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Loading... Much Ado About Nothing (1598)by William Shakespeare
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I had fun using this as the first Shakespeare my 8th graders read. ( ) I find this story to be a bit shallow, but its a play, not easy to do character development. And its a play written in the early 1600's, where the caste system was in play, every person had a place with certain duties, requirements, and not much leeway for deviation. As a result, these stories are a bit constrained. I think its partly why Shakespeare is still read - he is brilliant at telling a story within these constraints, with double entendres and meanings within meanings. As a result, the story can be understood on many different levels (while also bringing in enough people to pay the rent). Reading it on a modern level is difficult. Between not understanding common phrases of the day, and words meaning different things today and 400 years ago (for an example, look at the word gay), It also doesn't help that most readers (even back then), won't get references to ancient Greek writings, or even contemporary references to "best sellers" of the day. Onto the story itself - this is a story about love, but love in the 16th century, where making a good match is more important than actual compatibility between partners. That Claudio and Hero are actually in Love (after only a day after knowing each other, without any sort of conversation) is actually a bonus. Where the story shines is the relationship between Beatrice and Benedict - always circling each other with quick witted barbs, proclaiming that each other is the worst of the worst. Of course, this is not normally accepted behavior on the part of Beatrice. But Shakespeare allows for it by making her an orphan, being raised by her uncle. She is one of the few woman who actually has some sort of say in what happens in her life. And, it brings to Don John, the bastard brother of Don Pedro, Prince of Arragon. Don John is actually an evil character. He just wants to cause chaos and watch it all burn, and I think he's a great character. No ulterior motives accept to screw over the establishment. As for this story, I have a hard time with how poor Hero is condemned so quickly. I know, product of its time, but man, what an awful thing, to be completely ruined by rumor. And Claudio, a man who has only met this girl, doesn't even know her well enough to recognize her voice, when someone pretends to be her. Its fairly standard stuff, and without the witticism's of Beatrice and Benedict, this story would probably be considered one of Shakespeare's lesser story. And on the edition - I read the Revised Penguin Edition from 1986 - I think the Signet Editions are better put together. I rather have the footnotes on the same pages as they occur, so I don't have to flip pages. Also, I think the Signet books have better information about the play, and drama in Shakespeare's time. The great bickering couple play, as I think the Shrew is far too broad. Beatrice and Benedict, the perfect Dogberry the Constable, and what more could one ask? If you can find in the streaming world, or on DVD, the lovely Emma thompson-Kenneth Branagh version, you will have the best time indeed! The play was extant by 1600. Belongs to Publisher SeriesIs contained in5 Plays: As You Like It; The Merry Wives of Windsor; A Midsummer Night's Dream; Much Ado About Nothing; Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare Ein Sommernachtstraum / Der Kaufmann von Venedig / Viel Lärm um nichts / Wie es euch gefällt / Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor by William Shakespeare The Annotated Shakespeare: The Comedies, Histories, Sonnets and Other Poems, Tragedies and Romances Complete by William Shakespeare (indirect) Much Ado About Nothing: Complete Text with Integrated Study Guide from Shmoop [Kindle Edition] by Shmoop The Norton Shakespeare: Four-Volume Set by Stephen Greenblatt (indirect) The Norton Shakespeare: Two Volume Set by William Shakespeare (indirect) Is retold inHas the adaptationMuch Ado About Nothing: Screenplay, Introduction, and Notes on the Making of the Movie by Kenneth Branagh Is abridged inInspiredHas as a studyHas as a commentary on the textHas as a student's study guide
Drama.
Fiction.
HTML: Shakespeare's comedy play Much Ado About Nothing pivots around the impediments to love for young betrothed Hero and Claudio when Hero is falsely accused of infidelity and the "lover's trap" set for the arrogant and assured Benedick who has sworn of marriage and his gentle adversary Beatrice. The merry war between Benedick and Beatrice with the promptings of their friends soon dissolves into farcical love, while Hero's supposed infidelity is shown to be little more than "much ado about nothing". .No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)822.33Literature English English drama Elizabethan 1558-1625 Shakespeare, William 1564–1616LC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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