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Much Ado About Nothing

Much Ado About Nothing. The sources. MAAN - the sources. Stories of slandering chaste women were a tradition H and C from Italian poet (Ariosto) and Spenser. Both plots = woman accused of being unfaithful and lover is tricked by seeing a disguised servant

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Much Ado About Nothing

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  1. Much Ado About Nothing The sources

  2. MAAN - the sources • Stories of slandering chaste women were a tradition • H and C from Italian poet (Ariosto) and Spenser. • Both plots = woman accused of being unfaithful and lover is tricked by seeing a disguised servant • BUT – biggest creative debt owed to a work by Bandello (1554)

  3. Bandello… • Set in Sicily • Follows same pattern, and the woman (Fenecia) faints. • Sent to live with uncle, supposed to be dead. • Villain confesses, fiancé (Timbreo) is forgiven on promise to marry another woman of the father’s choice. • One year passes – Fenecia looks completely different (is even prettier) • Timbreo marries her, confesses his sin at the wedding breakfast, and her true identity is revealed.

  4. Ways Shakespeare changes his source… • Examining how Shakespeare changed his sources is a good way of understanding what possible themes/ideas/messages he was interested in communicating… • H and C are younger • Love is shallower, less well-established • Fenecia’s family = not wealthy. Hero’s wealth top in Claudio’s mind • C accuses H in public • No one in Fenecia’s family believes the claims

  5. So… • What do these changes suggest about how Shakespeare wanted his audience to react to this storyline?

  6. Beatrice and Benedick • No obvious source – Shakespeare’s own invention? (Told you he was awesome) • Two closest possible sources: • John Lyly – romantic plots with well-matched, eloquent lovers. • Castiglioni’s “The Courtier” - includes good-humoured banter between the sexes and courtly conversation.

  7. Links to other plays • FALSE accusations of female infidelity • Othello, Cymbeline, The Winter’s Tale • ALL deal with the supposed or actual death of the accused woman • Sparring/warring lovers • The Taming of the Shrew • Eloquent/verbose women • Katarina in Shrew, Viola in 12th Night, Rosalind in As You Like It

  8. Recurring themes/motifs • Deceptions • Loyalty • The position of women • “tricks” (these may appear as a range of things - disguises, secrets, eavsdroppings and misunderstandings) • Make notes as you go – we will stop and discuss

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