Differences between Beatrice and Hero in Much Ado about...

Differences between Beatrice and Hero in the early scenes of Shakespeare’s play ‘Much Ado about Nothing’ Shakespeare’s play ‘Much Ado about Nothing’ has two main female characters, Beatrice and Hero, who are cousins. Both appear to be completely different in the beginning of the play but, as things progress and their characters develop, there are also some very obvious similarities between them. Hero and Beatrice have a very close relationship; they are best friends. Leonato is Hero’s father but Beatrice has no parents, which gives her greater freedom. Where Hero is polite, quiet, respectful and gentle, Beatrice is feisty, cynical, witty, and sharp. Shakespeare uses quite a lot of literary devices and techniques to present the†¦show more content†¦Beatrice’s vulnerability is an important point of comparison with Hero, as she is also vulnerable, as we see later in the play. In contrast to her talkative cousin, Hero speaks only once in Act 1 – in the presence of Beatrice, her father and the messenger, â€Å"My cousin means Signor Benedick of Padua† she says, to explain Beatrice’s jibe. Similarly, in comparing wooing, wedding and repenting to three types of dancing Beatrice describes them as a â€Å"Scotch jig, a measure, and a cinquepace.† This dance image is an inventive one and dance, music, and song are key themes in this play. Here Shakespeare is using an extended metaphor to portray Beatrice’s anti-matrimonial feelings. Of course, these feelings are not genuine. As we see throughout, disguise is one of the key themes in the play and Shakespeare makes it clear that Beatrice is disguising her true feelings, for she admits to Don Pedro that Benedick once â€Å"lent her his heart awhile but won her heart with false dice†. She and Benedick obviously have had a relationship in the past – one that they would both like to resume. In Act 3, in the absence of men, Shakespeare develops Hero’s character. She is decisive in Scene One and commanding, â€Å"Good Margaret, run thee to the parlour† she orders. We witness a development in Hero’s character; she is dominant and authoritative; she initiates and organises the plot to gull Beatrice, the second benevolent plot in the play. For theShow MoreRelatedDifferences Of Shakespeare And Much Ado About Nothing By William Shakespeare1668 Words   |  7 Pageswriter who was known for the many plays and sonnets he wrote. This 16th century writer wrote a play called Much Ado About Nothing in the year 1598 (Alchin). This play consists of many characters meddling into each others lives, causing chaos, lots of drama, and even romance making for some very comedic entertainment. The title gives away a lot about the plot that it really is a lot about nothing. Shakespeare is regarded as a very influential writer in British literature and has been an inspirati on forRead MoreWilliam Shakespeares Much Ado About Nothing Essay1441 Words   |  6 PagesWilliam Shakespeares Much Ado About Nothing Much Ado About Nothing was written in the years 1598-9 and was know for its genre, which is a classic comedy. The comedy of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ derives from the characters themselves and the manners of the society in which they live. Language is a significant part of the play and the plot ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ has a large use of prose. Benedick and Beatrice are the main examples of male and female rivalry. Read MoreEssay on Inconstancy in Shakespeares Much Ado About Nothing 1099 Words   |  5 PagesInconstancy in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) explains inconstancy as the recurrent and generally unexpected or impulsive change from one condition to another. It is the state or quality of being inconstant and unfaithful by virtue of being undependable or deceitful. Set in Messina, Sicily, Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing is a very popular play generally viewed as one of his happiest comedies and is often performed in theatres. However, the playfulnessRead MoreGender Portrayal Of Gender Stereotypes829 Words   |  4 Pagessteriotypes in theatre are generally wrong and are over exadurated to help portray a story and the ideas of the author or director to the audience. But sometimes they have positive connotations and help tell another sub text story about the character. Much ado about nothing one of Shakespeare best works thought to be writed around 1598. It is a comedic play flowing the stories of 2 lovers that end up in all kinds of trouble. This play has some very obvious gender stereotypes and is a good topic toRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Much Ado About Nothing1285 Words   |  6 PagesMuch Ado About Nothing, is a comedic play by William Shakespeare thought to have been written in 1598 and 1599, as Shakespeare was approaching the middle of his career. (Wikipedia) This timeless play is generally considered one of Shakespeare’s best comedies, because it combines a cheerful mood with an intricate series of deceptions and miscommunications. It’s known for its hilarity, honor, shame and court politics. Shakespeare depicts different kinds of loving relationships- romantic love, familyRead MoreThe Role of Love in Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare685 Words   |  3 Pagesof Love in Much Ado About Nothing by William Shak espeare The role of romantic love plays a central part in the plot of Shakespeares Much Ado About Nothing. The way in which each character embraces the emotion shows a great deal about who they are, as well as the time in which they lived. Love, as defined by Shakespeares characters, differs greatly from my own definition. However, the changeable nature of the emotion itself is what allows Claudio, Hero, Bene*censored*, and Beatrice to interactRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Much Ado About Nothing1225 Words   |  5 PagesWilliam Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, a comedy filled with differences between genders, witty banter between memorable characters Benedick and Beatrice, a plot of revenge that involves one character faking her death and let’s not forget the masquerade marriage that comes to readers at the end. Much Ado About Nothing, court politics while still maintain a profound amount of humor and wit. However, it is the honor and shame that is prominent in Much Ado About Nothing that we reach the turningRead More Much Ado About Nothing Essay: Effective Use of the Foil1025 Words   |  5 PagesEffective Use of the Foil in   Much Ado About Nothing      Ã‚  Ã‚   In The Marriage of Heaven and Hell, the famous British poet William Blake wrote that without contraries there is no progression - Attraction and repulsion, reason and imagination, and love and hate are all necessary for human existence (Blake 122).   As Blake noted, the world is full of opposites.   But, more importantly, these opposites allow the people of the world to see themselves and their thoughts more clearly.   For, as BlakeRead MoreThe Representation of Women in Much Ado About Nothing Essay1492 Words   |  6 PagesThe Representation of Women in Much Ado About Nothing The female characters who are in the play are all present and involved in Act2 Scene1, which makes it the perfect situation to describe Shakespeares portrayal of women in Much Ado About Nothing. Hero can be easily compared with Beatrice being of a similar class and very close relatives. Then you have the characters of Margaret and Ursula, the servants, who are also very comparable and show a portrayal of womenRead MoreBeatrice and Benedick as a Couple in William Shakespeares Much Ado About Nothing1336 Words   |  6 PagesBeatrice and Benedick as a Couple in William Shakespeares Much Ado About Nothing Much Ado About Nothing is a Shakespeare play set in Mecina. It is a comedy, about Don Pedro and his friends. The play focuses on the relationships of the characters, especially that of Beatrice/Benedick and Claudio/Hero. The two romances follow two different ideas, one an average romance in Shakespeares day, the other a not so average romance. Beatrice and Benedicks history together is