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Feminist themes in much ado about nothing
Feminist themes in much ado about nothing
Gender role in literature
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This essay explores the differences of gender in “Much Ado About Nothing” and how these play into “Much Ado About Nothing”. Gender has always been a big part of Shakespeare’s plays. In “Much Ado About Nothing” the fear of cuckoldry and the fear of femininity feature in this play. Benedick’s lamentation of the lack of bachelors after Claudio reveals he wants to marry Hero. The fact that Beatrice is a more masculine character despite being a woman. “Much of the critical worrying about Much Ado and its ending focuses on the question of whether this ritual signifies a change in Claudio sufficient to warrant his good fortune in the next scene, where Hero is restored to him.” (198)
This essay will help tie together gender power dynamics between
by using it as a comic device, but also to sort out situations so that
William Shakespeare said: “Women may fall when there's no strength in men” (Romeo and Juliet). Throughout history gender role have been a big, whether someone is a feminist or someone believes there is no equality between males and females; everyone has different opinions when it comes to the matter of gender roles. The same thing can be said about William Shakespeare who was a feminist (Shakespeare of Stratford). This ideology can be seen in his play Much Ado about Nothing. In this comedy Shakespeare focuses on two pairs of lovers named Claudio and Hero who are set to be married in a week but before their marriage day, they plan to conspire with Don Pedro, the prince of Aragon to trick their friends Beatrice and Benedick to admit their love for each other. Don John, the brother of Don Pedro, meanwhile plots to prevent marriage of Claudio and Hero by accusing Hero of being unfaithful. Don John initially succeeds in his plan as Hero is accused and ashamed at the marriage ceremony, but at the end Claudio and Hero are united and marry each other. Also, Beatrice and Benedick finally declare their love for each and dance at the end of the play. Shakespeare uses a lot of sources for this comedy and one of them is “Orlando Furioso” written in 1591, which gave Shakespeare the idea of Hero and Claudio’s marriage and Don John’s plot to prevent it. Another source Shakespeare used to write the play is the courtier written in 1588, which gave him the idea of the romance between Beatrice and Benedick. And also “La Prima de la Novelle” written in 1554 by Matteo Bandello gave Shakespeare the idea of putting the setting in Messina, Italy (Shakespeare in quarto). Because Shakespeare was a feminist, some of the women appear as supporting and central...
...e one of the main issues raised is that there is not enough equality and that women do not have enough of a voice. The way that the character Beatrice is represented in this play the way that doesn’t conform, whereas Hero is the idealistic women, wife, daughter of Shakespeare’s time. Whilst Much Ado About Nothing was written 400 years ago the relevance of Shakespeare’s issues of Love and Deception are still universal. The theme of love transcend, Beatrice and Benedick relationship is an archetypal for unconditional and unwavering love. Deception is still a common occurrence in our modern world. Don John is still the most deceptive character in the play even though Don Pedro, his brother deceives; his deception is used for good instead of bad. This play is still popular today as the themes of love and deception are still relevant in daily life and in this society.
William Shakespeare is known to be the greatest writer in the English language, and till this day Shakespeare upholds the title of being the start of English literature. Something every reader has possibly observed is how Shakespeare portrays women. The majority of William Shakespeare’s plays objectifies women and in some ways shows his underline feelings towards women, and their roles in society. This is clearly shown through out Shakespeare’s play ‘Othello’. The society of Othello is completely controlled by men who are the military and political leaders of their homeland. Furthermore women are seen as powerless second-class citizens, who are in place for nothing more than to serve their men. But the horrendous actions and intense downfall of the men in Othello show how men are not nearly as authoritative and powerful as they seem. The boldness of the female characters proves that they are much more capable of just serving. Furthermore, by the end of the play, I admit the men of Othello are not the ones who perform courage and power instead; this title is given to the women in the play.
“And when I lived, I was your other wife, And when you loved, you were my other husband(Shakespeare 60).” In the beginning of the play it was overwhelming, steeped in love at first sight between Hero and Claudio, until Don John’s evil-manner took a role in ruining the love between them. And because of this a conflict developed between them, but was resolved when their vigorous love for one another overcame the conflict. In Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, Hero serves as the foil character of Claudio because of Hero’s dignified, well-mannered, eminent reputation is illuminated through Claudio’s insecure, accusing, and doubtful weakness; thereby, interminably influencing the conflict in the plot.
Initially, it seems that Claudio triumphs over Hero in the first wedding scene because he shames her based on false information and gets away with it at the time. Talking to Benedick and Don Pedro about his affection for Hero, Claudio says, "Is she not a modest young lady" (1.1 128) and "In mine eye she is the sweetest lady that/ ever I looked on (1.1 148-149). Claudio holds Hero to a standard despite knowing nothing about her. In 'The Sign and Semblance of Her Honor': Reading Gender Difference in Much Ado about Nothing, Carol Cook says that, "The masculine, in the world of the play, is the place of speaking and reading subjects, of manipulators and interpreters of signs" (Cook 190). Hero is interpreted by Claudio before and during her marriage, as well as, manipulated by Don Jon and Borachio when they scheme against her to make her seem like she cheated on Claudio. Before Don Jon even presents "evidence" to Claudio that Hero cheated, Claudio says, "Tomorrow in the congregation, where I should wed, there will I shame her" (3.3 117-118). Despite lack of a defense from Hero, Claudio plans to immediately shame her at the wedding if Don John confirms what he says before him. Claudio's hast to humiliate Hero is indicative of the distrust of women inherent in the men in Messina. Don Pedro adds fuel to the fire by telling Claudio, "I will
The Representation of Women in Much Ado About Nothing The female characters who are in the play are all present and involved. in Act2 Scene1, which makes it the perfect situation to describe. Shakespeare's portrayal of women in "Much Ado About Nothing. " Hero can be easily compared with Beatrice being of a similar class and very close relatives of the family.
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare focuses on the enormous gap between the power of men and where women stand. Women were expected to be obedient and dependent on men, innocent, and were also expected to be good wives. Shakespeare wanted women to see how the roles are changing for the better. In this play, there is difference between the traditional roles of women back then, and the ones that stand out from the rest. He depicts this through two characters. In the opening scene, where characters and their personalities, and roles are established; Hero has only one line, which is seven words. Even said that, these lines are just a comment on Beatrice. Hero is the daughter and the property of her father, Leonato. Her helplessness comes from her being overprotected by her father, and the need to obey him. Beatrice, by contrast, does not have a father, she lives on her witty personality and her intelligence. Beatrice has a dream to spend her life “where the bachelors sit, and there live we, as merry as the day is long” (2.1.40-46) When Leonato tells Hero, “Daughter, remember what I told you: if the prince do solicit you in that kind, you know your answer,” (2.1.60-63) she just stands there, silently obeying her father. Hero’s looks are her only advantage as a women, as they are what attracts Claudio. He falls in love with her at first sight in the first act, based only on her appearance.
Much Ado About Nothing is traditionally known as a comedy, but gender is an obvious theme in this play. To me this play challenges the gender inequality of this time period through its main female roles. Beatrice is a challenge to the traditional woman of the Elizabethan era, who is represented by Hero. Beatrice is seen as a sharp, outspoken, independent woman, while Hero is a quiet, polite and obedient woman. The stark differences between these characters shines a light onto the gender inequality of Shakespeare time. This paper will argue that Beatrice and her cousin Hero are used to show the gender inequality of the the Elizabethan era.
The Elizabethan Era is known to contain certain gender roles for women that are especially demonstrated in Shakespeare’s writing. In his plays, the female characters are established as property of their fathers and their husbands. Throughout “Romeo and Juliet”, this notion justifies the behaviors of Lord Capulet and Lady Capulet especially. These gender normalities can be exemplified in 1.3 after an analyzation of Lady Capulet’s conversation with Juliet regarding her eligibility to be married to the man that she chooses for her daughter.
The play Much Ado About Nothing By William Shakespeare reflects gender roles and at the same time goes against them. The play is all about gender roles. Men are much more flat than the women. Don John is a flat character, Benedick is rounder, and Claudio is too dense for words. But in Beatrice & Hero, Shakespeare has created an interesting study. Beatrice is strong and witty; Hero is her polar opposite, quiet and keeps to herself. Beatrice's sharp words convey her active & intelligent mind. Conversely, the reticent Hero is pushed around, unfairly blamed for infidelity, & miserable. Although people were not yet accepting of an unmarried woman, and Beatrice marries, Beatrice is still a positive female character.
Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing is, on the surface, a typical romantic comedy with a love-plot that ends in reconciliation and marriage. This surface level conformity to the conventions of the genre, however, conceals a deeper difference that sets Much Ado apart. Unlike Shakespeare’s other romantic comedies, Much Ado about Nothing does not mask class divisions by incorporating them into an idealized community. Instead of concealing or obscuring the problem of social status, the play brings it up explicitly through a minor but important character, Margaret, Hero’s “waiting gentlewoman.” Shakespeare suggests that Margaret is an embodiment of the realistic nature of social class. Despite her ambition, she is unable to move up in hierarchy due to her identity as a maid. Her status, foiling Hero’s rich, protected upbringing, reveals that characters in the play, as well as global citizens, are ultimately oppressed by social relations and social norms despite any ambition to get out.
William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy in which he uses one of his more peculiar villains. The antagonist in this play is Don John, the bastard brother of Don Pedro. In this paper I will discuss the role of Don John as well as his motives and the character himself. I will also delve into Shakespeare's use of Don John as the antagonist. I will be comparing Don John to other characters in the play as well as to other villains in Shakespeare's works. While Don John does not spend a great deal of time on the stage in Much Ado About Nothing, he still plays a vital role in the plot of the play. The plan that he sets in motion is one of the two main stories within the play (the battle of wit between Beatrice and Benedict being the other).
William Shakespeare quotes, "There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so." in Hamlet. During the Elizabethan era women were considered weak and had no say in their life. They could not have a profession except being a young mothers, and being ruled around by their fathers or their husbands. In the play Much Ado About Nothing Shakespeare, a feminist, idealizes women in many different roles. There are two main females in the play, Hero and Beatrice, who are complete opposites of each other, and their servants who play a minor role are Ursula and Margaret.
William Shakespeare’s play, Othello, it describes the repercussions of unwarranted jealousy, manipulation, and greed. These themes exhibit themselves through the main characters: Othello, Iago, Rodrigo, Desdemona. The premise of each of the characters’ motives were driven by either of these themes, with the exception of Desdemona as she did not appear to have an ulterior motive. Although the play is centered around the patriarchal crises, it draws attention to the importance of the role of gender and the portrayal of women in the play. Within Jeanne Gerlach, Rudolph Alamasy, and Rebecca Daniel’s article, “Revisiting Shakespeare and Gender”, it proposes an underlying feminist critique of Shakespearian literature. Moreover, it describes