted and accused of being a prostitute she does not defend herself and says ‘Is my lord well, that he doth speak so wide?’ Instead of defending herself she asks if Claudio is alright which displays a sign of weakness in her.
sons are my brethren, and, truly, I hold it a sin to match a kindred"
Drama text, Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare is a romantic comedy revolved around marriage, dishonesty and love. In 2007, the original play had been interpreted and adapted into a new film text; Much Ado About Nothing Shakespeare Retold. This new film version is an adaption for the modern audience who’s views around love and marriage have changed since Elizabethan times. Brian Percival ‘Retold’ the original play, first published in 1623 by reinterpreting it into his own understanding of modern society with the focus of women’s roles nowadays. Whilst doing this Percival has maintained many of Shakespeare’s intentions.
How ironic that Claudio’s quick decision to shame Hero at the alter shows his extreme lack of honor and virtue. Rather than stand by his fiancée’s side, he chooses to believe a rumor and instantly disowns her.
During the two gulling scenes, namely Act 2 Scene 3 and Act 3 Scene 1,
Beatrice and Benedick, however, in much contrast to Hero and Claudio are the ideal couple who are both equal in the relationship. Beatrice is an opinionated and stubborn woman who will have no one if she doesn't have the one she wants, which she makes clear throughout the play by refusing to marry lightly and by the conversation in Act One between her and Pedro. She chooses
Don Pedro and his men return from the war and visit the house of Leonato and his brother, Antonio. This sudden meeting reunites Beatrice with her archrival, Benedick, and it is here that Claudio and Hero fall in love.
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.
In this Shakespearean comedy ‘Much Ado about Nothing’ two similarly obstinate characters of Beatrice and Benedick are presented between the rather normal relationship of characters Hero and Claudio. Shakespeare presents Beatrice and Benedick’s obstinacy towards the rather obligatory act of marriage and also their particularly similar personalities that cause reason for their familiar act of squabbling; he does this whilst also presenting two characters that are completely interested in marriage and who are hardly intellectually capable of squabbling in a similar manner. As the play unfolds both characters remain combative with one another but as love becomes the better of them, they begin to reveal that somewhat secretive sensitivity
Hero, Ursula, and Margaret similarly deceive Beatrice. By the end of the women’s conversation of high praise for Benedick, Beatrice acknowledges her feelings for him. She further decides to “[tame her] wild heart to [Benedick’s] loving hand” (3.2.118). At Claudio and Hero’s wedding, the pair’s true feelings finally become known. Despite the fact that Beatrice and Benedick were tricked into falling in love, the end result of this deception was one of bliss and
is an only child; she is rich and would be a good catch for any man of
Beatrice and Benedick both claim to not love each other and Benedick claims he will never marry but it is clear that they actually do. Pedro and the others to trick them into falling in love with each other, or rather admitting that they do love each other by Leonato, Claudio and Don Pedro let Benedick overhear them speak of how much Beatrice loves him, and later, Hero and Maria let Beatrice overhear their talk about how much Benedick loves her. The two finally admit that they love each other and fall in love under the guise of deception.