As You Like It: An Intro

I've been curious about As You Like It for quite some time now, especially considering that the leading lady, Rosalind, is often compared to the leading lady of my favorite play, Much Ado About Nothing, Beatrice.

Twelfth Night: My Feelings Overall

My first new play of this project was a raving success. I really enjoyed Twelfth Night. It was engaging, funny, and I didn't want to put it down! Here are some of my thoughts:

THOUGHTS ON THE CHARACTERS

Viola: I like her. She’s driven, intelligent, and takes her future into her own hands. She's nice to everyone, even letting Olivia down gently. And the fact that she still woos her for Orsino when she's in love with him is so amazingly sweet.

Orsino: I feel weird about Orsino. He’s a little bit misogynistic to be the love interest of the leading lady, but maybe I’ve been spoiled by the fantastic Benedick from MAAN. I do think part of his borderline misogyny comes from just not understanding women. Plus at the end he seems to convert from his misogynistic ways, so I guess he's alright.

Olivia: Olivia’s strange. In the end, I do really like her, because of how she treats Malvolio after he was tricked. She's sweet, and I'm happy that she gets a happy ending, but I don't feel happy about the ending, because she doesn't even know Sebastian!!

Malvolio: I like Malvolio and I feel sorry for him. I know he’s conceited, but he’s a dreamer, and I sometimes find myself being a little conceited, so I can relate to him. He just wants to improve his situation. I don’t know if he’s really in love with Olivia or just wants to use her for a better situation but I kind of think he does love her, which hurts my heart.

Sir Toby Belch: I strongly dislike Sir Toby. What a jerk! He messes with Malvolio (and I’m all for pranks, but this is cruel), messes with his best friend Sir Andrew, and then marries Maria because she made the trick happen (?!). 

Sir Andrew Aguecheek: He’s okay. I’m not crazy about the trick he played on Malvolio, but he seems pretty dumb and that he just follows along with what Sir Toby tells him to do.

Maria: I don’t like her, either. You’re not fun sassy, Maria, you’re mean sassy!

The Fool: He's fine. I like the whole idea that the person that is a "fool" is actually really intelligent, and not to judge a book by it's cover and all that jazz, but he contributes to the trick on Malvolio, and apparently that ruins characters for me.

Antonio: I've heard that he may be in love with Sebastian. Which is very cute and sad. I definitely would have preferred them as a couple rather than Sebastian ending up with Olivia who let's remember he Does Not Know. 

PLAYING TRICKS REGARDING LOVE: Twelfth Night reminds me of Much Ado About Nothing in a few ways, and one big one is the heartbreaking contrast between the trick played on Beatrice and Benedick and the trick played on Malvolio. Beatrice and Benedick being tricked is funny because you know that they really do have feelings for each other - so the trick is doing good, not harm. Malvolio, who has clearly already had feelings for Olivia, is led on to believe that she loves him, when she really is developing feelings for Viola/Cesario. There are some really beautiful lines in the letter Maria writes as Olivia, and knowing that none of those feelings are true, and seeing Malvolio’s joy in reading them, literally made me almost cry. And, of course, B&B’s trick is played on them by their friends and Beatrice’s cousin and her uncle, who love them and want to see them happy (and FINALLY admit they love each other, for Lord’s sake!), while Malvolio’s trick is being played on him by four people who don’t like him at all, and want to see him hurt and embarrassed. Here’s what I would have LOVED to see happen: Malvolio does smile at Olivia all the time (as the letter indicated he should do to show he loves her) and she finally smiles back. Her spirits are lifted by seeing his cheery yellow stockings and bright smile, and she falls in love with him. Also he could probably chill out a bit on his narcissism. 

Twelfth Night: A Movie

Twelfth Night: Act 5

Twelfth Night: Act 4

Twelfth Night: Act 3

Twelfth Night: Act 2

Act 2, Scene 1
Antonio and Sebastian are talking, and Sebastian tells him he's just going to wander around and try to figure some things out. He assumes that Viola is dead. Antonio tells Sebastian that it would be dangerous for him to go near Orsino's court, but that he'll go with Sebastian anyway because he loves him so much.

Act 2, Scene 2
Malvolio finds Viola/Cesario and tells her/him that Olivia does not want the ring from Orsino. V/C plays along, although she never gave Olivia anything. She figures out that Olivia has a crush on Cesario, and realizes that the ring was a way to tell him.
Best Quotes:
"O time, thou must untangle this, not I. It is too hard a knot for me to untie."
I can relate.

Act 2, Scene 3
Sir Toby and Sir Andrew are chatting about how staying up so late isn't so bad, since if it's after midnight, they're technically going to be early. The fool arrives and...

Twelfth Night: Act 1

Act 1, Scene 1
We are introduced to Orsino, one of the main characters of the play. He is talking to Curio, who works for him, about his love for a woman named Olivia. However, Olivia's brother has recently died, and in her sadness, she has decided to not show her face for seven years. Orsino is determined to win her love.

Act 1, Scene 2
Viola arrives in Illyria and talks with the captain. She has been shipwrecked and has lost track of her brother, whom she now fears is dead. However, if she has survived, the captain reminds her, it is possible he survived as well. Viola is unfamiliar with the area but the captain grew up nearby, and tells her that the local ruler is a man named Orsino, who is unmarried but is in love with Olivia. Viola decides to attempt to work for Orsino in disguise as a man until she can reveal herself. (I'm not entirely sure why she needs to disguise herself...maybe this will be revealed later?)

Act 1, Scene 3
Sir Toby Belch, Olivia's uncle, and Maria, Olivia's servant, discuss Sir Toby's bad habit - he is a drinker, which makes Olivia angry. Sir Toby has a friend, Sir Andrew Aguecheek, who is interested in Olivia, but he has a lot of bad habits as well, and Maria doesn't think that he would be a good match for her. Sir Andrew arrives and Sir Toby encourages him to flirt with Maria, but he's not really getting it. After a bit of a chat, Sir Andrew tells Sir Toby that he's going home tomorrow since Olivia will have nothing to do with him - or any man, for that matter. Sir Toby encourages him to not give up hope. They then talk about how Sir Andrew is a good dancer.

Act 1, Scene 4
Viola, now in disguise as Cesario, has been working for Orsino for a few days. Valentine, another man who works for Orsino, tells Viola/Cesario that Orsino is very impressed with her/him. Orsino arrives and asks V/C to attempt to woo Olivia for him. She says she will do that, and to herself says that it will be hard considering she is in love with Orsino!

Act 1, Scene 5
Maria and the Fool enter, and they talk about how the Fool has been gone and had better come up with a good excuse as to his whereabouts before Olivia gets there. She arrives and tells the servants to get the Fool out of there, but the Fool says that she's the fool instead, since she's so miserable for her brother whom she knows to be in a better place. Olivia is impressed with his wit, but Malvolio, another servant, is not. Sir Toby enters and tells Olivia that there is a man at the gate who wishes to speak with her and will not leave until he has. After some back-and-forth, Olivia finally agrees to see him with her veil on. He comes in and it is Viola/Cesario. She/he tells Olivia that Orsino is crazy for her, but Olivia is unimpressed. However, she is interested in V/C. When V/C leaves, she asks herself if it is possible to fall in love that fast.

Twelfth Night: The Setting

Twelfth Night is set in Illyria, which is

Twelfth Night: Background

Twelfth Night: An Intro

Twelfth Night is one of Shakespeare’s most common modernly-known works if only because of the 2006 movie She’s The Man which is one of THE movies of my generation. As far as I can remember, I’ve never seen it, but I see the picture of Amanda Bynes with the tampon up her nose enough on the internet to make me understand that this is a classic for millenials.

In choosing which plays I wanted to read for this project, I read through their descriptions online, and Twelfth Night stood out to me because it incorporates love triangles, drag, and chaos - all topics which should make for a very funny play. 

The play is about a girl, Viola, who is shipwrecked in Illyria with her brother, Sebastian (whom she thinks died in the shipwreck) and for some reason dresses up as a man and falls in love with a man, Orsino, who is in love with a girl, Olivia, who is in love with Viola because she thinks she is a man, Cesario.

I am SO excited to get started on Twelfth Night and I put it on hold last week so I have it in my possession now!!

Much Ado About Nothing: My Feelings Overall

Today is the last day with Much Ado About Nothing. Guess what happened today? I got an email from the library saying the book I put on hold, Much Ado About Nothing, was in. Thanks.

• MAIN CHARACTERS: There’s always debate about who the two main characters of the show are supposed to be; is it Hero and Claudio, the characters around whom much of the main plot seems to revolve, or is it Beatrice and Benedick, the crowd-pleasing favorites and the more satisfying of the romances? I don’t know for sure and I can’t claim to know which couple Shakespeare intended to be the main pair (although I’m as sure as I can be that he was aware that Beatrice and Benedick were going to be the breakout characters, considering the very crowd-pleasing ending he gave them). Here is some food for thought, though. Maybe the two main characters are Hero and Beatrice. Perhaps the play is the story of two cousins and best friends who could not be more different, and how one girl’s conventionality and traditional submissiveness leads her into misfortune, while the other’s independence and unconventionality leads her to a happy marriage with the love of her life. Beatrice is strong, brave, intelligent, and independent and finds love because of it, not in spite of it. What a wonderful message to show girls. Meanwhile, Hero is submissive, traditional, and can't speak up for herself.
• BEATRICE AND BENEDICK’S PREVIOUS RELATIONSHIP: It’s only hinted at once (when Beatrice tells Don Pedro). My theory is that he told her he loved her and then somehow took it back. I’ve come to this conclusion because when Benedick says he loves Beatrice, she assumes he’s going to “eat his words”, and questions him about it a few times before she believes that he is sincere. She also says earlier that he won her heart of false dice. So maybe he told her he loved her, she reciprocated, and then he took it back, thus kind of getting her heart (as she would see it) dishonestly. I’m not sure he wouldn’t have meant it - in fact, I’m sure he would have - but he was probably afraid of commitment and marriage and settling down.
• WIT AND INSULTS: Beatrice and Benedick’s insults are interesting, because they’re all obviously not reflective of the truth. Benedick calls Beatrice old (she’s not, she’s his age, and he’s described by Claudio as being a “youth"), Beatrice calls him ugly (he’s not, every single woman and even some of the men in the play have acknowledged his attractiveness) and dull (he’s her biggest form of entertainment). That’s probably why it’s not hard when, after admitting to themselves that they’re in love with the other, they can easily acknowledge the other’s good qualities.
• AN ADMISSION OF LOVE: It’s also pretty funny that in their private admissions of love for the other, they go much farther than Don Pedro and company intended. Where as the tricking crew thought just making them have a little crush on each other would be funny, Beatrice and Benedick are like, "Marriage and children? Bring it on!” Also what I think is pretty interesting is that it is the first time they talk straight to each other - no metaphors and puns. 
• TRUST OF WOMEN: I think it’s interesting that Benedick’s excuse of why he’ll never marry is that he can’t trust women, and it ends up being Claudio who, in reality, doesn’t trust a woman (thinking that Hero is cheating on him), and Benedick, who puts the ultimate level of trust in a woman (by telling Beatrice that he will challenge Claudio for Hero’s honor). Although even at the beginning of the play he admits that his “hatred” of women is really just an act, it’s certainly possible that he is afraid of being hurt by being cheated on, even though he loves Beatrice, and when he sees the harm that comes from distrust, he realizes that he needs to take a leap of faith. 

Much Ado About Nothing: A Movie

There are three big movie adaptations of Much Ado About Nothing. The first came out in 1993 and starred Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Robert Sean Leonard, and Kate Beckinsale. It is the truest to the original play, set in the right era with (almost) the entire script intact. The second came out in 2005 and was part of BBC’s ShakespeaRe-Told series, which set four Shakespeare plays in the modern era. It starred Damian Lewis, Sarah Parish, Tom Ellis, and Billie Piper. The third came out in 2012 and is set in the modern era, filmed in black and white, and uses the original script. It stars Alexis Denisof, Amy Acker, Fran Kranz, and Jillian Morgese. I’ve seen the first one all the way through in school in 10th grade, I had seen almost all of the second, and I’ve only seen bits and pieces of the third. I chose to watch the second one for this project because I’m going to try to watch modern adaptations because I think that might be interesting. Also I’m looking forward to watching She’s The Man, a millennial classic, for Twelfth Night. It’s going to be interesting to see what has to change for the modern day and what is more timeless.

Much Ado About Nothing (2005)

• Please go watch ShakespeaRe-Told’s Much Ado About Nothing. It is all on YouTube. It is brilliant. Truly. It sets the action in a modern-day news television studio in Wessex, England.
• First off, here’s a summary:
• The movie opens with a woman and man preparing for a date. The man stands the woman up. Three years later, the woman, Beatrice Evans, is on the set of her job as a newscaster. Her cohost, Keith, is a sketchy older man who keeps hitting on her. Keith ends up having a heart attack (not fatal) and is replaced by none other than the man who stood her up for a date, Benedick Taylor. 
• Meanwhile, the weather girl, Hero Armitage (daughter of the station manager, Leonard, neither of whom Beatrice is related to in this adaptation, although she does have a close relationship with both of them), and the sports anchor, Claude, develop a little crush on each other. However, Don, the director, has been going through a rough breakup and is also romantically interested in Hero. In fact, his work is suffering because of this (and because he's been drinking) so he's replaced by a man named Peter (brought in when Benedick is brought in) whom they've worked with before and whom everyone likes. Don is demoted by Leonard (who has a bad feeling about him) in the hopes that he will quit. 
• The security guard, Mr. Berry (who is the one to discover that Don has been drinking alcohol in his water bottles), is clearly inept, constantly asking everyone to show their IDs despite them having worked at the station for years. So Benedick arrives and is talking to everyone at the station, telling some story about some reporting adventure he's had, and Beatrice comes in and says "I'm amazed you're still talking, Benedick, nobody's listening to you," and thus the insult war begins. Hero announces that there is going to be a costume party to welcome the new members of the team at her/Leonard's house. 
• Don and Hero take a walk on the beach and Don tells her he has feelings for her, but Hero says she's with Claude now PLUS it is revealed that they slept together once in the past. 
• Back at the station, Claude is talking with Benedick about how pretty Hero is, and Benedick says he finds Beatrice much more attractive, "or at least she would be, if she wasn't such a small, carnivorous dinosaur with quick, sharp, vicious little teeth". Margaret, one of the production assistants, flirts with Benedick, which he encourages, and Beatrice finds obnoxious. They start bickering regarding the end of their relationship, which the production team is taking note of. 
• Benedick comes over to Claude's house to get ready for the costume party, and Claude has gotten him a suit of armor which oh my god I just realized could be a nod to how Benedick and Claudio in the play are soldiers. 
• At the party, Benedick flirts with Margaret some more. Claude is going over something he is planning on asking Hero (!) and Don notices and talks to him and also uses a similar line from the play "your Hero, my Hero, everyone's Hero". Claude isn't really listening, as he's watching Hero talking to Benedick. Benedick is kind of flirting with her, too, but it's pretty clear that he's just a flirt and doesn't mean anything by it, but Claude gets jealous anyway and tells Hero that Margaret is looking for him, and tells Benedick to "give it a rest" and walks away. Benedick puts the helmet down on his costume and Beatrice approaches, "thinking" it's Claude, and asks him to sit with her and chat. Beatrice, obviously, uses the opportunity to mock Benedick, asking where he is and saying he's "probably working his way through the buffet, seeing how many chicken thighs he can fit in his mouth". She keeps mocking him and the conversation is delightfully similar to a mix of Act 1, Scene 1 and Act 2, Scene 1. In this version, it's pretty clear that she knows it's Benedick. Benedick leaves and talks to Peter about how awful Beatrice is.  Meanwhile, Don goes upstairs where he hears Margaret, Ursula, and Hero talking about him. Margaret clearly thinks he's creepy, and Hero says she felt sorry for him. Margaret asks if he knows that she only slept with him out of pity, and Hero says she'd just like to forget about it. Back downstairs, Beatrice approaches Benedick and Peter and Benedick asks if he can do something for Peter to avoid talking to her, but Peter instead walks away, leaving them alone. They have a very awkward silence - unusual for what you would think B&B would have - but then Beatrice asks him to dance (not in a friendly manner) (also worth noting that Benedick is not wearing the helmet so she knows it's him). After some reluctance, he accepts. As they very awkwardly dance together - very far apart -, they watch Hero and Claude dancing and mock them, but they get increasingly close together as they dance. Then they watch Claude propose to Hero, to their shock. Don is sitting in Hero's room, looking at pictures of her, when Claude (in the foyer) announces to everyone that he and Hero are getting married. 
• Back at the station, everyone (especially B&B) disagrees over the stories they should cover. 
• B&B are then on location and Beatrice is angry with Benedick because she thinks that he is being snobby since he used to work in London. They get into yet another battle of insults. It's worth noting that their insults aren't quite as witty as Shakespeare's, and they don't really build off each other the same way, but there is still hella sexual tension, so the important bases are covered.
• At the station, Hero asks Beatrice to be her maid of honor and Claude asks Benedick to be the best man. As they go to begin the evening news, they get into another battle of insults and Margaret, Leonard, and Peter discuss how they need to do something about this. 
• While Benedick is in his dressing room, he hears overhead feed of Peter, Leonard, Hero, and Claude talking about him. The feed cuts out and he runs to the set to hear more. P, L, H, and C discuss how Beatrice is crazy with love for him, but that she can't tell him because Benedick will laugh at her. They discuss all of Beatrice's good qualities, and how she's considering leaving the show because of it. All the while Benedick is crawling around trying to hear what they're saying.
• Back at home, Benedick thinks about how it makes sense that Beatrice likes him.
• The next day, Benedick tells himself that even though he never thought he would be in love, maybe it's just "one of those things a man grows into, like jazz and olives," and, of course, "the world must be peopled". He thinks about how she really is attractive, funny, and intelligent. 
• While in his dressing room, Beatrice comes to the door and tells him that the debrief has been canceled because Hero is having her bachelorette party. Benedick, having been tricked, flirts with her in hilarious ways, while Beatrice is obviously confused (see below for the video). 
• Back on the set, Benedick doesn't flirt with Margaret. Beatrice finished a story where she was dancing, and Benedick (ON AIR) talks about how great she looks. Beatrice goes to his dressing room after, very angry, thinking this was all him mocking her, and she says they need to discuss this and come to some "mutually satisfying arrangement", which Benedick thinks means sex and Beatrice means a truce, and their misunderstanding is really, really funny.
• Don writes himself a note on the back of one of Hero's pictures he took from her room as if it were from Hero. 
• Mr. Berry and his assistant notice on the security cameras that Don is going through Hero's bag. 
• Hero and Claude say goodbye and Claude tells her not to flirt with other guys, etc. and Hero tells him not to be insane with jealousy. Don comes up to Hero and gives her her purse, telling her she forgot it, and Mr. Berry sees.
• At the bachelorette party, the girls are talking about guys at the station and how they all find Benedick attractive. Beatrice gets annoyed and leaves, saying she has to go make a phone call. She goes into the bathroom and sits in a stall to get away from them. While in the bathroom, the girls (Hero, Ursula, and Margaret) come in and discuss how Benedick loves her, and it's such a shame that she's so proud, because he's crazy for her.
• At home, Beatrice thinks about how it makes sense that Benedick likes her.
• At the hotel, the day before the wedding, B&B arrive at the same time. Benedick has shaved his weird beard thing and changed up his hair, which startles Beatrice (in a good way). They check in and the woman working the desk at first asks if they are together (to which they obviously, and awkwardly, say no) and then says they have been put in adjoining rooms (the ones with the door between them on the inside). They are surprised, and the woman says she can change it, but they tell her she doesn't have to.
• That evening, most of the invitees are hanging out in the hotel and Don pulls Claude (who seems to be a little intoxicated) aside and tells him that Hero is interested in him which is kind of a weird way to do this scheme but Claude believes it regardless when Don shows him the photos and text messages (that he sent himself when he was going through Hero's bag back at the station). Vincent (Mr. Berry's assistance) sees this whole thing going on).
• Meanwhile, Benedick goes to Beatrice's room and asks her for help with a Shakespearean sonnet (!) that he is going to read as part of his best man's speech. It is sonnet 116: 

Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove:

O no; it is an ever-fixed mark, 

That looks on tempests, and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wandering bark,

Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks 

Within his bending sickle's compass come; 

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, 

But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

   If this be error and upon me proved,

   I never writ, nor no man ever loved. 

• They both are clearly thinking about each other as they go line by line through it and then they ALMOST KISS but he leaves and when he's gone Beatrice falls exasperated onto the bed.
• With Claude watching, Don goes to Hero's room and she lets him in when he says that he is feeling overwhelmed about his ex-wife and just wants to talk for a minute (which Claude doesn't hear). Claude calls her and she says that she is alone.
• On the wedding day, Benedick avoids Margaret's flirtations again. Mr. Berry tries to talk to Benedick but he's busy getting everyone into the church. 
• The wedding scene runs pretty similarly to the play, with the exception of Leonard/Leonato FREAKING OUT. 
• Alone after the chaos, Benedick finds Beatrice and the scene also runs similarly to the play (see below). They admit they love each other and Benedick says he's going to make everything alright. 
• As Benedick goes to confront Claude, Mr. Berry approaches him and tells him what he's seen. Benedick tells Claude how Don has tricked him, which he finally believes. Hero arrives and yells at Don, slapping him around, and he pushes her away. She falls into a column, hitting her head, and passes out. 
• At the hospital, Hero is still unconscious. Beatrice and Benedick sit together and say that although they had something to talk about (their relationship), now is not the time. They leave.
• Claude, still at the hospital, talks to Hero (still unconscious) about how sorry he is. He goes to leave, but then Hero regains consciousness.
• Later, Beatrice and Benedick go on a proper date. 
• Fully recovered, Hero sits at the beach with Claude. He tells her that he is interviewing for a job in London, and Hero encourages him to take it, saying that if he thinks she’s going to forgive him, he’s wasting his time. Claude apologizes again and asks if there’s any chance of them every trying again in the future. 
• The movie ends with a wedding. You don’t initially know who’s wedding it is, but I’ll tell you. It’s Beatrice and Benedick’s. And they’re still sassing each other as they stand at the altar. It’s a beautiful, happy ending that’s just what Shakespeare would have wanted, updated just enough to keep modern audiences happy.
• Please enjoy this clip of one of the very best bits in this movie (this is the equivalent of the end of Act 2, Scene 3, where Benedick has been tricked, but Beatrice hasn’t yet):

• In contrast to that very funny scene, please enjoy this very sweet scene (equivalent of Act 4, Scene 1):

• Differences:

• Movie B&B’s relationship is not as well developed from the start. They don’t know each other as well as play B&B and as far as we know their insult battle really just begins when he arrives at the TV station. Although it seems like they knew each other because it seems like he worked at the station with her around the time this date was happening (or not happening).
• We know exactly what Benedick did in the previous relationship - he stood her up for a date. I’m gathering that it was their first date, too, because Benedick says she’s mad about how things ended and she says that nothing had started.
• DON LIKES HERO! Some productions of MAAN play this, but they usually don’t, and it’s not stated or even really hinted at in the text. As far as I could tell, Don John was just trying to hurt Claudio, and the whole plan against Hero was just the best way he thought to do it.
• B&B’s insults aren’t as fantastic as in the play - they’re not really punny and they don’t really build off of each other the same way, although many of them are pretty true to the original text.
• There’s more of a development of the post-trick but pre-admission-of-love timespan that I think is really good. There’s more than one awkward instance of Benedick trying to flirt with a pre-trick Beatrice and then a few awkward moments of the both of them post-trick, all of which are fantastically funny.
• Obviously the attitudes towards sex are completely different.
• At the very opening of the movie, Beatrice is spreading rose petals on her bed (which she then vacuums up, which is pretty funny), which indicates that she’s thinking this (first?) date could lead there
• Hero has slept with Don (i.e., not a virgin)
• The big issue is that Claude thinks that Hero is still holding feelings for Don and that she’s cheating on him (Claude) with him (Don).
• We don’t know if B&B ever discover the trick, but it doesn’t really matter, because the trick leads them to start dating each other, and they don’t get married for a while, while in the play they get married right after the trick. Refer to point 1 as to why that makes sense, though.
• Hero doesn’t take Claude back, but it’s open-ended if she ever will. They at least end the movie on good terms, as she smiles at him at Beatrice and Benedick’s wedding.

Also I just want to talk about the sonnet.

So Benedick plans to read the sonnet at Hero and Claude’s wedding and as he and Beatrice get into it they think about themselves but can I just say the literally first line is B&B in a whole darn nutshell: "Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments." Like COME ON. H&C are really, really different. Which isn’t bad. Opposites attract. But theirs would/will/can not ever be the marriage of true minds. But B&B, man! This is it! They are both attractive people attracted to each other’s intelligence and wit and humor and independence, whereas H&C are just physically attracted to each other, and that fact is made pretty clear both in the play and the movie. “Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, but bears it out even to the edge of doom.” Kill Claudio, anyone?

And here are the characters for your reference with their counterparts.

PLAY MOVIE

Beatrice Beatrice Evans

Benedick Benedick Taylor

Hero Hero Armitage

Claudio Claude

Leonato Leonard Armitage

Don Pedro Peter

Don John Don

Margaret Margaret

Ursula Ursula

Dogberry Mr. Berry

Verges Vincent

Borachio no equivalent character

Conrade no equivalent character

No equivalent character Keith Fleming

Much Ado About Nothing: Act 5

Act 5, Scene 1

Antonio tries to advise Leonato to relax in relation to what is happening with Hero, but Leonato is not having any of it - in fact, he says something similar to what Benedick said earlier: “Men can counsel and speak comfort to that grief which they themselves not feel”. In all, he’s telling Antonio that he can’t give advice on something he isn’t going through. But Antonio does tell Leonato to not let himself take all the grief, and to place some of the blame on those who have wronged him. Leonato agrees, and says he knows in his soul that Hero has been falsely accused. The false accusers themselves, Don Pedro and Claudio, arrive, and though they are pleasant towards Leonato, Leonato is not happy with them. He tells Claudio that he has wronged Hero and that she is now dead because of it. Claudio and Don Pedro can’t believe it. The four begin to get very angry towards each other and threats fly. Don Pedro says he is sorry about Hero dying but she was not accused of anything she didn’t do. Leonato and Antonio, angry, leave. Benedick arrives and Claudio tells him that he and Don Pedro “had like to have had our two noses snapped off with two old men without teeth.” He then tells Benedick that they have been looking for him to cheer them up with his wit. It might be interesting here that Claudio says “I will bid thee draw, as we do the minstrels; draw, to pleasure us.” Kind of reminiscent of when Beatrice says that Benedick is just the prince’s jester - which isn’t really true, of course, the three of them are great friends, but Benedick does have the reputation for being lighthearted, so his severe responses in this scene are particularly jarring to them. Then Benedick gives a fantastic speech to Claudio, challenging him as Beatrice asked him to. It’s so fantastic I’m giving you all of it here: “You are a villain; I jest not: I will make it good how you dare, with what you dare, and when you dare. Do me right, or I will protest your cowardice. You have killed a sweet lady, and her death shall fall heavy on you. Let me hear from you.” Despite the seriousness of Benedick’s speech, Don Pedro and Claudio still think he’s kidding around, so they joke that his “challenge” is a feast. Then Don Pedro tells Benedick about a conversation he had with Beatrice which was obviously before the calamity involving Hero but I’m thinking after the trick because of the last lines but also this may just be part of the trick - he says he praised Benedick’s wit to her, and she twisted all the words around to make them insults. But then she “concluded with a sigh, thou wast the properest man in Italy” (!). Properest meaning the whole package - according to a dictionary definition - fine, good, excellent, and handsome. Very cute. Then Claudio says “for the which she wept heartily and said she cared not,” and Don Pedro says “Yea, that she did: but yet, for all that, an if she did not hate him deadly, she would love him dearly.” Sooooo cute. But (and what Don Pedro and Claudio don’t know) Benedick already knows that she’s crazy about him in real life and his mind is focused on his mission: he says goodbye to Claudio and is disgusted at their “gossip-like humour”, tells them that Don John has fled Messina, and tells Don Pedro that he is discontinuing his company. He then leaves, and Claudio and Don Pedro, shocked, realize that he is sincere, and that it has something to do with Beatrice. Dogberry and company enter with Conrade and Borachio. Don Pedro is shocked that two of the men in Don John’s company are in police custody and asks why. Here’s Dogberry’s fantastic response: “Marry, sir, they have committed false report; moreover, they have spoken untruths; secondarily, they are slanders; sixth and lastly, they have belied a lady; thirdly, they have verified unjust things; and, to conclude, they are lying knaves." And even though I’m mad at him, here’s Don Pedro’s great response: “First, I ask thee what they have done; thirdly, I ask thee what’s their offense; sixth and lastly, why are they committed; and, to conclude, what you lay to their charge.” Then he says Dogberry is “too cunning to be understood” and asks Borachio directly. Borachio tells Don Pedro that Don John made him pretend that Margaret was Hero in Hero’s window, and that it is his and Don John’s fault that Hero is dead, and now Don John has fled. Leonato, Antonio, and the sexton come back and Borachio admits to Leonato that he alone is the culprit, but Leonato knows that it is Borachio, Conrade, and Don John that are at fault. Claudio and Don Pedro are remorseful, though it’s perhaps noteworthy that Claudio says “sinn’d I not but in mistaking.” Leonato says nothing can bring Hero back to life, but they should make sure everyone in Messina knows that Hero was innocent. Further, he has a niece (not Beatrice, another niece) who is like a copy of Hero that he will have to marry instead. Claudio is happy to take this offer. Borachio also insists that Leonato know that Margaret was not to blame and that she didn’t know what was happening. Dogberry also wants Leonato to know that Borachio called him an ass, and that Deformed was mentioned and that Leonato should ask him about that. Leonato says that he’s going to talk to Margaret about how she came to be associated with Borachio. 

Act 5, Scene 2
Benedick runs into (not literally) Margaret and he tells her that he is writing a sonnet to Beatrice, and Margaret jokes that no man ever writes her sonnets. They joke around a bit, and Margaret says his wit isn’t hurtful, and Benedick says, solidifying his place as my literary crush forever, “A most manly wit, Margaret; it will not hurt a woman.” <3 Benedick, like no other man in this show, knows that real men don’t prove their manliness by hurting women. He asks Margaret to get Beatrice, and she leaves. Benedick attempts to sing his poem but realizes that it’s not very good and that he isn’t made for the traditional methods of courtship. Beatrice arrives and they simultaneously flirt and insult each other as only they can. Yet another perfect thing about Benedick is that when he’s flirting with Beatrice he compliments her intelligence: “Thou hast frightened the word out of his right sense, so forcible is thy wit.” Benedick, by the way, has told Beatrice that he has challenged Claudio, and now asks her how Hero is. Beatrice tells him that she isn’t great. He asks her how she is, and she tells him she’s not great either. Ursula arrives and tells the them that it has been proven that Hero is innocent and that Don John is behind it all. They all return to Leonato’s house.

Act 5, Scene 3
Claudio reads something he has written in honor of Hero, and says he will do so every year in her memory. Don Pedro tells Claudio that it’s time they return to Leonato’s.

Act 5, Scene 4
At Leonato’s house, Friar Francis talks with Leonato about Hero’s innocence, and Leonato seems to for whatever reason think that Claudio and Don Pedro are also innocent which I guess is technically true because they were tricked, but they were still jerks about it. Antonio says he is glad that everything worked out, and Leonato tells Hero to leave and get masked. Antonio’s task is to pretend that Hero (in disguise as Leonato’s niece) is his daughter. Benedick asks Friar Francis for a favor, and tells Leonato that Beatrice is romantically interested in him. Yep, Leonato says, she looks at him with an eye of love that Hero “lent her”. Benedick says he is also romantically interested in Beatrice. Yep, Leonato says, with an eye of love “from me, from Claudio and the prince.” Benedick doesn’t understand what Leonato is trying to tell him, but regardless asks Leonato for his goodwill for them to get married. Leonato is very happy with this match (obviously) and Friar Francis says he will marry them. Don Pedro and Claudio arrive and Leonato tells Antonio to get “his niece”. Antonio brings Hero and Claudio asks to see her face. Leonato says not until he promises to marry her. He does, and Hero unmasks. Claudio and Don Pedro are shocked, and Hero tells Claudio that she is a virgin, as sure as she is alive. Which is kind of an awkward thing to say. Friar Francis says alright, let’s get to the chapel. BUT THEN Benedick asks Beatrice to come forward and she does and he asks if she loves him in front of everyone and she’s like pssssh of course not and he tells her that apparently Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato are mistaken, then, since he overheard them say she was and then Beatrice asks Benedick if he loves her and he’s like pssssh of course not and she tells him that apparently Hero, Margaret, and Ursula are mistaken, then, since she overheard them say he was and they go back and forth and then Leonato is like girl, I know you love him and then Hero and Claudio are like look, we found secret love notes you guys wrote and this gives away everything AND THEN Benedick is like, well, FINE, I guess I HAVE to marry you but it’s only out of pity and then she’s like well, FINE, I guess we DO have to get married but I’m only doing it after everyone persuaded me to and because you were DYING without me and then he’s like “Peace! I will stop your mouth.” and KISSES HER AND I’M D.E.A.D. Then Don Pedro teases Benedick now that he’s going to be married which he said he never would be and Benedick says they can tease him all they want, but it doesn’t matter - he’s going to be a happily married man now. Then he tells Claudio that even though he (Benedick) won, he will have mercy on Claudio and not fight him since they will be in-laws now. Then everybody is about to dance to celebrate the happy ending BUT more happy ending is needed so a messenger tells Don Pedro that Don John has been caught and is on his way back to Messina. Benedick tells everyone that he will think up the punishments for him, but that they don’t need to think about it until tomorrow. 

Much Ado About Nothing: Act 4

Act 4, Scene 1
The wedding of Hero and Claudio. The Friar, Francis, begins the marriage ceremony by asking Claudio if he comes to marry Hero. Claudio says "No". Leonato thinks Claudio is joking about the fact that the Friar is "marrying" them, while Claudio comes to "be married to" her. The Friar asks Hero if she comes to be married to Claudio. She says she does. The Friar asks for objections, and Claudio asks Hero if she knows any. She says she doesn't. Claudio begins to get a little worked up but doesn't directly say why, and Benedick attempts to lighten the situation (since he has no idea what is going on). Claudio then tells Leonato that Hero is not a virgin. Leonato tells Claudio that it's no big deal if he has slept with her, and Claudio has predicted this answer, it's not a problem, since they've agreed to be married and simply saw each other as husband and wife already. Nope, Claudio says, he never even tried to sleep with her - Hero slept with another man. Hero, obviously, is shocked. Don Pedro backs up Claudio's claim. Leonato says he must be dreaming, but Don John (who invited him!?) also backs up the story. Claudio asks Hero, in front of everyone, if she talked with anyone outside her window between midnight and one last night, and she says she didn't. Don Pedro tells Leonato that she is lying, that they saw her talking with a man last night. Leonato is overcome, and says "Hath no man's dagger here a point for me?", meaning that he would rather die than have to deal with this. The accusers leave. Hero faints, and Beatrice runs to her, calling for help from three people: Leonato, the Friar, and Benedick. Leonato says that Hero's death would be preferable to her being alive as such a whore. Leonato goes on a whole long monologue about how he loved Hero so much and was so proud of her, but now she is a shame on him. Benedick tells Leonato to calm down and expresses his shock at the situation, saying he doesn't know what to say. Trying to reason the situation out, he asks Beatrice if she slept in Hero's room last night. She didn't, which Leonato takes as proof that Hero was cheating on her fiancee. Hero regains consciousness and tells Leonato that if they can prove she did what she is accused of, to feel free to "refuse me, hate me, torture me to death." Benedick works out that they must have been tricked by Don John, since they otherwise are very honorable people. Leonato says he doesn't know. If they're right about Hero, than "these [Leonato's] hands shall tear her"; if they're wrong, they'll tear them. The Friar suggests that they pretend that Hero is dead, which will cause Claudio to regret what he has done, while the rest of them get the proof that Hero has been falsely accused. Benedick advises Leonato to do as the Friar suggests, and says that even though he is very good friends with Claudio and Don Pedro, he is on Hero's side. Everyone else leaves, and Benedick finds Beatrice crying. He asks if she has been crying the whole time, and she says she has. He says he doesn't want that, and she says it doesn't matter - she can't help it. She says she wishes there is someone who could avenge Hero, but there isn't anyone. Benedick takes the moment to say the most beautiful, romantic thing I have ever heard and it gives me butterflies every time I read it: "I do love nothing in the world so well as you. Is not that strange?" Beatrice says she could just as easily say the same to him, but don't believe her...although she isn't lying. Benedick, pleasantly surprised, says, "By my sword, Beatrice, thou lovest me." But Beatrice isn't so quick to believe that this mutual love is true, but Benedick insists, and this happens:
Beatrice: You have stayed me in a happy hour. I was about to protest I loved you.
Benedick: And do so, with all thy heart.
Beatrice: I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest.
Are you dead at how cute and sweet and romantic and beautiful and perfect this is? Because I am.
Then Benedick says he will do anything for her, and she tells him to kill Claudio. Obviously, he's like no way, even though he loves her. But in a long few passages, Beatrice tells Benedick how unfair it is that women can have their honor taken from them by men and have no way to defend themselves - they have to rely on men. And what's more, it is so easy for men to be believed, even though Claudio and Don Pedro had no proof other than what they think they saw. Benedick asks if Beatrice is sure that they have wronged her, and she affirms. Benedick then pledges to challenge Claudio for Hero's honor, and they leave the church.

Act 4, Scene 2
Dogberry, Verges, and the sexton are interrogating Borachio and Conrade. Dogberry says that he knows they are liars, and Conrad says that they aren't. The same repeats with Borachio. The sexton tells Dogberry to call forth the members of the watch who overheard Borachio and Conrade talking about what happened regarding Hero. The watchmen tell the sexton what they heard them say. The sexton tells Borachio and Conrade what happened at the wedding, and that their plan appears to have worked. He tells Dogberry to take them to Leonato's house. Conrade calls Dogberry an ass, and Dogberry goes off. Then they all leave.

Much Ado About Nothing: Act 3

Act 3, Scene 1
Hero tells one of her servants, Margaret, to get Beatrice from the parlor and tell her that Hero and Ursula are in the orchard talking about her. Knowing that Beatrice is nosy, she'll come out to eavesdrop and Part 2 of the Plan to Get Beatrice and Benedick Together can begin. Hero reminds Ursula of their jobs - like Don Pedro, Leonato, and Claudio, the two will discuss how madly in love Benedick is with her and how great a guy he is. Hero and Ursula see Beatrice is sneakily running over to hear them. Hero starts off by saying (so Beatrice can hear) that Beatrice is too disdainful and then Ursula drops the bomb: "But are you sure that Benedick loves Beatrice so entirely?" Hero confirms that Don Pedro and Claudio have told her so, and asked her to tell Beatrice, but knowing Beatrice's personality, she knows that she will only mock him, and so to save his feelings, they should keep it secret and let him get over her himself. Just like the guys did about Beatrice, the girls go over all of Benedick's good qualities - he's young and handsome, smart, and noble. But Beatrice seems to find something wrong with any man, and it's not becoming of her. After repeating Benedick's good qualities a few times, Ursula asks Hero when she will be married. Hero tells her that she and Claudio will be married tomorrow, and then asks her to come inside and help her pick out what to wear. They leave, and Beatrice is shocked. She has a little monologue about how she can hardly believe it, but vows to return his love and also to marry him (which is her own idea). Like Benedick, she admits that she has always known his good qualities and that he does deserve her love.

Act 3, Scene 2
While with Benedick and Leonato, Don Pedro tells Claudio that he's planning to return home to Aragon after the wedding. Claudio offers to go with him (literally right after he's married, what the heck?) but Don Pedro tells him that Benedick will come with him since of course he has always managed to avoid love (can't you see the three of them shooting side glances at Benedick as he says this?). But Benedick says he isn't feeling himself. Claudio hopes (out loud) that he's in love. No denial from Benedick, who just says he has a toothache, which - fun fact - was thought to be a symptom of falling in love back in the day. They tease him, but Benedick just says "Well, every one can master a grief but he that has it." Now Claudio is sure he's in love. Claudio, Don Pedro, and Leonato note that he seems to be taking special care of his appearance nowadays. Yep, they conclude, he's definitely in love. And what's more, they tease, they know a certain someone who loves him. Don Pedro jokes that she must not know him very well, if she's in love with him. Not at all, insists Claudio, she knows everything about him, even his bad qualities, and is still madly in love with him. Benedick is annoyed and takes Leonato aside. Don Pedro and Claudio are shocked at how well their plan is working and figure that he's talking to him about Beatrice. With Benedick and Leonato gone, Don John appears. He has something very important to tell Don Pedro, which Claudio should hear, too, since it involves him. Don John begins by saying that he cares about Claudio, even if it seems he doesn't, and that it is because of his care for him that he must know that his fiancee, Hero, has been unfaithful. He says if the two come with him tonight, they will be able to see for themselves. Claudio and Don Pedro don't believe it, but Don John tells them they will when they see everything. Claudio says that if this is true, not only will he not marry Hero tomorrow, but he will publicly shame her. Don Pedro vows to work with Claudio to disgrace her as well, if this proves to be true. Dear lord.

Act 3, Scene 3
The head of the police force, Dogberry, and his assistant, Verges, give out the evening's assignments to the rest of their police force. Two of the men, Hugh Otecake and George Seacole, are apparently the best of the force because they can read and write. We've set a high bar, here, folks. Dogberry calls out Seacole to be in charge of "comprehending" (he means apprehending) vagrants. Words are a recurring problem with Dogberry, by the way. Seacole wonders what he should do if they don't comply. Just let them go, Dogberry says, and be thankful that you no longer have to deal with him. Dogberry reminds the watch not to talk, and one watchman says they will sleep instead, as the watch should. Good, says Dogberry, just make sure no one steals your stuff. Then Dogberry gives similar advice regarding drunks at the ale-houses - tell them to get to bed, and if they don't, leave them alone until they are sober. If they've found a thief, make him prove that he's a thief by letting him steal from them. Verges tells Dogberry that he is a merciful man. They go on in this way for a little while, and then the two leave. Borachio enters with Conrade, another of Don John's henchmen. One of the watchmen takes note of the two and tells the rest of the company to pay attention to them. Borachio tells Conrade that Don John has paid him in gold for the crime. Conrade is shocked he's paid so much, but Borachio tells him that when a rich criminal needs a poor criminal's services, the poor one is able to ask for a lot of money. They talk about apparel, and Borachio uses the word "deformed", which one of the watchmen believes is the name of a criminal that he is quite familiar with. Borachio asks Conrade if he is hearing a noise, but Conrade says no. Borachio then tells Conrade everything he did - he and Margaret appeared at the window as planned, and since Don John had already told them what to expect, Don Pedro and Claudio fell for it. The watchmen jump out of their hiding place and tell them to come with them, which Borachio and Conrade agree to do.

Act 3, Scene 4
Hero tells Ursula to wake up Beatrice and tell her to join them in Hero's room. Hero and Margaret disagree over what Hero should wear to her wedding. Margaret, who is prone to dirty jokes, teases Hero about her soon being married. Beatrice arrives and is sounding congested. Hero asks her if she is feeling sick, and she says she is. She also says this: "By my troth, I am exceeding ill: Heigh-ho!" which as we will remember she said she would say if she ever wanted a husband, which of course she would never. Margaret playfully teases Beatrice a little and Beatrice is a little defensive. Margaret suggests just the thing for her little cold is a bit of distilled Carduus Benedictus (which was a common remedy for ailments back in the day). Obviously, Beatrice gets even more defensive and accuses Margaret of having some particular reason for suggesting Benedictus. Nope, says Margaret. And Beatrice is not to be mistaken; Margaret certainly doesn't think Beatrice is in love. Although...Benedick had a similar attitude, and now appears to be showing signs of love. Ursula appears and tells the three that everyone is arriving for the wedding, and Hero asks them to help her get dressed.

Act 3, Scene 5
Dogberry and Verges approach Leonato about some concerns they have, but Leonato doesn't want to hear it - his daughter is getting married and he is very busy. He gives them a little time, though, and the two say that they have detained two suspicious characters, whom they would like Leonato to take a look at. But Leonato tells them to do it themselves. A messenger arrives to bring Leonato to the wedding, and Dogberry and Verges go to examine the men they have captured (being Borachio and Conrade).

Much Ado About Nothing: Act 2

Act 2, Scene 1: Beatrice, Hero, Antonio, and Leonato are discussing Don John, a man whom both Beatrice and Hero have a bad feeling about. Beatrice says that he is too quiet, and that Benedick (who was not being discussed until she brought him up, as per usual) is too talkative. If there was a man somewhere in the middle of the two, and handsome and wealthy and of a good family, any girl would go crazy for him. Leonato and Antonio think she's being too picky, and Beatrice insists she is thankful that God has not sent her a husband, then says she couldn't stand a husband with a beard - which, and we don't know this yet by the text, Benedick has. Is he on her mind a little bit? Is he ever not on her mind? She then jokes about the stereotype that unmarried women lead apes into hell, but she won't because the devil won't have her. Antonio then tells Hero that he hopes she will listen to her father, but Beatrice tells her that she shouldn't take a husband unless she likes him. The guests arrive for the masquerade, and Don Pedro asks Hero to walk with him. Balthasar dances with Margaret, whom he is interested in, and she flirts back. Ursula dances with Antonio, whom she knows immediately, but he pretends he is just pretending to be Antonio. Beatrice dances with Benedick (who is in a mask). It's not clear whether or not she knows who it is, but regardless, she brings up the topic of Benedick again, who has apparently told her she gets her wit out of a book, the Hundred Merry Tales. Benedick pretends not to know who Benedick is, and Beatrice throws out some more insults, saying he is the prince's jester and a dull fool. Meanwhile, Don John and Borachio go up to Claudio (knowing that it is Claudio, but pretending to think it's Benedick) and tell him that Don Pedro is going to ask Hero to marry him tonight. Claudio is hurt, and when Benedick (the real Benedick) comes up to chat, he is not in the mood. The whole mess is straightened out when Don Pedro tells Claudio and Benedick that he has talked to Hero and Leonato and that they have agreed that Hero and Claudio can be married. Benedick, meanwhile, complains to Don Pedro, going on and on about how awful she is, and right in the middle of this gargantuan monologue, throws in this little gem: "I would not marry her, though she were endowed with all that Adam had left him before he transgressed." Can we just note that no one at any point has even suggested that Benedick should marry Beatrice? I love it. He leaves when he sees Beatrice approach and she then reveals to Don Pedro that there was something between them in the past, and that she has "lost his heart". I'll discuss my theory on their previous relationship later. She also says this: "So I would he should not do me, my lord, lest I should prove the mother of fools." I thought that "mother of fools" was a metaphor. Like "queen of the idiots" or something. Nope. She's literally talking about being the mother of Benedick's children. You know, as she insists that she hates him. Okay, Beatrice. Sure. These two little chats with Don Pedro are pretty funny because they are insisting they hate each other by insisting that they would never marry/have children with each other, on no provocation. That's not exactly the best method of getting that point across. I think they doth protest too much, don't you? It is these little interactions that inspires Don Pedro to get them together. He gets Leonato, Claudio, and Hero and they decide to play a little trick on them to get them to admit their feelings.

Act 2, Scene 2
Don John and Borachio come up with their plan to split up Claudio and Hero. Borachio and Margaret, with whom he has been involved for a while now, will appear at Hero's window, and Don John will bring Claudio to see them and think that Hero is cheating on him.

Act 2, Scene 3
Benedick is out in Leonato's orchard and talks to himself about how he is surprised that Claudio has changed his opinion on love. He wonders if he will ever change his opinion, but figures he won't. And then begins his friends' plan to do exactly that. Don Pedro, Leonato, and Claudio arrive in the orchard joined by Balthasar, who sings a song about how men are unfaithful. Then, Don Pedro, Leonato, and Claudio begin their trick, saying that Beatrice is madly in love with Benedick but cannot tell him because she knows he would mock her, since she would mock him if he told her he loves her. Apparently, Hero thinks Beatrice will do something awful since she is so tormented by her love for Benedick. But they think Benedick shouldn't be told of her love, since they know he will mock her. They talk about what a shame it is, since Beatrice is so beautiful and smart, and such a good person. They say that Benedick, despite also being attractive and smart, is unworthy of her love. Happy with their trick, they leave Benedick alone in the orchard, where he begins a monologue all about how shocked he is, but he believes them. He has decided to return Beatrice's love, and reminds himself that it is true that she is beautiful and smart and good, which he already knew. Beatrice then comes to bring him into dinner, and despite being as sassy as always to him, Benedick now thinks that he can see her hidden affection.

Much Ado About Nothing: Act 1

A few days ago I put on hold a copy of No Fear Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing from the library. My entire library system has one copy of this book, which was checked out but said it was due on the 9^th. It is now the 14^th and the online catalogue is showing the same thing. And yes, I’m being cheap and reading No Fear Shakespeare because I want to understand it. That’s the whole point of this thing.

So today I ventured into the attic to get down our own home copy of Much Ado, which I promise you was only in the attic because I had forgotten its perfection since the 10^th grade.  And I couldn’t find the box it was in and so now, at least for now, I’m relying on the text on the internet.

This version is the real deal, no convenient modern-language translation on the side accompanying me on my journey back to 1598. Luckily for me, I know the story well so hopefully this shouldn’t be too hard.

Act 1, Scene 1: We are introduced to the main characters of the show; first, the family of Leonato, the governor of Messina, which includes his daughter, Hero, and his niece, Beatrice. Beatrice lives with her uncle Leonato and is like a sister to Hero, of whom she is very protective. It is established that she has an ongoing antagonistic relationship with a popular young soldier, Benedick. Her very first line in the play is asking if he’s back from the war. She mocks him, but he’s the only one she asks after. While everyone else likes him, Beatrice, for a reason not initially established, is annoyed by him, and the fact that everyone likes him so much further annoys her. But everyone likes her, too, even though her outspoken nature would be unusual for a young woman of the time. Benedick arrives with the rest of the military company, including the prince of Aragon, Don Pedro, and Claudio, Benedick’s good friend, and Benedick and Beatrice immediately pick up where they’ve clearly left off, in a rapid-fire battle of insults. Meanwhile, Claudio has taken note of Hero, whom he knew a little the last time he was in Messina, but didn’t see in a romantic light until now. He asks Benedick what he thinks of her, but Benedick is not quite as overtaken with feeling as Claudio. In fact, Benedick notes that Beatrice is way more beautiful than Hero, saying, “There’s her cousin, an she were not possessed with a fury, exceeds her as much in beauty as the first of May doth the last of December.” Are you swooning? Because I am. But don’t expect him to be getting married any time soon. He is dead set against marriage, and is disappointed that Claudio, who held more or less the same opinion as him, is beginning to change his mind. But Don Pedro is much more into the idea than Benedick, and he tells Claudio that he will woo Hero for him in disguise at the masquerade ball later that night.

Best quotes:

Leonato: “How many gentlemen have you lost in this action?” Messenger: “But few of any sort, and none of name.”

“Has anyone died?” “Oh, no one important."

Messenger: “I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books.” Beatrice: “No; an he were, I would burn my study."

            I don’t know. I just think this is one of her best insults.

Also please enjoy two pieces of foreshadowing regarding Beatrice and Benedick.

FIRST: Don Pedro says to Benedick “Thou was ever an obstinate heretic in the despite of beauty”. Meaning that Benedick still holds his stubborn opinions of love even when there’s a beautiful woman. And which woman did Benedick literally just say was beautiful? Beatrice, obviously.

AND THEN: Don Pedro says to Claudio “Thou wilt be like a lover presently and tire the hearer with a book of words.” This quote refers to the idea that lovers talk to each other so much that they drive everyone around them crazy. Which is ironic, considering Claudio and Hero barely talk to each other at all (Don Pedro woos Hero for Claudio, for goodness' sake!); meanwhile, who cannot shut up but Beatrice and Benedick?

Act 1, Scene 2

In this short little scene, Leonato’s brother, Antonio, tells Leonato that he overheard Don Pedro and Claudio talking about how one of them is interested in Hero, but he thinks it’s Don Pedro that loves her. Leonato says that he isn’t going to ask him about it but wait for him to bring it up first.

Act 1, Scene 3

Another short scene. Don John’s “henchman” Borachio has also overheard Don Pedro and Claudio, but he gets the message right that it is Claudio that likes Hero. Don John sees an opportunity to cause chaos, which he is looking to do since Claudio has taken all of the glory from the war that Don John believes is his own.

Best quotes:

Don John: “Will it serve any model to build mischief on?”

            This is like the most innocent sounding threatening statement ever. Probably solely due to the use of the word ‘mischief’.

Don John [referring to Hero]: “A very forward March-chick."

What does this mean and why is it so funny to me?

Update: Apparently it means that she's young.

Much Ado About Nothing: The Setting

Much Ado About Nothing is set in the Italian port city of Messina, in what was then the present day, or the turn of the 17th century. Messina is a real place on the island of Sicily. It is one of Italy's biggest cities, with a population today of more than 250,000. Its main exports are all of the traditional Italian fare: wine, olives, lemons, and oranges. Fun fact: it may have been the place at which the Black Death entered Europe. Fun!



There are three other locations mentioned in the play - the hometowns of the three main male characters. They are:

• Padua, Italy - hometown of Benedick

• Padua is a city in northern Italy (in Veneto), which today has about the same population as that of Messina
• It is claimed to be the oldest city in northern Italy
• Shakespeare set another of his plays there, The Taming of the Shrew
• It has the oldest botanical garden in the world, which opened in 1545, so it was around and operational when Much Ado was taking place
• Its university, The University of Padua, which was founded in 1222, is a very historically significant university, with such professors and students as Copernicus and Galileo
• It also boasts the first female college graduate in the world, Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia, in 1678. Appropriate, perhaps, that our most feminist character hails from this progressive city, don't you think?

• Florence, Italy - hometown of Claudio

• Florence is also located in northern Italy (in Tuscany), slightly southwest of Padua
• The city itself has a population of almost 400,000, and the metro area has a population of more than 1.5 million
• It's the birthplace of the Renaissance
• The Medici family, one of the most significant families in history, lived in Florence. They were ruling Tuscany while Much Ado was taking place.
• For a short time, it was the capital of the Kingdom of Italy
• Today, it's one of the fashion capitals of the world

• Aragon, Spain - hometown of Don Pedro

• Aragon is a region in northeast Spain
• At the time Much Ado was set, it was very powerful, and much of Italy (including Sicily) was under the crown of Aragon
• The biggest city in Aragon today is the region's capital, Zaragoza
• The region is very geologically diverse, including the Pyrenees mountains

Much Ado About Nothing: Background

About the Play
Written around 1598, Much Ado About Nothing came out mid-way through Shakespeare's career as a writer, at a time when he was churning out hit after hit, including Much Ado. The first known publication was in 1600, in the First Quarto, and was then published again in 1623 in the First Folio.

Interestingly, it is theorized that Much Ado may be the missing play that went by the title Love's Labours Won, initially thought to be a sequel to Love's Labours Lost (which I will be reading in July).

It is one of the only Shakespeare plays written almost entirely in prose.

It has been performed on Broadway 14 times, most recently in the 1984-1985 season.

Much Ado About Nothing: An Intro

Much Ado About Nothing is the only one of the ten plays that I’ve already read, so I’m starting with this one. I first read it in tenth grade (2011-2012) and immediately fell in love with the characters and their story. The play revolves around two pairs of people: Hero and Claudio, a sweet, romantic couple hoping soon to be married, and Beatrice and Benedick, two witty, intelligent young adults who are locked in an antagonistic battle of words. 

Normally, I would say why this play caught my attention, but I've already read it, so I'll tell you a little bit why I love it so much.


The number one reason I'm obsessed with this play is Beatrice and Benedick. I'll go into more detail as we read, but I will tell you that I love that these are two independent characters who don't ever need to change who they are in order to be liked by anyone. They are unconventional and headstrong and their friends love them for it.


Dogberry (the head of the police force in Messina, Italy where the story is set) and his ridiculous antics are genuinely funny, and what's funnier still is when other characters (like Don Pedro, Claudio and Benedick's friend and fellow soldier) mess with him.


It's a really interesting commentary on true love. I won't give too much away, but I'll say that the rules of convention are thrown out the window when you see which couple has a happy ending (technically, all couples involved have a happy ending, but one definitely more so than the other).


Thus begins our study of Much Ado About Nothing. Tomorrow we'll do a look into the background of the play.