Much Ado About Nothing Research Paper

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’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’.

The change in Benedick's character is accompanied by the change in his relationship with Beatrice, as they move from 'merry war' and 'skirmish of wit' to become lovers, though Benedick does still protest that he 'love thee (Beatrice) against my will'.

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.

Needless to say, Benedick and Beatrice are the antithesis of each other, for Beatrice is reasonable which means she is always trying to come up with a reason for what somebody has done or for what she is going to do, but Benedick is irrational which means he never needs a reason for what he does. Beatrice is crying because her cousin, Hero has just been slandered and killed by Claudio. Which is why she is asking Benedick to kill Claudio. Benedick laughs it off like it´s a joke the first time she asks. But, then he realizes that she is serious. ¨ As I have a thought”, “That’s enough for me”, “I’ll challenge him”, “I’ll kiss your hand”. This impacts the

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.

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.

The biggest change in Benedick’s character is risen from his relationship with Beatrice. And we can see this throughout the story as they are unable to converse

Firstly, the couple share similarities – both are contemptuous of convention, the second being, the two lovers greeted one another through a merry war which later becomes a declaration of love, which ulmatiely cuased by deception as their friends have gulled them to beliving the other loves the other. Shakespeare used offstage scenes (eavesdropping) to accomplish a dramatic irony which includes the readers knowing the fact that the two lovers are being gulled/tricked by their friends into loving another where on the other hand the characters believed the other is enamored of them. The unconventional love journey of Benedick and Beatrice, in Much Ado About Nothing, is far more romantic – surprisingly the two misogamists fall in love due to deception. From the witty insults in the beginning of the play into Benedick and Beatrice confessing their love for one another, “I do love nothing in the world so much as you”, says Benedick and Beatrice likewise tells him “I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest”, tells the readers that two disdainful people can fall in love with

After the war, Claudio wants Hero for her beauty and wealth and states that he loves Hero if his passion does not change shortly. He evidently falls in love with Hero due to superficial reasons. When Don John’s trickery takes place, Claudio easily concludes that he saw Hero with another man in her room despite only seeing a shadow of a man and a woman. Claudio displays his suspicious and fickle nature which causes him to quickly believe evil accusations without giving Hero the benefit of the doubt. In Contrast, Beatrice’s undeniable love for Hero, her cousin, disproves all accusations directed towards Hero.

Her liking to Borachio is what allowed the two to falsely show Claudio and Don Pedro that his love, Hero, was of multiple men. Borachio mentions “How much I am in the favor of Margaret” (2.2.12-14), to which he uses to his advantage in the plan to make Hero appear unfaithful to Claudio, stating he will “offer them instances; which shall bear no less likelihood than to see me at her chamber-window, hear me call Margaret ‘Hero’, hear Margaret term me ‘Claudio’” (2.2.41-44) With the aid of Margaret, the two were able to successfully trick Claudio and set up a new course of events, which acts as a base for all future

Shakespeare uses the literary device, motif with the image of the masked characters and with the masked language of Benedick and Beatrice. In each instance that a masked character or masked language is used, deception intensifies. In Act I, Scene 1, Claudio says about Hero, “That I love her, I feel” (Shakespeare 1.1.205). Bear in mind, Claudio just arrived in Messina and laid eyes on Hero for the first time. Thus, his declaration of love seems impulsive and uncertain. Claudio knows little about Hero, so his desire to have her must rest on her appearance alone. Still, Don Pedro offers to help unite Claudio with Hero. He initiates a matchmaking scheme. He says, “I will assume thy part in some disguise / And tell fair Hero I am

We suddenly see Claudio’s love for Hero turning into hate and that he didn´t need much prof to change his mind about his “sweet Hero”. For the audiences in Shakespeare’s time the fact that Claudio said he would shame Hero wouldn´t have shocked them as much as our modern day audiences. Back in Shakespeare’s time women were mean to be loyal to their husband and had almost no rights compared to men. For our modern audiences betrayal is still seen as something cruel but shaming someone wouldn´t be acceptable therefore the reactions would have been

Although Claudio is just a young man, his courage surpasses his age. However, being young and gullible, he allows his naïveté to destroy his relationship later in the play.