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Essays on much ado about nothing
Shakespeare literary techniques
Literary analysis essay on much ado about nothing
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Different loves, and different bloodlines; William Shakespeare is able to utilize the differences and similarities of the characters Hero and Beatrice as well as Claudio and Benedick to craft a renowned comedy that not only applied in shakespearean times but in modern times as well. Despite the many differences between the two sets of characters, lines of similarity can be drawn as well.
Hero a character in Much Ado About Nothing finds herself intertwined in the midst of gossip and backstabbing. She displays through both direct and indirect characterization that she is a passive, kind, and proper women of this time. Bendick provides an example of indirect characterization in this quote: “...You have killed a sweet lady…” (Shakespeare V, 1). The
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term sweet implies a kind and quiet persona of Hero. Hero remains her proper self despite urging and taunting from other characters such as Beatrice. “It is the base though bitter, disposition of Beatrice…” (Shakespeare II, 1)Once again we have an example of indirect characterization from the Character Benedick.
A harsh opposite from Hero, Beatrice is an outspoken, arrogant, and self dependant women. Beatrice constantly reminds other characters in the story of her self dependence and general hatred of men. She has a quick tempered nature that often causes angst with family and friends.
Despite these seemingly polar opposite characters of Beatrice and Hero they have similarities as well. Both characters show their devotion and love to not only their family but to their husbands as well. Beatrice shows her love in the form of a promise to Benedick, Whereas Hero shows her love in the form of not leaving after Claudio left her, both characters show traits of dependability devotion and love.
Benedick, not unlike Beatrice also has a quick tongue and zealous personality. He is not afraid to start or end an argument. Benedick is a seemingly arrogant and witty character. Take for example “It is certain that I am loved of all ladies.” (Shakespeare I, 1). Accounts from others as well as Benedicks impression of his own self clearly displays his arrogant, and zealous
personality. Claudio displays his love for Hero beginning in the start of this play. Claudio’s figurative language and active imagination allows him to aid in the union of Beatrice and Benedick. However, knowing that Claudio possesses these traits makes it not surprising that he is a gossip who believes that Hero has betrayed him. “That I love her I feel” (SHakespeare I, 1) despite claudio’s ignorant actions, he still realises his mistake and uses his imaginative words to fix his wrongs. The two characters Benedick and Claudio possess many similarities as they do differences. Both men are weathered war heros. They take the commitment they placed first in the army unto the women that they love. Benedick challenges claudio after he leaves Hero at the altar, in order to receive the love of beatrice. After leaving and assuming he killed his true love Hero Claudio vows to visit her grave every to apologize for his actions. Despite the many differences these two characters share the trait of loyalty. In conclusion, the differences and similarities of Benedick and Claudio, and Beatrice and Hero are prevalent and easy to identify. You are able to utilize both direct and indirect characterization to truly uncover the personalities given to these characters. These personalities in turn, directly affect the outcome of this play.
Shakespeare represents Beatrice as a very feisty, cynical and sharp woman during the play. We can especially see this when she uses her wit to shock the messenger saying, in act one scene one, that ‘he is no less than a stuffed man.’ This is exceedingly disrespectful to fashion such a rude comment about a man who is just about to arrive back from war. One thing Shakespeare clearly shows us is that Beatrice would not be the ideal woman for most men. To emphasize this he contrasts Beatrice with a weak and quiet character such as Hero who acts upon every mans instruction, we can see this when Beatrice says to Leonato that its her ‘cousins duty’ to say ‘father as it please you.’ Shakespeare makes such a clear contrast between the two women to the extent that Beatrice steals most of Hero’s attention from the other male characters in the play. Furthermore he shows us how Beatrice is perhaps a threat to the patriarchal society at the time, we can see this on page fifty-nine where she implys that it is her duty to please herself, whether or not her father consents. This is unlike Hero, who cannot do anything unless a man is fighting her corner, however Beatrice is willing to
Nevertheless, Claudio and Hero’s differences in the play it stirs up the plot and conflict, but it is their similarities and strong willed love that draws them together in the
I find it more satisfying because their relationship is easier to understand. They are always cracking jokes and calling each other names in a friendly manner. Claudio and Hero’s relationship is easier to understand, but they get into a big argument that makes them fall apart. Benedick and Beatrice argue constantly as a sign of showing that they secretly have a “ thing ” for each other. While Claudio and Hero have a more love at first sight which is not a real love that is full of
The difference between Beatrice,Benedick,and the other two Claudio and Hero though is that, these two are very headstrong characters with a different outlook on love, but have very much love for one another. Benedick believes in just being a bachelor and spending the rest of his life messing with as many women as he pleases, well as for Beatrice she believes there is no man good enough and willing to show her the love she wants so she much rather be left alone. But the fact that they honestly want to believe what they say is what makes this get way more interesting. What they don’t know is that they are going to soon become curious trying to figure out what they truly feel for one
When Benedick hears that Claudio has fallen in love for Hero, he is enraged. He thought that Claudio would live a bachelor’s life like him. Benedick tells him that men who are in love are not masculine. Near the end of Act IV, Benedick’s complete change is evident when Benedick chooses love over friendship. Benedick challenges Claudio, previously his closest friend in the world, to duel to the death over Claudio’s accusation as to Hero’s unethical behavior. After Beatrice complains to him about Claudio’s mistake, Benedick gives in, “Enough, I am engaged. I will challenge him.” At this point, there is no doubt that Benedick has switched his allegiances entirely over to Beatrice. But then again, Benedick was relieved that Hero was proved guilty so he would not have to fight his close friend Claudio.
` Benedick and Beatrice hated each other at first. In the beginning of the play Beatrice makes a statement of “...will happily go to hell with Benedick.” This proves that Beatrice does not like Benedick, more hate. There is clearly tight tension in between them, and some background hatred as well. At the beginning of the play, Benedick and Beatrice had a hateful relationship.
In the opening scene of Much Ado About Nothing, Beatrice says some harsh things about Benedick (1.I.37-43). She seems to be unprovoked but very rigid in her opinion of him. In Leonato's house, the discussion of Beatrice and marriage leads her uncle to conclude that, "Thou...
Benedick is a fine example of finding out that his reputation is not as he thinks. Reputation is a powerful thing, especially hearing about your own from someone else. During the masquerade ball Beatrice says “why, he is the Prince’s jester, a very dull fool. Only his gift is indevising impossible slanders…; for he...
dust? To make an account of her life to a clod of wayward marl? No,
Beatrice's courtship with Benedick greatly contrasts with the courtship of Hero and Claudio. Hero gladly and willingly submitted to marriage, and she accepted the role of the relatively powerless woman. In contrast Beatrice chose her submission after openly criticizing the institution of marriage.
This may seem to be a harsh and pessimistic outlook on life, but the way Shakespeare brings this character to life portrays Benedick as a funny and caring man who really is not that certain about what he wants for the future. Benedick’s counterpart in the play is Beatrice, who is an independent woman with a quick tongue. Benedick and Beatrice despise and cannot stand each other because it is seemingly impossible for them to have a conversation without arguing and angering each other. The two of them provide some of the more amusing scenes of the play with their word play and mocking of each other. In reality though, they have much in common that they have yet to realize.
...he other hand, Beatrice and Benedick are comedy-makers and Beatrice is not ruled by her father as Hero clearly is. It does take Don Pedro’s benevolent plot to bring Benedick and Beatrice together, however. A modern audience would prefer Beatrice to Hero as she is her own self and admirable. The relationships also differ because Benedick and Beatrice’s relationship slowly grew whereas Claudio and Hero’s relationship was love at first sight. Perhaps it was a little hasty as we see in Act 4 how their love turns sour.
... heart in the marketplace.” (A4; S1; L 315-321). When Hero was wrongly accused is when Beatrice showed this the most. She believed that because of what he had done, Claudio deserved to be dead. She wanted no bad deed to go unpunished and what she seen fit was for Benedick to challenge Claudio to a dule and she didn’t want Benedick to stop until he was dead.
While Hero and Beatrice both experienced relationships in the play, the way they each went about them were completely different. Beatrice felt the need to show her love for Benedick by acting as if she hated him. She constantly makes snide remarks and bickers with him. In Act I, Scene I, Beatrice said, “... He wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat; it ever changes with the next block” (Shakespeare 3).
Shakespeare makes sure that Beatrice comes off as a woman who is not afraid to speak her mind to anyone. This is portrayed in the beginning of act one, when the mail messenger comes to announce that the soldiers are on their way to Messina. They start a conversation about Benedick and he tells Beatrice that Benedick is a "lord to a lord, a ...