Friday, September 16, 2011
Comedic Conventions: Much Ado About Nothing
Consider the conventions of Shakespearean
comedy. In what ways does Much Ado About Nothing conform to those
conventions? Write a 250 word response addressing that question. Be sure to use
examples from the film to explain your response. Due by class time Wednesday, September 21.
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The play "Much Ado About Nothing" conveys many of the conventions that are typically found in Shakespeare’s writing. For instance, dramatic irony is used when Beatrice and Benedict appear to hate each other, but each overhears that the other loves them. During these occurrences the audience knows that Beatrice and Benedict are getting set up while the characters know nothing of it. Later, Benedict is seen performing a soliloquy. In the garden he is observed contemplating the truth about what Beatrice truly thinks of him out loud and to no obvious listeners.
ReplyDeleteIn the play, Don John is trying to trick Claudio into believing that Hero is not a maiden. In order to make this believable, Don John decides to show Claudio and Don Pedro Hero’s balcony one night when Borachio and the maid are on it. This act infuriates Claudio, so on his wedding day he refuses to take Hero’s hand because she was unfaithful. It is not until later that Claudio finds out that Don John was deceiving him simply so that he could destroy Hero. This act is an example of dramatic irony and it illustrates the affects of appearance verses reality. Claudio believes everything that he sees and hears about Hero, even if what he hears contradicts who she is and what he knows of her. After simply observing the activity on the balcony, Claudio comes up with a conclusion about Hero but he does not confront her privately to see if it is true. Despite the few misconceptions, problems are resolved and the play ends on a cheerful note.
While writing the play "Much Ado About Nothing" Shakespeare utilizes a few of the conventions that are known to be found in many of his compositions. For example Love at first site, when Claudio and Hero see each other for the first time they automatically fall in love. You can find love at first site in almost every single piece of Shakespeare's writings. There is also a soliloquy in the play. Benedict heard three of his friends saying that Beatrice was in love with him. This took him by surprise due to the fact that Benedict and Beatrice are known for publicly cutting each other down. He finds himself having feelings for her as well. Benedict then has a scene where he is alone in the gardens pondering the fact of Beatrice loving him. In this scene he is by himself, where no one can overhear him. Along with all of that, Shakespeare brings the element of dramatic irony into the play. A good example of dramatic ironry is when Don John convinces Claudio that Hero was unfaithful. He brings Claudio to a window to prove Hero is being unfaithful. But who they really see in the window is the maid and Borachio, one of Don John’s associates. Claudio falls for the trick and publicly humiliates Hero and basically destroys her. But the audience knew Hero was not unfaithful, not right away, but it was pretty easy to tell when Claudio won’t marry her because of it. Borachio ends up giving himself away and the truth is revealed and everything ends well.
ReplyDeleteThe play Much Ado About Nothing features both static and dynamic characters, a static character is a character that does not change through out the story. A dynamic character is a character that changes somehow in the course of the story. The main characters in the play that are dynamic are: Beatrice, Benedick, and Claudio and Don Pedro are partially dynamic. Beatrice is dynamic because she changed her attitude towards Benedick and started loving him instead of hating him like she did in the beginning of the play as can be told by the way she speaks of him in the very beginning. Benedick also is dynamic in the same way as Beatrice in that he changed from not liking her to loving her and wanting to marry her in the end, which is completely opposite from the beginning of the play when he told Don Pedro that he would never marry. Claudio and Don Pedro are partially dynamic because their points of view change for a part of the play when they are fooled by Don john into thinking that Hero has been unfaithful, then after this they change back, thinking that she was dead and feeling sorry for saying what that had said to her. When they find out that she is alive they are all to glad to take her back and treat her as they did before. The static characters in the play are Don John and Hero. Hero is static because her role and attitude does not change much throughout the play, she is always in love with Claudio from start to finish and does not waver. Don John is static because he starts out the play as the bad or evil character who's only purpose is to cause mayhem in the house that they are staying in.
ReplyDeleteMany of the typical Shakespeare conventions are at play in Much Ado About Nothing. Even though many of these conventions are generally used in more serious Shakespeare plays, they occur often in Much Ado About Nothing and help develop the comedic story line. One of the largest conventions that occurs is dramatic irony. When the innocent protagonist Hero is accused of false infidelity, the only people who know the truth of her innocence and the guilt of Don John's deception is the audience. Although that that dramatic irony is not comedic, there is humorous irony revolving around Beatrice's and Benedick's relationship. Don Pedro's idea of tricking the two quarreling enemies into thinking the other truly loved them is a prime example. Each believe this due to eavesdropping on a false conversation being held by their friends. Once again, Beatrice and Benedick do not know this but the audience does. Also, the use of love at first sight between Claudio and Hero displays a comedic effect. The love that is shown produces a light feeling in the audience. Finally, soliloquies that occur, especially from Benedick, develop a comedic theme. Before Benedick believes that Beatrice loves him, he has a main soliloquy when he rants on and on about Beatrice and her constant nagging of him. The Shakespeare conventions that are used in Much Ado About Nothing contribute to the comedy already placed in the dialect of the play.
ReplyDeleteMuch Ado About Nothing can be applied to several of Shakespeare’s conventions. In the beginning you see one of them used at the masquerade. The use of disguises is common in Shakespeare and can be used in hiding a character, spying, or can even just be used to represent a persona. Another convention is love at first sight; this is seen in the play with Claudio and Hero. Claudio had never even met Hero before the party, and of course fell in love with her instantly at the party. This is used because it adds to the drama if they are planning on getting married and hardly even know each other. Shakespeare uses a lot of dramatic irony. This is when the audience knows something that one or more characters don’t know. If you were on the same level as the characters there would be no point in being a spectator, you wouldn’t have the opportunity to see the point of views of the other characters, which is what a play is all about. For example, in Much Ado About Nothing, we know that everyone is lying about Hero being dead, even though Claudio still thinks she is. This adds much more interest to the play. Soliloquies are also used in Shakespeare plays. A soliloquy is where a character speaks to him or herself about what he or she is thinking or planning. This is important because we need to know what the feelings and thoughts are of the character. We see both Beatrice and Benedick’s soliloquies when they get tricked into thinking the other is in love with them, and we get to hear what they are actually thinking.
ReplyDeleteMuch Ado About Nothing, uses many conventions of Shakespearian comedy that we discussed in class. It touched on almost all of them in one way or another. In this movie the most commonly used ones were, the use of disguises, love at first sight, and dramatic irony. The use of disguises occurred a few time in this movie. One was at the start of this film during the masked ball every one wore masks for the entire thing. A disguise was also used at the second wedding. All of the women had their faces covered to hide that one of them was Beatrice. The love at first sight convention also happened a few time. One time was when Claudio first saw Hero he immediately fell in love. The other time this occurred was after Benedict was told that Beatrice loved him the next time he laid eyes on her he immediately fell for her. However most commonly used in this movie was dramatic irony. One time was when Benedict and Beatrice were being told that the other loved them. The audience knew that neither had said it but both characters believed they had. Another time this happened was at the second wedding. Claudio had thought that Hero had died from her sorrows. However she had actually been alive the whole time. Anyone watching the film knew this however Claudio did not. These are only a few of many conventions of Shakespearian comedy that occurred throughout this play. These were some of the most easily spotted, and most commonly used.
ReplyDeleteIn the play Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare discloses many conventions. The use of disguise is very prominent; not only physically but metaphorically. He symbolizes the convention through the mask the people were wearing at the ball in the first scene, as people who conceal their identity. People hid their identity and it was difficult to distinguish the sinful from the righteous. Love at first sight was bestowed upon Claudio when he saw his future wife, Hero, as he arrived to Leonato's house. Yet the opposite applies to Beatrice and Benedict. Their relationship before falling in love was satisfied by bickering and bantering back at one another. Another convention that the film conforms to is soliloquies. A soliloquy can be represented when Benedict got frustrated by Beatrice's animosity. He would walk through the court yard, lonesome, speaking of her. Shakespeare creates situations in which the characters deliberately misunderstand each other and circumstances were the audience knows something that the characters do not know. When watching the film, the viewer is aware that Hero is not a harlot and that Don John is after her relationship, Hero is not dead, and that the men and women of the house had a conspiracy to create a love interest between Beatrice and Benedict. Claudio misunderstands many scenes such as when he believes that Hero is untruthful to him and that she is dead. The inconvenience of the unknown provides more anticipation and depth to the writing. Although the film is deceitful to the characters, it tailors the conventions of Shakespearean comedy.
ReplyDeleteThe elements of Shakespearian comedy are very apparent throughout the play Much Ado About Nothing. The most obvious for this play is the use of disguises. Throughout the play the characters seem to be in disguise more than they are themselves. For example, the costume party allows everyone to cause mischief due to the fact that nobody can tell who they really are. This causes Beatrice to insult Benidick right to his face and Don Jon to convince Claudio that Don Pedro is conspiring against him. Another clear element is that of soliloquy. Don Pedro is often seen speaking to himself about how he plans to ruin the merriness of his comrades. At the same time Beatrice and Benidick each express their love while it seems nobody can hear them. The last most prevalent element of comedy is of course dramatic irony. The characters are completely unaware that the chaos around them has all been the work of Don Jon. Furthermore, the audience knows that neither Benidick or Beatrice are in love but in fact being played the fool. These elements in combination make for a classic example of Shakespearian comedy.
ReplyDeleteMuch Ado About Nothing involves several conventions of Shakespeare Comedy. The most common of these used were; love at first sight, the uses of disguises, and dramatic irony. The first of these conventions used is love at first sight. Hero and Claudio experience this feeling at the beginning of the play, which develops into one of the main plots in the play. Another convention that is prevalent in the play is the use of disguises. In the play it serves both a metaphoric as well as literal purpose. At the first party, everyone is wearing a mask that conceals their identities. This allows anyone to say what they want and not really have to worry about people knowing who said it. In general, many of the people in the play mask their true identity. They behave one way or pretend they believe one thing while their true intentions are hidden. Dramatic irony is also common in Much Ado About Nothing. It is something the audience knows but the people in the play do not. Beatrice and Benedict being tricked into loving each other is the best example of this. When they overhear their friends talking about each other’s love, they think they are being sneaky and believe nobody else knows. In reality, what they believe is just the opposite and everybody but them knows the truth. These three conventions used by Shakespeare, help to maintain a light-hearted feeling to the play and also provide for a comedic effect for the audience.
ReplyDeleteIn the film "Mucho Aldo about Nothing" Shakespeare's convention of comedy is used widely through out all of the characters. I first noticed his comical conventions when the knights return home and everyone has a woman they love except Benedict for Beatrice.Once he walks through the gates Beatrice and Benedict start making witty yet smug remarks to one another which makes the other characters laugh. Not only does it have that affect on the characters but the audience as well interprets the comical joy from the Shakespearean play.
ReplyDeleteShakespeare's play, "Much Ado About Nothing," incorporates many different elements that strive to catch the attention of the audience. Some of these elements or conventions include dramatic irony, comedy, and the use of strong characters. The dramatic irony lies in the fact of the audience knowing that Hero is innocent while most characters such as Claudio believe she is guilty. This premise creates suspense and drama throughout the play which keeps the audience interested. Perhaps the most entertaining element is the use of comedy. The comical wit sets a more inviting tone as the audience can enjoy a somewhat less serious Shakespearian play. Lastly, the strength of the characters themselves catches the attention and imagination of the audience. For instance, the absurdity and humor of Benedict provides a unique and enjoyable tone. On the other hand, the passion and love of both Hero and Claudio provide a totally different but equally intrigueing tone.
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