William Shakespeare 's 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.

Deceit and trickery play a huge part in the play Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare. Deception is a key theme in the play, it also moves the plot along. Trickery and deception is used in the love stories of couples Hero and Claudio, and Benedick and Beatrice, with opposite results. This play demonstrates two different kinds of deceit: the kind whose only purpose is to cause trouble, and the kind that is used to form a good outcome. In the relationship of Hero and Claudio, deception nearly succeeds in breaking them apart forever, while in the case of Benedick and Beatrice, it brings them closer together.

William Shakespeare was a well known British writer who was known for the many plays and sonnets he wrote. This 16th century writer wrote a play called Much Ado About Nothing in the year 1598 (Alchin). This play consists of many characters meddling into each others lives, causing chaos, lots of drama, and even romance making for some very comedic entertainment. The title gives away a lot about the plot that it really is a lot about nothing. Shakespeare is regarded as a very influential writer in British literature and has been an inspiration for literature beyond his time. This play has been recreated for the cinema in many versions of film. One version of film in particular is by the director Kenneth Branagh in 1993 (IMDb). Both the Much

Human nature is often considered in isolation from the rest of the world as if it would be an exception or a special case. In Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing, the complexities of human nature are explored in depth. This essay will explore in particular how Shakespeare dramatises the concepts of human misunderstandings, deception and dichotomy through effective dramatic techniques.

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare "Much Ado About Nothing" in fact has a great deal to say about love and marriage. What is Shakespeare trying to tell us about relationships between men and women? Compare the play's treatment of love with that in "Silas Marner" In "Much Ado About Nothing" there are many different forms of love and relationships that range from youthful infatuation to parental love. Shakespeare makes many comments about men and women and shows the audience a variety of both romantic and platonic relationships.

Bastard, a child born out of wedlock, an illegitimate descendant that "deserves to be slapped." Don John, coined as “Shakespeare’s most passive villain” is plagued by the society of Messina that rejected him from the very moment of birth. Looking through the idea of predetermined roles in life, we can come to realize the roots of Don John’s agitation arises from his illegitimacy, stacking him at the bottom of the social hierarchy. Here he feels obliged to act the part of the villain, delegated by his very own blood.

When thinking about the well known comedy Much Ado About Nothing, by William Shakespeare the audience is quick to focus on the wit and comedy that the play has to offer, rather than the understated villain who easily disappears in the background. While reading the play, one can posit that Don John is not the typical villain who acts with a specific motive in mind, rather, he is acting out of an obligation he feels to serve as an antagonist considering his position as a bastard. This is demonstrated in his dialogue, which reveals his inner turmoil on being chained to the villainous role and his willingness to act on any malicious opportunity that presents itself to him. This is significant in that, it provides another layer to our villain and causes the audience to think beyond the first layer that is easily presented, and into the true inner motives of the character.

During the two gulling scenes, namely Act 2 Scene 3 and Act 3 Scene 1,

” The only people I owe my loyalty to are those who never made me question theirs. ”-anonymousThe play “Much Ado About Nothing” is a play that occurs in the period of about two weeks. In the play, the soldiers are returning from the war and they want to live out the rest of their lives in happiness, so the soldiers need a wife. The play focuses on the ever revolving Signior Bendeick’s love for Beatrice and the love of Count Claudio and the lady Hero. In the play”Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare, Don Pedro and Don John are foils of each other because of their contrasting personalities, social status, and emotions.

The worst in others, sometimes brings out the best in people. The differences in the characters sometimes even brings them closer together. William Shakespeare’s characters in Much Ado About Nothing are complete opposites, character foils. Don John and Don Pedro are brothers in Much Ado About Nothing. Don Pedro is advised as the greater brother, the more auspicious one. Don John is contemplated as a knave, the one who is less fortunate. Don Pedro also gets the name as the Prince of Aragon and the winner of the war they had just come back from. Don John is seen as a loser. Not only did he lose in the war he fought against his brother, but he also was not able to live up to being a prince. Don Pedro is considered the hero and a leader while Don John is considered as a villain.

The play, Much Ado About Nothing, written by William Shakespeare is able to discover the theme of deception using various literary devices. These devices help engage and aid the audience in greater understanding of the themes and the events being discussed. The characterization of Hero and Don John arise the theme of deception. The metaphors used in the play allows for the theme of deception to be presented. The dramatic irony presented in the play shows how deception is created. Through the use of the three literary devices, the playwright is able to create the theme of

Much Ado About Nothing, a comedic play of Shakespeare, consists of a diversity of complex characters. One of those characters is the classic villain known as Don John. He is an envious man with no scruples on making people’s lives miserable. Throughout the play, he does nothing but make his loved ones suffer. Shakespeare portrays Don John as a static character through his vindictive thoughts, his manipulative intentions, and villainous personality.

In the play Much Ado About Nothing, the theme of scandalous accusations, dishonesty, and its effects take a major role throughout the entirety of the play. However, the effects on a person’s honor vary hugely depending on the sex of the person. For a male, a jab at his honor is an insult, and most likely will result in an all out defense of his integrity in an effort to regain it. A woman, however, suffers far greater consequences. Her honor is based increasingly on her innocence (celibacy) and her interactions with other males in her family and the community, and a false portrayal of her actions in this respect could result in being shamed permanently, and thus viewed differently for the rest of her life. This is clearly evident in Much Ado About Nothing, as Hero is slandered by Claudio, causing a metaphorical “death”, and almost resulting in the actual loss of her own life. However the causes and effects change from character to character throughout the play, and it is evident that a gender gap is present in regards to honor.

‘Shakespeare wrote his play in accordance with the conventions of an easily identifiable genre – history, comedy or tragedy.’

wit in a manner that is all too cosy. The irony is that, were it not