Much Ado About Nothing Essay
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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, which makes her appear even shallower than she already is. Benedick and Beatrice's use of words is extremely clever and witty, which makes the reader (viewer) take part of their story a lot more than Hero and Claudio's. The climax of the play can be described as what Carol Neely calls "broken nuptials", Claudio puts an end to the wedding, the day of the ceremony, transgressing the holiness of the institution. The theme of honour is strongly linked with the one of marriage. Claudio is a man of honour and he is humiliated when he thinks he sees Hero in a compromising situation with Borachio. He had wooed her in public therefore he had to take a public revenge to save his honour. The actual scene in the film is rich in emotions emphasized by the use of loud music and the tragic reaction of Leonato, hauling his daughter both with shame and anger. Hero has been humiliated and unjustly accused. She is being reported as dead as a drastic measure to save her honour, and Claudio will repent and mourn Hero by accepting a substitute bride.
Like in most comedies, the theme of deception is very present in the play. At the beginning of the play the Bal scene (II, 1) is an introductory scene to the future deceptions happening in the text. The visual effects in the film are very efficient; the masks are highlighted by close camera shots strengthened by joyful music. The masks establish confusion, and the theme of deception of appearances is introduced. The theme of deception in the play is beneficiary both for the comedy and for the tragedy. In the case of Don Pedro's attempt to unite Beatrice and Benenick, the effect is definitely comical. They are both being tricked the same way overhearing a set up conversation in the garden. In the film, the scene takes place in the picturesque gardens of a beautiful Italian country house, on a sunny day. The music emphasizes the romantic setting, and conserves the Shakespearian verses "sigh no more, ladies sigh no more " which adds grace to the scene. The ridicule situation, which both Benedick and Beatrice find themselves thrown into, is no longer the result of an act of treason but more of a harmless farce. The cruel deceptive scene plotted by Don John, however, feeds the tragic element of the play, disturbing the equilibrium of all the characters: Hero, Claudio, Leonato, but also Benedick and Beatrice when the latter asks her lover to "kill Claudio" (IV,1. 285). The reader (viewer) is tempted to believe that the comedy is turning into a 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. Anytime John and his men are conspiring, the music indicates that something bad is going to happen. The costumes indicate good from evil with the choice of a different colour trousers for the men. Claudio, Pedro and Benedick wearing blue ones and John, Borachio and Conrad wearing black ones. One could argue that Brannagh is overstating the obvious by pointing out all these differences; on the other hand, it is also simplifying a difficult text originally meant to be seen and not read. The use of deception as a...
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