Much Ado About Nothing Research Paper

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

Although Beatrice and Benedick are not yet shown as in love, a Shakespearian audience would not have thought it usual for a woman like Beatrice to be speaking as she was about Benedick. However, today it is perfectly normal for Beatrice to be talking like she is, so at the moment, the two relationships are more satisfying to the different audiences. Beatrice and Benedick's relationship has another problem. They both like to use their wit and intelligence to try and outsmart people, and mainly themselves.

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.

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.

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.

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.

            Hero does not get a chance to mull over the idea of Claudio as a husband.  Even the audience knows little about her going into the now famous “shaming scene.”  Details about Hero’s virtues and personality are purposely left out, partially to satisfy the dominant male perspective in the play, but also to give more clout to the heinous claim that Claudio makes during the wedding.  The reactions of Hero’s father and others indicate that a woman’s virtues are only as good as a man says they are.

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.

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

From the very first scene in the play, Beatrice is shown as a character who is very prideful, and very protective of it. Benedick's line "What, my dear Lady Disdain! Are you yet living?"(1.1.114) gives a clue to how much pride Beatrice has. Benedick's reference to Beatrice as "Lady Disdain" shows how Beatrice thinks she is

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

Hero, being a female in a time that women had few rights, was very compliant. She did not seem to carry the same bold atmosphere that her cousin, Beatrice, did. Instead, she mostly does what she is told to do and does not question anyone’s motives. Even when she was accused of infidelity during her wedding, Hero did not defend herself enough to make the spectators question whether Claudio could be wrong in his accusations. She also did not question the friar’s plan to fake her own death. At the end of the play, Hero willingly accepts Claudio’s second marriage proposal without requesting a further apology. Her characterization reflects the expectation of women during the time period (Harlan). She is juxtaposed to Beatrice, who is bold and rather impudent.

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

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:

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'.