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Much Ado About Nothing

Much Ado About Nothing. RICKEN. Setting. Another Italian setting—Messina, Italy is the main sight for this play. Although characters hail from Padua and Florentine as well. Leonato’s household. Leonato—governor of Messina, father to Hero Antonio—his brother Hero—Leonato’s only daughter

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Much Ado About Nothing

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  1. Much Ado About Nothing RICKEN

  2. Setting Another Italian setting—Messina, Italy is the main sight for this play. Although characters hail from Padua and Florentine as well.

  3. Leonato’s household • Leonato—governor of Messina, father to Hero • Antonio—his brother • Hero—Leonato’s only daughter • Beatrice—an orphan, Leonato’s niece • Margaret/Ursula—serving woman • Friar Francis

  4. Hero • Docile and passive. • Hero’s will conforms entirely to her fathers. • She has two suitors—Don Pedro and Claudio • She is accused of having a love affair and is denounced by Claudio on the day of their wedding. • Her father says it would have been better if she had died than bring this shame on his house.

  5. Claudio • His courtship of Hero is of the most formal and socially proper kind. • He takes her family connections into account and soberly woos her. • Claudio allows someone else to propose to Hero for him (in his place) indicating a lack of personal interest in her. • He believes Don John’s slanders and casts hero off on their wedding day.

  6. Beatrice and Benedict—one pair of lovers in the playThis is Shakespeare’s follow up to Taming of the Shrew

  7. Beatrice • She savages Benedict in public and mocks him behind his back. • However, she cannot help thinking about him and needs to constantly camouflage this problem in front of others. • She never for an instant believes her cousin Hero is guilty but she cannot find the proof she needs against Don Pedro.

  8. Benedict • Essentially a lonely man. • Similar to Petruchio’s character in some ways. • Uses wit to distance himself from Beatrice • He clings to the society of his own sex because he feels superior, confident, and safe there.

  9. Don Pedro, Prince of Arragon • Comes to Messina to visit after a victorious military campaign to court Hero. • His bastard brother is Don John.

  10. Don Johnand The Military • Don John is the official bringer of unhappy endings

  11. The Military • Don Pedro—Prince of Arragon (Denzel) • Don John—his bastard brother (Keanu) • Count Claudio—companion of Don Pedro • Signor Benedict--companion of Don Pedro • Borachio/Conrade—followers of Don John

  12. Dogberry and the Watch • Dogberry, Verges, and the Watch give us a brief glimpse of the lower classes, However, they also provide commentary on the gentry of the play. How are they different from their superiors?

  13. Themes • Two pairs of lovers: Benedict/Beatrice and Hero/Claudio • Reflecting society and everyday life—combination of both Italian and English influences seen throughout the play. • Revenge—once again we have unhappy illegitimate siblings causing trouble. • Male power, status, and honor • Tricks/Hoaxes/Deceptions

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