Shakespeare’s Comedy Much Ado About Nothing

This essay sample on Benedick provides all necessary basic info on this matter, including the most common “for and against” arguments. Below are the introduction, body and conclusion parts of this essay.

Shakespeare’s comedy. Much Ado About Nothing. is a drama that follows a little group of friends from a high-toned society in Massina. Two of this group are friends are Claudio and Benedick. In the beginning of the drama they are apparently similar. in that they both are of an upper-class upbringing and make their best to keep their societal repute.

The characters are made as to heighten their differences by the terminal of the drama ; they are foils to one another. Both Benedick and Claudio find themselves fooled by other characters in the drama and have to make up one’s mind what they are willing to believe is true and what is false. furthermore both characters find love by the terminal of the drama. but which means they use to acquire at that place differ.

In the beginning of the drama Claudio is introduced as an complete immature military adult male who has merely come back from a successful conflict. He claims to be “in love” with a adult female named Hero. Before facing her about the feelings he has for her. Claudio asks his friend Benedick to state him what he personally thinks about Hero. In the hopes that he will corroborate that she is in fact as just and lovely as Claudio thinks she is.

Get quality help now

WriterBelle

Verified

Proficient in: Drama

4.7 (657)

“ Really polite, and a great writer! Task done as described and better, responded to all my questions promptly too! ”

+84 relevant experts are online

Hire writer

“I pray thee state me truly how thou lik’st her. ” ( Much Ado About Nothing 1. 1. 171-172 )

How Does Claudio Woo Hero

The “love” Claudio feels for Hero is based on the blessing of his friends. Claudio goes on to inquire. yet another associate. Prince Don Pedro. how he to experience about Hero. Claudio is clearly a shoal minded single with a limited capacity to believe of merely a few ideas occupy his head at one clip. Claudio even makes non of it himself when speaking to Benedick about when he foremost came to love Hero. I look’d upon her with a soldier’s oculus. That liked. but had a rougher undertaking in manus Than to drive liking to the name of love: But now I am return’d and that war-thoughts Have left their topographic points vacant. in their suites Come mobing soft and delicate desires. All motivating me how just immature Hero is. Stating. I liked her ere I went to wars. ( Much Ado About Nothing 1. 1. 289-295 )

Foil to Claudio is Benedick. an chesty immature adult male who. besides like Claudio. took portion in the war and was brought up in a high category society. Benedick is besides concerned is his public image. He considers himself a ladies’ adult male of kinds and does non desire to be tied down by any adult female and would instead decease than be wed because he does non swear adult females. That a adult female conceived me. I thank her ; that she brought me up. I likewise give her most low thanks. But that I will hold a recheat winded in my brow. or hang my bugle in an unseeable baldrick. all adult females shall excuse me. Because I will non make them the incorrect to distrust any. I will make myself the right to swear none ; and the mulct is. for the which I may travel the finer. I will populate a unmarried man. ( Much Ado About Nothing 1. 1. 229-237 )

As if that did non do his point. Benedick goes on to state that he would prefer so to be bound by holy marriage. He tells his friends that if he of all time does anything so pathetic as to fall in love that as his friends they should hit him for his follies. “If I do. hang me in a bottle like a cat and shoot at me ; and he that hits me. allow him be clapped on the shoulder. and called Adam. ” ( Much Ado About Nothing 1. 1. 248-250 ) Because at this clip Benedick truly believes that love is the worst fait for any adult male.

In his efforts to happen public credence. Claudio proves to be easy fooled into believing anything he is told despite obvious deficiency of cogent evidence of what he is being deceived into thought is true. When approached by Don John the asshole. the brother to Don Pedro and the least sure individual in Messina. Claudio falls for the prevarication that his friend. Don Pedro. who offered to assist Claudio woo Hero has really planed to court her for himself. Claudio every bit fleeceable as he is believes Don John’s lies. “Claudio permits the cloaked Don Pedro. prince of Arragon. to court Hero in his topographic point but so is misled into believing that the prince has betrayed him and courted Hero for himself. ” ( Shakespeare’s Comedies 104 ) Once the lese majesty is proved false Claudio goes right back to being his pleasant ego and accepts Hero with no inquiries asked. “Lady. as you are mine. I am yours: I give off myself for you and dote upon the exchange. ” ( Much Ado About Nothing 2. 1. 304-306 ) Benedick is so back and Forth with his feelings for Hero it makes his love appear to be really unsure.

After being bombarded by all the recent talk of love from all of his friends. including Claudio. a military adult male he would hold thought would ne’er hold let himself be attached to any lady. Benedick begins to inquire if he excessively might fall for person. because if a solder like Claudio can be swayed to fall in love. certainly Benedick himself could besides. He so decides what kind of adult female would be able to win his bosom. Benedick’s standers are high and really specific. One adult female is just. yet I am good ; another is wise. yet I am good ; another virtuous. yet I am good ; but till all graces be in one adult female. one adult female shall non come in my grace. Rich she shall be. that’s certain ; wise. or I’ll none ; virtuous. or I’ll ne’er cheapen her ; just. or I’ll ne’er look on her ; mild. or come non near me ; baronial. or non I for an angel ; of good discourse. an first-class instrumentalist. and her hair shall be of what colour it please God. ( Much Ado About Nothing 2. 3. 26-35 )

With the chance of love already in his head Benedick becomes a victim of his cohorts program to gull him into that believing that Beatrice. an every bit idealistic character with a witty personality. who Benedick’s friends believe would be perfect for him. is in love with him. After hearing how much she loves him. Benedick changes his positions wholly. “a unmarried man in words more than sentiment. so that. during his soliloquy in 2. 3. we watched with understanding and knowing as he persuaded himself. easy. into love. ” ( Much Ado about Nothing ( reappraisal )

Shakespeare Bulletin 25. 3 ( 2007 ) 119-122 ) Skeptical at first. Benedick has a minute of realisation as he looks in himself. Through this self-contemplation Benedick leads himself to the decisions that Beatrice is so the perfect lucifer for him and fits his standard for the lone adult female that could do him fall in love. “-’tis so. I can non admonish it ; and wise. but for loving me ; by my engagement. it is no add-on to her humor. nor no great statement of her foolishness. for I will be dreadfully in love with her. I may opportunity hold some uneven oddities and leftovers of humor broken on me. because I have railed so long against marriage” ( Much Ado About Nothing 2. 3. 228-234 ) Though his ain penetration. Benedick changes his whole position about love all together.

In decision both Claudio and Benedick are deceived at one point or another in believing something that they are told with no existent cogent evidence. and both find love by the terminal of the drama. but the agencies by which they find their manner to love differs. Benedick’s way is much more line drive and though self-contemplation on how he feels about Beatrice. Were Claudio’s way is sways back and Forth due to his insecurities and follies.

Work Cited
Shakespeare. William. Much Ado About Nothing. New York: Signet Classic. 1998. Print. Vaughn. Jack A. Shakespeare’s Comedies. New York: Fredrick Ungar. 1980. Print. Finlayson. Caitlin. Much Ado about Nothing ( reappraisal ) . Shakespeare Bulletin 25. 3 ( 2007 ) . Web. Oct 18. 2011.