Think about the main characters in Much Ado
About Nothing: Beatrice, Benedick, Hero, Claudio, Don John, and Don
Pedro. Write two well-developed paragraphs discussing the static and
dynamic characters. Write one paragraph about the characters who are
static and one about those who are dynamic. Be sure to use examples
showing how they are static or dynamic. This is due by class time Thursday, September 22.
The play Much Ado About Nothing is full of dynamic and static characters alike. The web of lies that encircles the characters makes it difficult to remain who they really are. For example, Benedick and Beatrice are both dramatically transformed after they are tricked into thinking they love one another. This makes them both prime examples of dynamic characters because of the change made in their character. Before discovering their love they were sworn enemies, constantly bantering and mocking each other. However after discovering what they think is a secret attraction, they find it in themselves to love what they thought to be their tormentor. The change is not completely dynamic because they were in love previously but it is dynamic none the less. Another example of dynamic change is Hero. Although her character does not undergo the change; it is the view of her by the community that is distorted causing everyone to think she has. This of course comes after she is accused of cheating the night before her wedding. All because of a lie the once innocent girl becomes a filthy whore.
ReplyDeleteSome characters do not undergo a change in personality or stature. A good example of this type of person, or static character, is the villain Don Jon. He never experiences a change of heart, he is and always will be the villain intent on ruining the happiness of those around him. If he had learned a lesson from his actions maybe things would be different. Don Pedro also is a static character because he remains the same throughout the play. He is a constant leader which is a good fit for his character. This setting makes it very easy to distinguish the static and dynamic characters.
In Much Ado About Nothing misleading lies helped identify those who were stable and those who changed as characters. A static character is Don John. Don John starts out as an innocent man to the others in the tale and the audience. Yet when he is scripted beyond the view of the other main characters, he is vile. Don John planned to destroy the matrimony of Claudio and Hero. His plan was devised and concord through a lie of Hero's infidelity. The plot was not concrete; Borachio (Hero's false lover) was caught for the deceptive act and soon after Don John was as well. Although he was face to face with the man who he had disrespected and humiliated, he did not speak or show remorse. Don John is a consistent villain and thus isolates him from the other characters. Don Pedro is also a good example of a static character. Through out the film he was a leader and sought to keep happiness alive. He believed in the truth such as his sights of Hero's infidelity and the unknown love between Beatrice and Benedict.
ReplyDeleteBeatrice and Benedict are examples of dynamic characters. As the both have a burning hatred for one another, they transform to legal lovers. Their relationship before was explicit and they strongly agitated each other, yet in the end they fell in love with their enemy. Hero was sought to be an angelic woman with a truthful relationship with her so betrothed Claudio. Her reputation was at stake when her unlawful act was publicly announced and she was seen as a harlot. After her death she regained the once true prestige that was so desired by her family. Claudio fell in love at first sight of Hero but fell out when she was accused of such crimes. He believed any information that came his way but never found truth to the facts. For example he was convinced that Don Pedro felt as he did about Hero. The story involved many misunderstanding that drove the characters to express their true personalities.
Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing is all about the changing of characters, therefore, this play has mostly dynamic characters. From Beatrice and Benedick to Hero and Claudio, a lot of change takes place. I think the best examples of dynamic characters in this play are Beatrice and Benedick. In the beginning of the play they pick at each other and don’t seem to be fond of each other at all. However, the other characters decide to trick them by letting them each believe that the other is madly in love with them. This changes the way they act and feel entirely. Now all they want is each other’s attention and affection. When they find out that they were manipulated into loving each other, they change again. Now they are angry for being deceived and embarrassed for believing it. But, in the end they have the proof of their written love for one another, and realize the truth. Throughout the play they undergo a lot of change in both their feelings and actions.
ReplyDeleteThe most arguable static character in Much Ado About Nothing, is Don John. He is evil and manipulating throughout the entire play, and never learns any kind of lesson. Don John is the Prince’s illegitimate brother. He basically tries to ruin everything. He just enjoys causing drama and seeing other people in anguish. He tries to make Claudio think that his bride-to-be Hero, is an adulterous and ruin her reputation, as well as her fathers. However, he is unsuccessful. In the end he is arrested, but never has any kind of moral dilemma or feeling of guilt. He is a static character who doesn’t have any change of heart.
In the Shakespeare play Much Ado About Nothing, lies, misleading events, and comedy help identify the static and dynamic characters within the tale. From the very beginning, Don John, the brother of prince Don Pedro, was presented as a trivial character. Throughout the story, he evolved into nothing more than the villain of the play. His lack of an active role was best shown when he plotted the obliteration of the protagonist Hero's status by framing her for an infidelity she did not actually commit. Don John's stagnant friend, Borachio, helped in the framing of Hero and never gained a different reputation through out the play. Although Don Pedro was obviously not a villain in the play, his lack of development and his consistent level head displayed his qualities as a static character. On the contrary, The evolution of other characters was apparent through out the play. The main character, Hero, began her role as an immature maiden solely supported by her father's wealth. However, as Claudio, an eligible bachelor recently received from the war, becomes taken with Hero, her immaturity transforms into sophistication, even as she was falsely accused of infidelity by Don John. The most recognizable dynamic characters of the play are Benedick and Beatrice. As the play's opening scenes were exhibited, it was apparent that Beatrice and Benedick had a certain disdain for each other. However, with the help of their good spirited friends, the two enemies were tricked into believing that the other's hate was actually love. Although it was a trick at first, the deception led to a love that was real, showing the dynamics at play from each Benedick and Beatrice. Some of the characters were static, and others were dynamic, all helped develop the play Much Ado About Nothing into the typical Shakespeare comedy it was meant to be.
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.
ReplyDeleteMuch Ado About Nothing is a play involving many different characters and themes. This play includes two main types of characters, ones that are static, and others that are dynamic. Static characters are those who have little change or growth throughout the story. In this movie the prime example of a static character is Don John. He begins the play as a man that appears very dark, like that of a criminal, and ends the movie the same way. Throughout the movie he continually remains consistent. At the mask party at the beginning of this film he is deceiving, and comes up with a plan to ruin Hero and Claudio’s wedding. He successfully does by making it appear that Hero is a promiscuous woman. Don John never changes at all through the film, making him a static character.
ReplyDeleteDynamic characters are those that change and possibly even learn a lesson or two. The two best examples of this are Beatrice, and Benedict. At the start of the movie Benedict is a man who hates the thought of marriage. His favorite thing to do is poke fun with Beatrice. Beatrice is a un married older woman who also enjoys picking on Benedict. Slowly by the plan of Don Pedro however, they both begin to change making them static characters. They end up falling in love with each other, changing them from rivals to lovers.
“Much Ado About Nothing” takes the characters on a journey of lies and tricks that, in the end, clearly demonstrates the static and dynamic characters of the play. Don John is a static character who remains the evil villain from the beginning to the end of the play. Don John cannot stand to live in the shadow of his powerful illegitimate brother, Don Pedro. This shadow forces him to do evil acts such as attempting to ruin the wedding between Claudio and Hero. Hero is another static character. She is a young and loving woman from the start. She falls in love with Claudio at first sight and never goes back, even through false accusations that she is not virtuous. Although other characters in the play view her as changing, Hero remains the same trustworthy and loving character throughout the whole play. Another static character is Don Pedro. Don Pedro is a powerful leader among the soldiers and citizens. He led the soldiers to victory and led the plan for Beatrice and Benedick to fall in love. Don Pedro is a strong leader who has power over all of the other characters throughout the whole play.
ReplyDeleteClaudio was one of the multiple dynamic characters of the play. He is a naïve soldier who falls in love with Hero. Because of Don John’s trick that makes it look like Hero is cheating on Claudio, Claudio becomes suspicious and angry and calls off the wedding. Claudio realizes he is mistaken and that he still loves Hero, who he marries at the end of the play. Claudio grows from a young and naïve character into a mature and trusting character. Benedick and Beatrice are also dynamic characters. At the beginning of the play, they banter and vow that they will remain single for the rest of their lives. Beatrice appears to be a strong and confident woman who does not want to be tied down by a man, but when she hears that Benedick loves her she becomes very vulnerable. Benedick is known for being a sarcastic entertainer, but he wants to be taken seriously. He falls in love with Beatrice and confronts Claudio after the wedding ordeal. Benedick and Beatrice, who both vowed to remain single forever, married each other at the end of the play.
A static character is a person who comes into the composition and leaves it the same way. In the play “Much Ado About Nothing” Don John is by far a static character. He is introduced a trouble maker and stays a villain thought out the entire play to the end. He plays the role of the evil brother of Don Pedro, the Prince. The fact that his brother is the Prince is most likely the reason he is such an evil man. It seems that every king or prince has an evil brother. Don John tries to ruin Hero’s life, and he almost succeeds. When his assistant Borachio eventually gives himself away Don John gets caught too. Don John seems to have no remorse for anything he did. Even when he is face to face with the people he deceived he shows no grief, and gives no apology. He does not care that he almost ruined a young girls life, he put her on her death bed without any feelings what so ever.
ReplyDeleteA dynamic character on the other hand is a person who goes through a change and has a realization during the story and comes out a different person from what they came in as. Beatrice and Benedict are two very good examples of dynamic characters in Shakespeare’s play “Much Ado About Nothing”. Both Beatrice and Benedict are very bitter toward each other; but each other only. They are nice to everyone else though. When Beatrice overhears her friends saying Benedict loves her, and Benedict eavesdrops on his friends saying Beatrice loves him. Neither of them realizes that they are being set up because everyone wants them together. Beatrice and Benedict change their attitudes toward each other and let themselves love one another.
In Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing there are several different character types. Two of these types are dynamic and static characters. A static character is one that doesn’t show much development throughout the story, they are relatively flat. The main example of such a character in Much Ado About Nothing is Don John. In the beginning, he is jealous of Don Pedro and had just failed at trying to take power from him. This shows how he was villainous from the start. As the play continuous he attempts, and is almost successful, at ruining Claudio and Hero’s wedding. He makes it look like Hero is cheating on Claudio with several men while this, in fact, is not the case. Throughout the play, Don John does nothing but lie and spread evil. He shows no change which is why he is a static character. Hero is another static character; however she is quite the opposite of Don John. She demonstrates compassion and love from beginning to end. She falls in love with Claudio at the beginning of the play and that love never waivers. Despite being accused of being immoral, she still loves Claudio, giving proof that she has not changed despite the beliefs of other characters.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, dynamic characters develop a great deal during the story and are better-rounded as a person. Beatrice and Benedict are perfect examples of dynamic characters, and go through many of the same changes. They are sworn enemies from the start and banter back and forth at each other. Their change is catalyzed by their friends, who trick them into thinking that the other person is in love with them. Being a trick at first, this deception blossoms into real romance by the very people that feared being married. Both Beatrice and Benedict are able to change their fundamental ways and become the opposite of what they were at the beginning of the play. They are the definition of dynamic characters that were prevalent in many of Shakespeare’s plays.
In “Much Ado About Nothing”, there was a healthy mix of static and dynamic characters in this romantic comedy. With multiple sub plots going on throughout the film, there were a few characters that stayed pretty consistent throughout. Leonato, although not being a crucial piece to the story, played the role of the father. Started the film out the well-respected dad with the eligible maiden daughters, and finished predictably. Static because his goal never wavered from beginning to end; always trying his best to get his daughter and niece respectable men to marry. The next static character is the prince Don Pedro. Storming on the scene the stud of the land nothing really changes. Pedro starts and finishes the match maker. First with Claudio, then Benedick, all with his clever thinking. Our final static character is the outcast brother Don John. Right out of the gates portrays himself the outsider. Then finally attempts his evil deed of deceiving Claudio with his shady conspiracy.
ReplyDeleteAlthough a typical Shakespeare romantic comedy, there are still its fair share of curve balls and dynamic characters. Starting with the two main characters, Claudio and hero; He began a noble man open to love but too shy to go after it. After seeing his dream girl in the town, he finally changed his attitude and went after her (with some help from the prince of course). This is where the rollercoaster takes off. Thanks to Don John, Claudio goes from a love bird to an angry man over the short span of two days. Dynamic? Very much so. Hero is your everyday fair maiden looking for love. Then when the situation of fraud forces her to step out of her comfort zone, she does so exceptionally well. Pulling off the fake death and marriage she shows another side to her not seen before. Beatrice and Benedick are text book dynamic characters. Starting out mortal enemies full of wit and sassy comments, they are influenced by rumors of love that throw their whole worlds upside down. Going against everything they know they let themse4lves fall in love with each other and complete the happy ending to the play.
“Much Ado about Nothing” conforms to the conventions of Shakespearean comedy about as well as it possibly could. Right off the bat he utilizes disguises with the mask party where the characters generally could no longer be recognized. The use of disguise or deception was again used at the end of the play when Don Jon set up his plan to fraud Hero. Love at First sight also applied to this play when Claudio first laid eyes on his wife to be, Hero. Although being enemies in the beginning, Benedick and Beatrice fell in love at first sight after learning they both loved each other. This is also where the soliloquys fit in. Both Benedick and Beatrice express their thoughts to the audience trying to figure out what is fact and what is fiction. This newly found couple is still where all the puns are in the story. Between the two of them, wit and harsh jokes are made on one another the entire play. Beatrice even shows her wit and sass when she professes her feelings for Benedick, and he does the same. For types of language, the nobleman like the Prince, Claudio, Benedick, Don John, and a majority of the characters all speak in Iambic Pentameter. The watch out men with the bad teeth that happen to catch the villains of the play speak in more of a slang, but not in prose. Beatrice’s way of speech is unique because you don’t hear people, let alone the ladies, talk with so much wit. The dramatic Irony of the play would have to be when Benedick challenges Claudio and as soon as he walks away, they catch the culprits.
ReplyDeleteIn Mucho Aldo about Nothing the characters roles make it easier to interpret who are the static and dynamic characters of the film. My first recognition of a static character was Don Jon, from the beginning of the film he was the leader of everyone, the maker of love and matrimony. I never once saw a change in his values or morals,he was always trying to help his fellow man find a woman and lead them together.Even when he watch Beatrice and Benedict bicker at one another he knew he saw true love there. Even before that he helped Claudio sway Hero into Claudio's arms and marriage. Throughout the film he remained the good guy.
ReplyDeleteThe most drastic dynamic changed characters in Mucho Aldo about Nothing are Beatrice and Benedict. From the beginning of the film they are sworn enemies, always slandering each others names and putting one another down but something happens. Don Jon and the other knights derive a plan where they secretly make Beatrice and Benedict believe each of them is madly in love with the other. After some sneaky tricks and misleading information through Don Jon's efforts The two enemies fall deeply in love. Their dynamic change in who they once were and there outlook on what love once was completely transformed to what love is.