Love and Lies in Much ado...

Much Ado About Nothing, A Shakespeare Story, Andrew Matthews, Orchard Books 2006.

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Key Themes

There are several key themes in the play: 

• Love-  the theme of love is present throughout the play. The "love at first sight" between Claudio and Hero is one of the main plots within Much ado. the fact that they are able to over come the divide driven between them shows its strength and purpose in the play. In many of Shakespeare's works he has explored the variations of love, why people fell in love and what they did while in love. (for example Romeo and Juliet where willing to go against their families orders to be together, resulting in their tragic death.) another notion of love within the play is that of Beatrice and Benedick. A major plotline within much ado is that of the two being tricked into realising their love for each other, suggesting that love can  be found in the oddest of places, between two people who believed themselves to be indifferent and competitive towards each other. The play is resolved with two marriages, what could suggest anything other then love?

 

• Masks and Mistaken Identity- Mistaken identity is a theme that appears often in the play. Most notably the masquerade ball where Don Pedro disguises himself with a mask to find out information from Hero. The masquerade scene is key to this theme as everyone's identity is hidden giving the atmosphere of uncertainty and the unknown. Also in this scene Benedick tries to talk to Beatrice who pretends to be fooled by his disguise but in reality uses it to mock him. Another feature of mistaken identity is that of Hero pretending to be Leonato's niece before revealing that she is actually alive. This allows Claudio to redeem himself after believing he helped cause her death and makes way for the happy ending.     

 

• Deception- In relation to Masks and Mistaken identity, in which deception clearly comes under, there are more aspects to be covered.The games and tricks played on characters often have the best intentions—to make people fall in love (Beatrice and Benedick), to help someone get what they want (Don Pedro and Claudio), or to make someone realise their mistake(Hero and Claudio). However, not all are meant well, such as when Don John convincing Claudio that Hero has been unfaithful.

 

• Infidelity- This feature plays I big part within the play, Don Jon plays with the emotions of Claudia and makes him believe he is being played for a cuckold by Hero, thus implementing her infidelity. Because of their mistrust of female sexuality, many of the males easily believe that Hero is impure and is convicted as such without proof. During the time that the play was written women were seen as inferior to men, and any accusations of slight against a husband, such as cuckoldry, was instantly seen as the a women's fault charging them without a fair trial

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Much ado about nothing summary

Plot Summary: 

Soldiers Benedick and Claudio return from war with their leader Don Pedro and his half brother Don Jon. on their return they stop at the town of Messina where the hospitable Leonato lives. Leonato's daughter Hero and the soldier Claudio are instantly drawn to each other and soon become besotted. Meanwhile Hero's cousin Beatrice prides her self on her wit and finds competition with Benidick. Claudio professes his love to Benedick and Don Pedro who hatch a plan to get the two together. A masked ball is organised and Don Pedro disguises himself so he can find out the feelings that Hero has towards Claudio; it is discovered that she returns his love and their marriage is arranged in the next few days. With all the feeling of love and happiness the group decide to trick Beatrice and Benidick into falling in love with one another. However Don John and his servant Borachio, Pedro's half brother, decides to make mischief to disrupt his brothers plans and the happiness of Hero and Claudio. they hatch a plan which makes Claudio believe that Hero has been unfaithful.


On the day of the wedding Claudio confesses Hero's supposed infidelity and leaves her at the altar. Hero, shocked and saddened by this faints. She is advised by the Friar to fake her death so the truth and route of the problem surfaces. Beatrice and Benedick at this point have been tricked into believing that they love each other, Beatrice upset by what has happened to her cousin asks Benedick to confront Claudio and to challenge him to a duel. Claudio finds out that Hero has died and just before the two soldiers are about to fight, Borachio is caught and confesses all to Don Pedro. Claudio realises his mistake and now devastated about Hero asks Leonato if he can make amends in anyway possible. Leonato reveals he has a niece in need of a stable marriage- and so another marriage is arranged. The bride is revealed to be Hero and the couple are now re-united with love and happiness; Beatrice and Benedick use this marriage as a chance to get married themselves. Both couples have been brought together and are now able to live a happily married life.

For a more Detailed Plot summary: http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/muchado/summary.html

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The start

this is the start of muchado's blog on our creation and adaptation of the Shakespeare play.