Literature Essays

Shakespeare presents the men in many different ways and as the play unveils itself his portrayal of them changes. At the time of writing the play, men were considered to be the jokers, soldiers and respected people of the era and we see these characteristics portrayed in characters such as, …

In what ways do their characters and behaviour reflect sixteenth century attitudes towards women and their role in society? The two characters of Hero and Beatrice are in complete contrast. Both characters however represent stereotypes that men had of women in the sixteenth century. Hero is young, quiet and in …

Kenneth Branagh uses many film techniques to good effect in the opening sequences of the film “Much Ado About Nothing”. He uses these techniques very effectively to introduce the themes, plots and characters of Shakespeare’s play, in an interesting way, which draws the viewer into the film. The film opens …

The conversation held between Beatrice and Benedict is shocking because it is contradictory to the persona they both have been presenting since the start of the play. Even before Benedict has arrived in Messina, Beatrice is insulting him to the messenger. She asks the messenger things about Benedict like: ‘how …

At the start of the play Claudio is strongly opposed to the idea of marriage but later he falls in love with Hero. Don John is jealous of Claudio because his brother Don Pedro likes him so much and because he is the prince’s brother yet he is of the …

Shakespeare clearly shows the audience from the beginning of the play that Hero and Claudio love each other. Both characters play quite important parts in the play, but their characters are quite simple and plain. Beatrice and Benedick, however, are both strong, outspoken characters that appeal more to the audience, …

The play, “Much Ado about Nothing,” is a comedy written by William Shakespeare. In the play, there are a lot of main points, but I am going to discuss the way Shakespeare develops the character of Benedick, who in the opening scenes of the play, is portrayed as an insecure, …

The play “Much Ado About Nothing” incorporates love, villainy, friendship, parent-child relationships, society and customs and relationships between men and women. Men dominated Elizabethan society and this play explores a wide range of men’s attitudes to the place of women in society. At the beginning of Act four, Scene one, …

Act 4, scene 1 is an important scene in the play. In this scene we should see a happy event- the wedding between Claudio and Hero. However, we know that Don John has other plans. He has set up a fake apparition of Hero having sex with another man before …

Much Ado about nothing is about ‘misapprehensions, misprisions, misunderstandings, misinterpretations, and misapplications’. The plot of the play is based upon deliberate deceptions, some malevolent and others gracious. The deception of Claudio and Don Pedro results in Hero’s disgrace, while the ruse of her death prepares the way for her redemption …