How Does Shakespeare portray Women in Much Ado About...

How Does Shakespeare portray Women in Much Ado About Nothing? I believe eavesdropping plays a very important role in Much Ado. Therefore, I have chosen to answer this essay question, as I feel strongly about it. In the play, Shakespeare makes use of eavesdropping by using it as a comic device, but also to sort out situations so that the play is able to go on. I will be focussing upon two events in particular to show this. Each event will present a different form of eavesdropping being used. The first will be the gulling of Benedick and Beatrice (Act 2 Sc 3 Act 3 Sc 1). The second, when the Watch overhears Borachio and Conrade discussing the plot against Hero (Act 3 Sc 3). Although both events create comedy, the scene with the†¦show more content†¦Luckily and coincidentally the Watch saves them from being separated through eavesdropping. The main plot and sub-plots are drawn together with this device, and to emphasise the importance of â€Å"nothing† from the title, the audience is unable to view the key episode, where Claudio and Don Pedro witness what they think is Hero’s unfaithfulness. Instead, we immediately observe the Watch eavesdropping on Borachio. This is how eavesdropping determines the narrative line of the play, because without it the play wouldn’t move on effectively. It is highly ironic that the word â€Å"nothing† in the play’s title is a play on the word â€Å"noting† which in Elizabethan slang refers to â€Å"eavesdropping†. This reflects the importance of eavesdropping, as it is partly in the title of the play, and therefore must play a big part. Benedick is the first to be tricked by the other characters (Act 2 Sc 3). He hides from Don Pedro, Leonato and Claudio, these characters know that Benedick is hiding and so they start to lay the plot. They feel that Benedick and Beatrice would be right for eachother. The reason behind the trick is to bring Beatrice and Benedick together. At first, Benedick considers whether what he is hearing is true, â€Å"Is’t possible?.. I should think this a gull..†. Benedick is gullible and believes what he is hearing is true because â€Å"the white bearded fellow speaks it†. ThisShow MoreRelatedMuch Ado About Nothing Individualism Analysis1380 Words   |  6 Pages Much Ado About Nothing, written by William Shakespeare, sheds light on individualism. Individualism is the habit or principle of being independent and self-reliant. Individualism philosophies are the moral stance, political philosophy, ideology, or social outlook that emphasizes the moral worth of the sole individual. William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, and wa s considered one of the greatest writers in the English language, of all time. Still to this day, Shakespeare has hisRead MoreMuch Ado About Nothing: How Comedy Is Achieved858 Words   |  4 PagesShakespeare’s famous play, â€Å"Much Ado About Nothing†, highlights the conventions of a Shakespearean comedy. Good morning teacher and students, I’m here to talk to you about Shakespeare’s clever comedy achieved by many techniques to amuse his audience. The main purpose of a comedy is to entertain the audience; Shakespeare has effectively achieved this through his ideas and techniques. The play mainly consists of conventional and satirical comedy that stems from the characterization of Dogberry, theRead MoreHow Far Do You Agree That Good Comedy Is Tragedy Narrowly Averted1677 Words   |  7 PagesHow far do you agree that Much Ado About Nothing shows the truth of the claim that â€Å"good comedy is tragedy narrowly averted†? â€Å"Good comedy is tragedy narrowly averted†: these words were spoken by Jonathon Bate and Eric Rasmussen in their publishing of ‘William Shakespeare: Complete Works’. They show how many elements of comedy could be interpreted as almost tragic. The comedy in Much Ado About Nothing is often created when the audience can see that something could go horribly wrong, however itRead MoreComedy in Much Ado about Nothing Essay1469 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Explore the importance of disguise and deception in Much Ado about Nothing. Are they merely effective plot devices? Much Ado about Nothing was written by William Shakespeare in 1598, towards the middle of his career and during the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Disguise and deception are used to great comic effect, as well as to drive the main and sub-plot forward. However, an attentive audience may notice how disguise and deception can also be seen to develop characters and relationships, and showRead MoreShakespeare Creates Comedy through Cruelty and Subversion1386 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿ Shakespeare creates comedy through cruelty and subversion discuss    Much Ado about Nothing is seen as one of Shakespeare’s more mature comedies, because of this we find ourselves wondering; how is this comedy crafted? What we know of other Shakespearian comedies ensures us one thing; it will challenge the norms. Indeed Shakespeare’s plays challenge the social standards of their time, defying both language and gender stereotypes. The subversion and cruelty are both present in different concentrationsRead MoreHow Shakespeare Dramatically Presents Power and Authority in the Relationship Between Men and Women in Much Ado About Nothing1582 Words   |  7 PagesHow Shakespeare Dramatically Presents Power and Authority in the Relationship Between Men and Women in Much Ado About Nothing One of the key explorations of power and authority in â€Å"Much Ado About Nothing† is the relationship between Hero and Leonato as father and daughter. The play was written in Elizabethan England, and social attitudes of the period, together with long standing tradition, influence Shakespeare’s portrayal of the â€Å"proper† relationship between father andRead MoreKenneth Branaghs Much Ado About Nothing Essay1588 Words   |  7 PagesThe scene opens in the beautiful hills of Tuscany, Italy. Lying about on the slopes of grass are the humble townsfolk basking in the sunshine as a soft voice introduces; â€Å"Sigh no more ladies, sigh no more.† This dreamlike setting is the opening scene of the major motion picture Much Ado About Nothing as envisioned by film director Kenneth Branagh. A far cry from its Shakespearean origins, Branagh’s Much Ado has a look and feel all of its own. This film seeks to capture its audience with visual majestyRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Much Ado About Nothing And King Lear3685 Words   |  15 PagesAnalysis of Shakespeare’s powerful female characters in the play â€Å"Much Ado about Nothing† and â€Å"King Lear Introduction Shakespeare is seen to value the role of women as his plays often portray women as heroines. These women have strong characters that endear them to readers. Readers in our current world, and especially women, are encouraged to be self-assertive in demand for equal treatment in our society. This has been the tradition for women in the Western world and is one that should be spread acrossRead More Portrayal of Women in William Shakespeares Plays Essay3560 Words   |  15 PagesWilliam Shakespeares characterization of women varies immensely from one comedy to another. In his works, Taming of the Shrew, The Merchant of Venice, and Much Ado About Nothing, he portrays both dominant and submissive women. Ultimately, Shakespeare examines the complexity of women by displaying the vast array of attitudes, emotions, and their treatment and reaction to men as well as refuting the typical subservient wife role. In Shakespeares The Taming of the Shrew, the difficultiesRead MoreMuch Ado About Nothing Essay1839 Words   |  8 Pages‘Much Ado About Nothing’ by William Shakespeare contains many aspects that anchor the Elizabethan conventions of comedy, but allows us to question whether the ending gratifies the audience and does it actually create a satisfactory dramatic catharsis? Aristotle first discussed the concept of catharsis. He believed that â€Å"the poets aim is to produce pleasure in the spectator by eliciting from the representation the emotions of pity (for others) and fear (for oneself)†. I believe ‘Much Ado About Nothing’