Play Analysis

Ashley and Liesl 'Much Ado About Nothing' Representation Task Click 'links' for for specific content areas.

[shakespearemaan]

Reflection Statement

We created our representation in the form of a website, more specifically, an educational Tumblr blog. The target audience of our website will be adolescences who are learning about the play. The reason why we chose the format of a Tumblr blog is because Tumblr is quite a commonly used form of social media amongst our target audience. We wanted to make learning about the play more interesting and captivating for them so we thought incorporating their interests, not only with the content but with how we present the content would be a more enjoyable method of learning, as well as more captivating. Our Tumblr blog consists of many posts about the play, pertaining to things such as the characters and scene analysis’ to reviews of other plays. We have created it in a minimalistic format, which not only makes navigating easy, it means there are few distractions around the site and it is formatted to be easily read.

The domain URL for our blog is:

-          muchadoaboutnothing.tk

However, our tumblr URL is

-          shakespearemaan.tumblr.com (maan = much ado about nothing)

Either URL is usable.

The content areas that we decided to focus on and analyse were characters, acts and scenes and themes of the play. We also have focuses on quotes, reviews of other performance of the play and specific individual important scenes.

We chose the theme of tumblr that is being used because as stated earlier, it is minimalistic and clean and it is easy to read and concentrate on the words written on the screen. It is also styled in a way that can look ‘business-y’ and informative, yet at the same time is not overly ugly or boring or hard on the eyes. We chose this style because some websites have good information and content, however they are hard to read and put you to sleep, or can distract you because there are other things going on in the background that make it difficult to understand and process any information. This blog style aims to hit the middle ground and is neither too far is the boring sense or too far in the ‘too much going on’ sense, that our information is readable yet engaging, and we hope that if anyone chooses to look at our blog for information, leaves with the knowledge the need/want and are happy with the content as well as presentation. The formatting aims to look interesting and new yet makes the blog accessible and for someone who might not be technologically advanced. Anything that we found might be confusing for some people, or if we thought some information could be overlooked, we put a short instruction on to make it easier on people.

A problem we encountered was that there was quite a significant amount of information needed for the website. The way we overcame this problem was by working harder collectively and putting more time into collecting and creating that information.

[shakespearemaan]

Much Ado About Nothing Performance Review

Like the way the characters make their entrance (e.g.through the seat aisles and curtains), it makes it more interesting and the audience pay attention. The way the conversations between the couple at the masked ball occur is nice and creative. The set design is a bit plain but it’s used well. The actors project their voices clearly and with volume which is a plus. They also have expression in the voices which is good. The costumes match the setting of the performance and the characters. It was generally done quite well for amateurs.

[shakespearemaan]

Much Ado About Nothing Performance Review

The performance is well planned and thought out. Like thelittle spin on the story and placing it during the Mexican Revolution of 1910to highlight the theme of gender equality. However, the audience might not be so knowledgeable about the Mexican Revolution and therefore it might cause some confusion. The acting is quite good and like how a lot of different expressions, tones and gestures are used to express emotions, and convey the words and their meaning. It’s interesting how a woman was used to play Leonato but it could be to address gender inequality. The set and costumes are well designed and match the concept of the Mexican Revolution. There is also a good use of space and the set, and great representations of the characters. It conveys the themes of the play very well and overall, is a fine performance.

[shakespearemaan]

Theme: Marriage - Quotes

“Good Lord, for alliance: thus goes every one to the world but I, and I am sunburnt, I may sit in a corner and cry, ‘Heigh-ho for a husband.’”– Beatrice (Act 2, Scene 1)

Beatrice jokes that she is unattractive and will never get a husband, as though a woman’s worth is based on her appearance and this is the sole reason she is still unmarried. It’s also notable that her “Good Lord, for alliance” mirrors Benedick’s concern that he’ll never see another old bachelor – both of them seem to be sensitive to the fact that everyone is getting married, except for them.

[shakespearemaan]

Theme: Marriage - Quotes

“The savage bull may, but if ever the sensible Benedick bear it, pluck off the bull’s horns and set them in my forehead, and let me be vilely painted, and in such great letters as they write, ‘Here is good horse to hire,’ let them signify under my sign, ‘Here you may see Benedick the married man.’” – Benedick (Act 1, Scene 1)

Benedick equates marriage with being whipped, tamed, and cuckolded. Marrying would mean sacrificing his independence and breaking his pride, and Benedick finds the idea of losing either foolish. It’s a strong enough intuition to put him off marriage altogether.

[shakespearemaan]

Theme: Marriage - Quotes

“But I hope you have no intent to turn husband, have you?” – Benedick “I would scarce trust myself, though I had sworn the contrary, if Hero would be my wife.” - Claudio (Act 1, Scene 1)

This is one of the first times that marriage is spoken of explicitly, and it’s presented as an object of unwitting deception. Claudio had been as anti-marriage as Benedick, but after seeing Hero for the first time, he wants to marry her, he notes that even he can’t trust his own word. This is a hint that he might be faithless in the process of getting married and shows that he only wishes to marry her because of her appearance and a woman’s worth is based solely on her appearance.

[shakespearemaan]

Theme: Marriage

Marriage is the centre of the Much Ado About Nothing. From the opening scene, Claudio sets eyes on Hero and intends to marry her. The plot thickens as there’s scheming to marry Beatrice and Benedick, to ruin the marriage between Hero and Claudio, and then to actually marry Hero and Claudio again.

Marriage, though it’s the primary source of the drama, is treated like a necessary thing; otherwise the characters wouldn’t go through all the trouble it takes to get married. Still, though marriage is a foregone conclusion, it’s also treated lightly as a constant source of jokes. Benedick only teases about marriage so much because it’s such an ever-present part of life.

Another central component of marriage is the issue of deception; the main part of the marriage jokes is how tied down or cuckolded married folks become. Deception (especially of a cheating wife) is the source of cuckoldry, and even to the last lines of the play, characters tease that adultery is an ever-present possibility. (Cuckoldry is when the woman cheats on her husband and the man loses his reputation and is seen as a ‘cuckold’)

[shakespearemaan]

Theme: Gender - Quotes

“one woman is fair, yet I am well: another is wise, yet I am well: another virtuous, yet I am well: but till all graces be in one woman, one woman shall not come in my grace: rich she shall be, that’ certain: wise, or I’ll none: virtuous, or I’ll never cheapen her: fair, or I’ll never look on her: mild, or come not near me: noble, or not I for an angel: of good discourse, an excellent musician – and her hair shall be of what colour it please God. Hah! the prince and Monsieur Love, I will hide me in the arbour.” – Benedick (Act 2, Scene 3)

Benedick lists the qualities of an ideal woman; he says he can’t be tempted to love any woman unless she has all of womankind’s best qualities wrapped up into one. The woman Benedick dreams of is an idealized and unrealistic version of women. He must think very highly of himself to believe he deserves such a woman. It’s also interesting that he doesn’t seem to be against the idea of marrying, so long as he’d be wedding a perfect girl.

[shakespearemaan]

Theme: Gender - Quotes

“Well, niece, I hope to see you one day fitted with a husband.” - Leonato “Not till God make men of some other metal than earth: would it not grieve a woman to be overmastered with a piece of valiant dust? to make an account of her life to a clod of wayward marl? No, uncle, I’ll none: Adam’s sons are my brethren, and truly I hold it a sin to match in my kindred.” – Beatrice (Act 2, Scene 1)

This is a statement from a gendered point of view. Beatrice first uses "man" in the general sense (as in mankind), but comes around to admitting the gender inequality characteristic in marriage. She plays on the concept that all mankind is ashes to ashes, dust to dust, so it isn’t fitting that a woman should be ruled by a man, who is in the end only dust. The peak to this commentary is Beatrice’s assertion that all of Adam’s sons are her brothers and she’d commit the sin of incest to marry them. She doesn’t actually believe she’s a blood-sister with all men – incest is just the easiest way to write off marrying any man. In claiming all Adam’s sons as her brothers, and admitting that all humankind is dust together, Beatrice has threaded together the argument that men and women are kindred and equal – they are made of the same material (earth, dust), return to being the same after death, and together they are all God’s children. It’s insight that adds to Beatrice’s many reasons for not marrying – she is unwilling to be submissive to one of her equals (a man), which it seems she’d have to do if she were married.

[shakespearemaan]

Theme: Gender

Gender is a major concept in Much Ado About Nothing – characters are subject to limitations and expectations because of their gender. Hero willingly submits to her father as his daughter, but she’s equally willing to submit to her husband as his wife. Her duty in these roles naturally arises out of her gender – as a woman during the Shakespearean era, she should be an obedient daughter and wife.

More than in many of Shakespeare’s other plays, gender is often used as a cover or excuse. Benedick and Beatrice claim to be looking for impossible idealised forms of the other sex; but in reality, they’re likely just afraid of admitting they’re in love. In addition, each gender has different expectations about each other in love – the men joke heartily about being cuckolded (as if they expect women to be deceiving, nagging, and unfaithful) and the women are told they must put up with men’s faithlessness and deception too. Looked at this way, both sides have negative expectations for the other which they draw up to gender, but in actuality faithlessness and deception are non-gendered problems that each gender is afraid of. In a play where a woman (Beatrice) is arguably the most interesting and strong character, gender limitations aren’t as central as the expectations and prejudices each gender tends to have of the other.

[shakespearemaan]

Theme: Deception - Quotes

“That a woman conceived me, I thank her: that she brought me up, I likewise give her most humble thanks: but that I will have a recheat winded in my forehead, or hang my bugle in an invisible baldrick, all women shall pardon me. Because I will not do them the wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none: and the fine is (for the which I may go the finer) I will live a bachelor.” – Benedick (Act 1, Scene 1)

Benedick says his main obstacle to love is that he’ll never do a lady the disfavour of mistrusting her. At the same time, he’s certain he can’t bring himself to trust a lady, so it looks like he’ll remain a bachelor. It’s not that he thinks love itself is awful, but that he finds deception to be inherent to women and love, and hence will not ever love a woman.

[shakespearemaan]

Theme: Deception - Quotes

“Our talk must only beof Benedick: When I do name him, let it be thy part To praise him more than ever man did merit: My talk to thee must be how Benedick Is sick in love with Beatrice: of this matter Is little Cupid’s crafty arrow made, That only wounds by hearsay” – Hero (Act 3, Scene 1)

When Hero uses the same process as Don Pedro and Claudio, she frames what’s really going on. They’re deceiving Beatrice about Benedick’s supposed condition, but they’re arguably only guilty of planting a rumour. They only mean to let suspicion and rumour lead Beatrice to the conclusion that she probably would’ve come to anyway.

[shakespearemaan]

Theme: Deception - Quotes

“I will teach you how to humour your cousin, that she shall fall in love with Benedick, and I, with your two helps, will so practise on Benedick, that in despite of his quick wit, and his queasy stomach, he shall fall in love with Beatrice: If we can do this, Cupid is no longer an archer; his glory shall be ours, for we are the only love-gods. Go in with me, and I will tell you my drift.” – Don Pedro (Act 2, Scene 1)

Don Pedro and Claudio engage in deception, but rather than tricking him into loving Beatrice, most likely they intend to manipulate Benedick into coming to a conclusion on his own. They can lie, but they can’t assume their lies will persuade: only what’s latent in Benedick can bring him to love Beatrice. In this case, their deception is just helping that process along.

[shakespearemaan]

Theme: Deception

As the title suggests, there is a lot of fuss over very little in the play. What makes the plot so intricate is the use of deception throughout.

The most obvious example is when Don John falsely accuses Hero for his own mischief, which is countered by the Friar’s deception of pretending Hero is dead. The manipulation of Hero from both sides renders her a passive character throughout the play – she does very little and only becomes an interesting character through the other character’s deceptions.

Deception is also used as a force for good in the play, for example in Beatrice and Benedick’s overhearing scenes. Here, the deception is used to create a comical effect and to manipulate the two lovers into accepting each other. The use of deception to manipulate these characters is necessary because it is the only way they could be convinced to allow love into their lives.

It is interesting that all of characters are so willing to be deceived – Claudio doesn’t stop to suspect Don John’s actions, both Benedick and Beatrice are willing to completely change their world view after the overhearing scenes, and Claudio is willing to marry a complete stranger to appease Leonato. Deception is weaved so closely into the play that it becomes second nature to the characters – indeed, the word “nothing” in the play’s title is believed to be a pun on the word “noting” (reflecting the use of written messages, eavesdropping and spying).

[shakespearemaan]

Theme: Love - Quotes

“Well, niece, I trust you will be ruled by your father.” – Antonio “Yes faith. It is my cousin's duty to make curtsy and say, father, as it please you: but yet for all that, cousin, let him be a handsome fellow, or else make another curtsy, and say, father, as it please me.” – Beatrice (Act 2, Scene 1)

Familial love in this case it’s expressed as duty. Hero’s subjection to her father’s will is not because she’s a girl, but because she’s his daughter, and that she obeys her father out of love. Beatrice, also out of love for her cousin, reminds Hero that there’s some leeway in familial obedience.

[shakespearemaan]

Theme: Love - Quotes

“My liege, your Highness now may do me good.” – Claudio “My love is thine to teach, teach it but how, And thou shalt see how apt it is to learn Any hard lesson that may do thee good.” – Don Pedro (Act 1, Scene 1)

This quote is an example of the love between friends in the play – Don Pedro is loyal to Claudio and cares for him. Although Don Pedro is Claudio’s superior in age and status, he’s willing to do what he can in Claudio’s service as his close, trustworthy friend.

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Theme: Love - Quotes

“With no sauce that can be devised to it: I protest I love thee.” – Benedick “Why then God forgive me.” - Beatrice “What offence, sweet Beatrice?” - Benedick “You have stayed me in a happy hour, I was about to protest I loved you.” - Beatrice “And do it with all thy heart.” - Benedick “I love you with so much of my heart, that none is left to protest.” - Beatrice “Come bid me do anything for thee.” – Benedick “Kill Claudio.” – Beatrice (Act 4, Scene 1)

This interaction tells us about what love means to Beatrice and Benedick. Beatrice is finally being open about loving Benedick, and she loves him whole-heartedly. Benedick does too, and he invites her to ask anything of him. Beatrice quickly announces her request – for Benedick to kill Claudio. This request may come out of convenience as Benedick is there, and he’s a man. On the other hand, it’s possible that she means to test Benedick’s love by finding out which his more important: his loyalty to his friends or his love for her. She needs proof of his commitment to her. Also, Beatrice alluded to the fact that she had Benedick’s heart once, and he took hers unfairly, so it’s reasonable that she might need more assurance this second time around, even if it means Claudio must die.