much ado about nothing
Much Ado About Nothing is one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies. Set in Messina, Italy, it depicts the life of a young couple about to be married in parallel with another couple more reluctant to marriage at first but who will finally succumb to cupid's arrows. This essay will lean on the Kenneth Brannagh' s film version of the play to emphasize three major themes: marriage, deception and gender power.There are two visions of marriage in the play: the first one, characterized by Hero and Claudio, is a positive vision: Although their story is supposed to be the main plot of the play, they are two passive characters in love, ready to get married to one another without any misunderstanding. The second aspect the matrimonial institution takes, is characterized by Benedick and Beatrice. Their relationship is a lot more complex since they both have very strong personalities and they both fear marriage will trap their identities. Beatrice would "rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me."(I,1.123); and Benedick " will not be sworn but love may transform me to an oyster..." (II, 3. 22,23). In Brannagh's film it is more this second vision of marriage that is emphasized. A lot of Hero's text has been deleted,
The music emphasizes the romantic setting, and conserves the Shakespearian verses "sigh no more, ladies sigh no more. Anytime John and his men are conspiring, the music indicates that something bad is going to happen. The only time he could have proved his masculinity would have been in killing Claudio as Beatrice ordered him to. The masks establish confusion, and the theme of deception of appearances is introduced. Not only does he disagree with the Prince but he is also ready to "meet" Claudio and kill him. The character of the Prince seems to be the only one that represents masculinity, and wisdom, although he is the only unmarried character. They fail to prevent John's plans to happen and they are ridiculed both by Shakespeare and Kenneth Brannagh although in different ways. ' The performance of Kenneth Brannagh as Benedick is extremely funny because he is over effeminate and does not correspond to a conventional male character. If the Prince do solicit you in that kind, you know your answer. It is interesting to see at that stage of the play, how Benedick takes part of the secret although he is one of the Prince's soldiers, and would be expected to believe the honourable Prince. The theme of deception in the play is beneficiary both for the comedy and for the tragedy. In the film, Don John's malevolent plans to disturb the harmony around him are always set at night, in a sort of dim and humid underground place.
Common topics in this essay:
Carol Neely,
Emma Thompson,
Borachio Conrad,
Benedick Beatrice,
Michael Keaton's,
Beatrice Benenick,
Kenneth Brannagh's,
Hero Claudio,
Denzel Washington,
Kenneth Brannagh',
kenneth brannagh,
benedick beatrice,
theme deception,
ii 1,
theme deception play,
don john,
version play,
claudio pedro,
shakespeare emphasized,
emma thompson,
save honour,
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Acceptance Essays
