Much Ado About Nothing Critical Essay

Essay question: Choose a play that has conflict between two of the characters. Write an essay in which you explore the nature of the conflict between them and the techniques used by the playwright to make it effective.

The stages we have identified are: History of conflict – Beatrice speaking to messenger + Leonato ‘merry war of words’ = potential for conflict One-up-man-ship at initial meeting and masked ball = open conflict Are both tricked into falling in love = no conflict Hero is slandered and left for dead at wedding, Beatrice, ‘Kill Claudio’ = conflict but a compromise is reached as Benedick wants to prove his love Hero proved innocent, Beatrice calms down = less conflict but still ‘too wise to woo peaceably’ At second wedding, realise they have been tricked into loving each other = less conflict but both are reserved about feelings again Forced to acknowledge true feelings, ‘our hands against our hearts’ = conflict resolved

Here are parts of the introduction. The missing section is missing Here are parts of the introduction. The missing section is missing. Fill in some more details about the plot after ‘Don John’. One of the features that makes Shakespeare’s comedy, ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ appealing, is the conflict between Benedick and Beatrice is more of a ‘merry war of words’. The play begins when Don Pedro and his men arrive at Leonato’s home for an extended visit after winning a war against his brother, Don John. . . . By considering the nature of the conflict between Beatrice and Benedick and how it is resolved, this essay will discuss why this is an engaging element of the play.

To use in a paragraph A topic sentence that sums up what you want to say about Benedick and Beatrice’s relationship at this point in the play. Provide some context as to what is happening Introduce first quotation – note that in a play, this may mean dealing with more than one line at a time. Analyse the quotation you have just used – what does it suggest about the character or the relationship? Provide context for your second quotation if it comes from a different scene Introduce second quotation – again, it might be more than one line of dialogue Analyse Round off your paragraph with a mini conclusion that evaluates what you have discussed in line with what the essay question is asking

From the opening scene, the audience can quickly see that there is ongoing conflict between Benedick and Beatrice. Even before Benedick arrives, Beatrice shows that there is some bad feeling between them. When the messenger arrives to ask Leonato if Don Pedro and his men can visit, Beatrice immediately seizes the opportunity to make fun of Benedick. She says: ‘Oh Lord, he will hang upon [Claudio] like a disease: he is sooner caught than the pestilence, and the taker runs presently mad. God help the noble Claudio, if he hath caught the Benedick. It will cost him a thousand pound ere he be cured.’ Here Beatrice is showing how quick-witted she can be, comparing Benedick to a terrible infection that affects the mental health of any who ‘catch’ it. She is also implying that Benedick is a very expensive friend to have as he will expect to live at any of his rich associates’ expense. In doing so, however, she sounds more like she is mocking him in a humorous way rather than really trying to ruin his reputation. This understanding is supported by Leonato’s summary of their relationship when he says to the confused messenger: ‘there is a kind of merry war betwixt Signor Benedick and her: they never meet but there’s a skirmish of wit between them.’ Merry war + skirmish of wit = oxymoron/paradox

Both proclaim they do not love the other and do not want to be loved Act 1: scene 1+ Act 2; Scene 1 – key terms: conflict, dialogue When they do meet, it is clear there is some animosity between Beatrice and Benedick from the way their dialogue sparks off of each other. Both proclaim they do not love the other and do not want to be loved Benedick wins initial battle, but Beatrice gets revenge at masked ball Beatrice explains to Don Pedro why she behaves in this way: Act 1:scene 1 Both show a mental agility by hurling insults that go back and forth until: Benedick: I would have my horse had the speed of your tongue, and so good a continuer . . . I have done. Beatrice: ‘You always end with a jade’s trick’ Act 2: scene 1 Beatrice: Why he is the prince’s jester, a very dull fool Benedick: . . . But that my Lady Beatrice should know me, and not know me: the prince’s fool! Benedick to Don Pedro: I stood like a man at a mark with a whole army shooting at me. Beatrice to Don Pedro: Once before he won [her heart] off me, with false dice. So I would [put him down so] not he should do me, else I should prove the mother of fools.

Act 2; scene 3 + Act 3; scene 1 – tricking! In a clever plot development, the conflict between the two eases off to a degree when Don Pedro, Claudio, Leonato and Hero decide to trick Benedick and Beatrice into falling in love with each other. Following the same pattern with Benedick, then Beatrice, they intentionally let them overhear a conversation in which they discuss that the other loves them at the same time as wounding their pride. Although the beginning of the scene sees Benedick take an oath that love shall not make a fool of him, he is completely won over by Don Pedro, Leonato and Claudio who assert in Benedick’s earshot that Beatrice’s affection is genuine and that he is unworthy of her. For e.g. Claudio: Then down upon her knees she falls, weeps, sobs, beats her heart, tears her hair Result? Benedick: [her love for him] must be requited . . . I will be horribly in love with her Then Hero and Ursula persuade Beatrice that Benedick loves her, he is worthy, her pride may get in the way E.g. Ursula: But are you sure, that Benedick loves Beatrice so entirely? Hero: So says the prince and my new trothed lord. Result? Beatrice: Benedick, love on, I will requite thee, taming my wild heart to thy loving hand Audience response? After seeing them battle with each other, it is enjoyable to see them both being so easily tricked into loving the other but we are curious to see if things will really go smoothly as they have not yet declared their feelings to each other and that will require them to act completely differently around each other.

Act 4; scene 1 – ‘Kill Claudio! Even once the pair have admitted to themselves that they care about the other, a new source of conflict arises, that of Claudio’s treatment of Hero. Benedick’s goal is to make Beatrice admit she loves him Beatrice’s goal is to persuade Benedick to kill Claudio Key terms, characterisation – Benedick has become more mature Climax/turning point - Write down the quotations you had highlighted from this scene when you did group work on it. Page 117 in the book.

More quotations on next slide Act 5; scene 4 – Second Wedding – resolution Denouement = literary term for the conclusion, particularly when the truth is revealed In the denouement, it would seem that even when Benedick and Beatrice do love each other, they find it difficult to leave their former conflict behind. Benedick: Do not you love me? Beatrice: Why no, no more than reason. Benedick: Why then your uncle, and the prince, and Claudio, Have been deceived, they swore you did. Beatrice: Do not you love me? Benedick: Troth no, no more than reason. Benedick: they swore that you were almost sick for me. Beatrice: they swore that you were wellnigh dead for me. More quotations on next slide

Claudio and Hero both produce evidence that they have declared their love for each other Benedick: a miracle, here’s our own hands against our hearts: come, I will have thee, but by this light I take thee for pity. Beatrice; I would not deny you, but by this good day, I yield upon great persuasion, and partly to save your life, for I was told, you were in a consumption. Benedick: (to Don Pedro) Prince, thou art sad, get thee a wife, get thee a wife.

Conclusion Like any other conclusion, you should refer again to the title, author and question. You should sum up the main points that you’ve made that were relevant to the question and include your evaluation and audience response to the conflict within the play and the play as a whole.