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Much Ado About Nothing Analysis

Decent Essays

Kenneth Branagh’s 1993 film of Much Ado About Nothing is a British and American romantic comedy, based on William Shakespeare’s renowned production. In sixteenth century Messina, Sicily set on and around Governor Leonato’s estate, villains are outwitted, lovers wed and dancing concludes an underlining major conflict, ‘ado about nothing.’ Suspicion of a deceived wedding, in which husbands are obliged to be controlled and betrayed, but also greatly desire to be married. Branagh employs visual humour through fundamental themes, recurring motifs and symbols, which exemplify abstract ideas, or concepts. Thus, this assists to emphasise the significance of Shakespeare’s dialogue throughout specific scenes in the adaptation. To begin with, themes are the fundamental and commonly general notions explored within Branagh’s film and Shakespeare’s literary work. The ideal of social refinement depicts each character’s intriguing manner of language that Renaissance nobles endeavoured for in their social interactions. The film’s language is significantly associated with metaphor and ornamented by rhetoric, as is the original play. Benedick and Claudio both aristocratic soldiers, as well as Don Pedro an important nobleman from Aragon instigate the kind of witty mockery, that courtiers used to attract attention and support in noble households. In the opening scene, Benedick and his companions attempt to present their refined social graces both in their behaviour and dialogue. Visual

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