Much Ado About Nothing

Anticipation Guide Mark each statement as true or false. 1.Men and women should marry persons of a similar social and economic status as themselves. 2.People choose with whom they will fall in love. 3.It is better not to marry than to marry and risk being cheated on by your spouse. 4.Most people can be trusted to be faithful in marriage. 5.Men are attracted to women who are assertive and bold. 6.Jealousy in a romantic relationship is usually a sign the relationship has problems. 7.Because parents usually know what is best for their children when it comes to choosing a mate, children should go along with their parents' wishes in this regard. Mark each statement as true or false. 1.Men and women should marry persons of a similar social and economic status as themselves. 2.People choose with whom they will fall in love. 3.It is better not to marry than to marry and risk being cheated on by your spouse. 4.Most people can be trusted to be faithful in marriage. 5.Men are attracted to women who are assertive and bold. 6.Jealousy in a romantic relationship is usually a sign the relationship has problems. 7.Because parents usually know what is best for their children when it comes to choosing a mate, children should go along with their parents' wishes in this regard.

Messina, Sicily Messina is in a mountainous province in Sicily, whose eastern shore is only about five miles across from the toe of the Italian “boot.” The Setting

What Messina Looks Like Today

Main Characters

The Characters Beatrice She is the niece of Leonato and cousin and friend of Hero (Leonato’s daughter) She is strong-willed and quick-witted; described as a “a pleasant-spirited lady” with a very sharp tongue which she is not afraid to use. She wages a war of wits against Benedick and often wins the battles. She is the epitome of one of Shakespeare’s strong female characters. She refuses to marry because she has not yet met a partner who will treat her as an equal, and because she is unwilling to eschew her liberty and submit to a controlling husband. Who is Beatrice?

Benedick Who is Benedick? He is a gentleman (by rank if not by behavior) and a soldier He is a friend to Claudio & Don Pedro He is quick-witted and can be relied upon to entertain his colleagues He is committed to being a bachelor and is vain and arrogant about his attractiveness to women He may be hiding deeper feelings for Beatrice He is a fair man who likes to see justice done He is not a romantic at heart, but a realist The Characters

Hero Who is Hero? She is the beautiful young daughter of Leonato and the cousin of Beatrice. She falls in love with Claudio and he falls for her. She is slandered and suffers terribly. The Characters

Claudio Who is Claudio? He is a young soldier who fought valiantly for Don Pedro during the recent wars. He falls in love with Hero upon his return to Messina. His unfortunately suspicious nature makes him quick to believe evil rumors about Hero, and hasty to despair and take revenge. The Characters

Don Pedro Who is Don Pedro? He is an important nobleman from Aragon, Spain, sometimes referred to as “Prince.” He is the most socially and politically powerful character in the play He is a long-time friend of Hero’s father, Leonato, and is also close to the soldiers fighting under him, especially Benedick and Claudio. He is generous, witty, and kind to his friends, but he, like Claudio, is quick to believe in the slanders against Hero. The Characters

The rest of the cast Don John’s Posse: Don John - The illegitimate brother of Don Pedro; sometimes called “the Bastard.” He is melancholy and sullen by nature, and is the villain of the play; his evil actions are motivated by his envy of his brother’s social authority. Borachio - An associate of Don John. Borachio is the lover of Margaret, Hero’s serving woman. His name means “drunkard” in Italian. Conrad - Don John’s closest associate. Don John’s Posse: Don John - The illegitimate brother of Don Pedro; sometimes called “the Bastard.” He is melancholy and sullen by nature, and is the villain of the play; his evil actions are motivated by his envy of his brother’s social authority. Borachio - An associate of Don John. Borachio is the lover of Margaret, Hero’s serving woman. His name means “drunkard” in Italian. Conrad - Don John’s closest associate. Leonato’s Household: Leonato - The respected, well-to-do governor of Messina, at whose home the action is set. He is the father of Hero and the uncle of Beatrice. Antonio - Leonato’s elderly brother, and Hero and Beatrice’s uncle. Margaret - Hero’s serving woman. Although loyal to Hero, her lover is the mistrustful and easily bribed Borachio. Ursula - Another of Hero’s waiting women Leonato’s Household: Leonato - The respected, well-to-do governor of Messina, at whose home the action is set. He is the father of Hero and the uncle of Beatrice. Antonio - Leonato’s elderly brother, and Hero and Beatrice’s uncle. Margaret - Hero’s serving woman. Although loyal to Hero, her lover is the mistrustful and easily bribed Borachio. Ursula - Another of Hero’s waiting women

Dogberry & Verges Dogberry - The constable (chief of police) in charge of the Watch. Dogberry takes his job seriously, but he has a habit of using exactly the wrong word to convey his meaning. Dogberry is one of the few middle-class characters in the play, and it is because of his desire to speak formally and elaborately like the noblemen that he becomes an occasion for parody. Dogberry is an archetype for bumbling police officers that we see on TV and in movies today. Verges - The deputy to Dogberry The Comic Relief

A Term to Know “It is beyond my apprehension.”

Shakespeare uses language in Much Ado About Nothing in particular ways. The title of the play could be a pun on the word "nothing,” which in Shakespeare's times may have been pronounced as "noting.” In turn "noting" meant to "observe" or to "watch.” The key feature of the play is that it is built on misunderstandings - where things are not quite as they seem. People are misled or misheard (mis-noted), and this leads to comedy and drama. Shakespeare's characters use language to insult each other, to deceive and to entertain - the following are some of the techniques he uses to achieve this. Shakespeare uses language in Much Ado About Nothing in particular ways. The title of the play could be a pun on the word "nothing,” which in Shakespeare's times may have been pronounced as "noting.” In turn "noting" meant to "observe" or to "watch.” The key feature of the play is that it is built on misunderstandings - where things are not quite as they seem. People are misled or misheard (mis-noted), and this leads to comedy and drama. Shakespeare's characters use language to insult each other, to deceive and to entertain - the following are some of the techniques he uses to achieve this. Language

Shakespearean Insults One of the reasons that Shakespeare’s comedies were so funny to the audience is because of the insults the characters made to one another. Though the insults sound a lot different than insults that you may be used to, many of them have the same meaning. In Much Ado About Nothing, you will meet two characters, named Beatrice and Benedick. ALL THEY DO is argue and insult one another. When you read the play, we will be analyzing the language to determine what the characters are actually saying. For example, what are the characters below saying to one another? One of the reasons that Shakespeare’s comedies were so funny to the audience is because of the insults the characters made to one another. Though the insults sound a lot different than insults that you may be used to, many of them have the same meaning. In Much Ado About Nothing, you will meet two characters, named Beatrice and Benedick. ALL THEY DO is argue and insult one another. When you read the play, we will be analyzing the language to determine what the characters are actually saying. For example, what are the characters below saying to one another? I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me What, my dear Lady Disdain! are you yet living?

Ideas, Themes, and Issues The play as a whole is built around a number of key ideas, themes and issues. Trickery and deception - characters trick others into looking foolish, getting angry, becoming jealous, or falling in love. Self-deception and delusion - characters cannot see the obvious, and have an unrealistic view of themselves (good or bad). Love and marriage - described within a society where women have little power and little say in whom they marry. Status and honor - described within a society where anyone of low birth gives way to those of higher status, and where everyone is meant to keep to a strict social code. Trickery and deception - characters trick others into looking foolish, getting angry, becoming jealous, or falling in love. Self-deception and delusion - characters cannot see the obvious, and have an unrealistic view of themselves (good or bad). Love and marriage - described within a society where women have little power and little say in whom they marry. Status and honor - described within a society where anyone of low birth gives way to those of higher status, and where everyone is meant to keep to a strict social code.