Much Ado About Nothing Analysis

Stories about cheating wives, defiable men and women, and tricky brothers were all brought together in the play “Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare. The play had a variety of characters and witty dialogue that made the comedy quite intriguing. In the book, Hero is told by her father to marry Claudio. She is then accused of being cheated on, but is later found innocent and marries Claudio. Beatrice, who throughout the book hated a man named Benedick ironically marries him.

In this Shakespearean comedy ‘Much Ado about Nothing’ two similarly obstinate characters of Beatrice and Benedick are presented between the rather normal relationship of characters Hero and Claudio. Shakespeare presents Beatrice and Benedick’s obstinacy towards the rather obligatory act of marriage and also their particularly similar personalities that cause reason for their familiar act of squabbling; he does this whilst also presenting two characters that are completely interested in marriage and who are hardly intellectually capable of squabbling in a similar manner. As the play unfolds both characters remain combative with one another but as love becomes the better of them, they begin to reveal that somewhat secretive sensitivity

Much Ado About Nothing is a comical 14th century play, written by the most influential play writer of all time - William Shakespeare. In 1598 and 1599 when this play was written, there were merely two types of genres; comedy and tragedy. Hence, Much Ado About Nothing is classified as a comedy, since no characters die, there is a happy ending and a comic hero/heroine. In the play, Leonato arranges the hasty engagement of Claudio to his daughter, Hero. Don John appears to also love Hero, and plots to deceive Claudio into believing Hero is cheating on him. As a result, Claudio believes this delusion and decides to confront Hero at their wedding, causing Hero to supposedly die from shock. Meanwhile, Hero convinces Beatrice that Benedick is an ideal husband. The play comes to a joyful conclusion when Claudio marries Leonato’s ‘niece’, whom is really a reincarnated Hero. The lovers are reunited and Benedick and Beatrice also announce that they will get married too. Shakespeare uses strategic and effective language techniques of double entendre, dramatization and topical humour, to develop comedy in Much Ado About Nothing.

During the beginning of Act 1 Claudio is introduced to Hero the daughter of Signior Leonato and is immediately interested in her stating that quote, “she is the sweetest lady that ever I looked on.” Though interested in her, Claudio wanted Benedick’s approval. When hearing that Claudio was attracted to Hero Benedick immediately was in disapproval of the thought, for in his eyes she was quote “too low for high praise, too brown for fair praise, and too little for great praise. Though disappointed of Benedick’s disapproval, Claudio chose to still peruse Hero. Later on Claudio and Hero get engaged but when Don John an evil man here’s about the engagement he devises a plan to deceived Claudio and destroy the marriage. When Don John’s plan is put into action Claudio falls right into the trap and believes that Hero is cheating on him. Though Claudio is furious he does not confront Hero with his problem but rather holds on to the information until the wedding. The wedding day arrives, and everything is in place. Once Hero has come down the aisle Claudio then starts accusing her of cheating on him. Instead of confronting Hero alone to talk about what he saw, Claudio choose to humiliate her in front of her family and friends. His reaction

When Benedick overhears Don Pedro and Claudio’s conversation, he falls for the trick and believes that Beatrice is in love with him. “ Come hither, Leonato, what was it you told me of today, that your niece Beatrice was in love with Signor Benedick?” (2.3.81-82). This demonstrates how it appears that Beatrice loves Benedick, when in reality this is all made up.

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.

The Love between Benedict and Beatrice is a strong love hate relationship after their previous ties had failed between each other. Heros plan is to trick Beatrice into entering the orchard and overhearing their conversations about her. Through their conversation Hero, Ursula praises the virtues of Benedick and to point out the flaws in herself(Act 3 Scene 1). By doing this Hero is able to convince Beatrice to her love of Benedick. However the same time Claudio and Don John are talking of Beatrice's secret love for Benedick. After this occurred both characters realize their true feelings and began to fall for one another through the deception played out by Hero and

Benedick has change his way of insulting Beatrice when listening to a conversation that Leonato and Prince was having. Hearing that Beatrice loves Benedick has made a change in his heart that he to loves her and will win her heart. Leonato has said,” By my troth, my lord, I….it is past the Infinite of thought,”(2.3.107-109) Leonato has described his niece Beatrice to loving Benedick with disrespecting him with a symbol of love. Claudio and Hero did not had to go through this process to falling in love because they try not to hide their feelings for each other. As to Benedick and Beatrice, they had to be deceit for they can release their emotions to each

Beatrice and Benedick’s relationship in the story “ Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare is a really common interaction between two people before they start to own up to their feelings for each other. In the story they both tend to have a clever mouth for one another, their communication is all about who can sort of shut the other person first but they seem to like the relationship they have. Beatrice is a passionate and sharp person who has a strong precedence, beatrice could be vulnerable at times but really assertive when it comes to expressing her opinion. Benedick is a man who thinks he will forever stay single and rejects marriage and only did he knew he will love and get married.

In Much Ado About Nothing by W. Shakespeare he uses trickery and deceit to get make things happen. Just like he does in other of his plays such as Othello, Cymbeline, and The Winter’s Tale. In this story, it isn’t all madness, it leads to love and romance. Trickery leads to love between Beatrice and Benedick, and deception leads to Hero getting married for a second better time. This story will prove to you that not always trickery and deceit is evil and leads to bad things happening.

In William Shakespeare’s comical play “Much Ado About Nothing” it is easily said that trickery and deceit are major themes portrayed throughout the story. With the intense use of deception, it becomes hard to realize whether the deceit was an intentional or righteous act. While using deception the play keeps anyone who comes to read it interested and entertained. Throughout the play there are multiple times that the theme is being used for malicious reasons, however it is also evident that it is used for ethical and logical reasons. These themes lead to love and romance distinctly, considering that most deception used all through the play is unfortunate. Deception and trickery are most evident, in the interaction between Beatrice and Benedick.

In the play “Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare deception is shown to give a great sense of drama. The parts of deception used really comes into play when discussing some important themes. The theme seen in the play can be said to be that deception is a means to an end, meaning that both good, or bad Situations can end, but with doing so, it is done wrongfully. The other theme seen in the play is that men are deceivers, this puts a meaning to say that most men, in the play, deceived someone to which who are close to them. Shakespeare uses theses themes to address the overall idea that even when knowing what is right and wrong in drama, most people choose the wrong choice/ way. That’s where deception comes in, to people doing wrong trickery against others, either for a good outcomes, or bad outcome.

In “Much Ado About Nothing” Shakespeare wants the reader to think that for there to be love, there also has to be loyalty. Also, he wants the reader to think that characters are usually better off with loyalty, and if loyalty is broken, then that can completely change a person. Shakespeare uses the relationship between Claudio and Hero to show how there has to be loyalty for there to be love, and he also shows how breaking loyalty with someone can change someone. When Claudio first falls in love with Hero, he thinks of her “as Dian in her orb…” (IV,i,57). This means that he thought of her as innocent and pure because Dian is a goddess who swore never to marry.

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.

  Much Ado About Nothing raises many important issues concerning the institution of marriage. Perhaps Shakespeare's purpose in writing this play was to question the existing approach to relationships and marriage. Shakespeare reveals the faults of the process through the characters of Hero and Claudio and also Hero's father, Leonato. Shakespeare also may be suggesting an alternative approach to marriage and relationships through the characters of Beatrice and Benedick.