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Example research essay topic: Benedick And Beatrice Hero And Claudio - 1,549 words

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Much Ado About Nothing is one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies. Set in Messina, Italy, it depicts the life of a young couple about to be married in parallel with another couple more reluctant to marriage at first but who will finally succumb to cupids arrows. This essay will lean on the Kenneth Brannagh s film version of the play to emphasize three major themes: marriage, deception and gender power. There are two visions of marriage in the play: the first one, characterized by Hero and Claudio, is a positive vision: Although their story is supposed to be the main plot of the play, they are two passive characters in love, ready to get married to one another without any misunderstanding. The second aspect the matrimonial institution takes, is characterized by Benedick and Beatrice. Their relationship is a lot more complex since they both have very strong personalities and they both fear marriage will trap their identities.

Beatrice would rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me. (I, 1. 123); and Benedick will not be sworn but love may transform me to an oyster (II, 3. 22, 23). In Brannagh's film it is more this second vision of marriage that is emphasized. A lot of Heros text has been deleted, which makes her appear even shallower than she already is. Benedick and Beatrice's use of words is extremely clever and witty, which makes the reader (viewer) take part of their story a lot more than Hero and Claudio's.

The climax of the play can be described as what Carol Neely calls broken nuptials, Claudio puts an end to the wedding, the day of the ceremony, transgressing the holiness of the institution. The theme of honour is strongly linked with the one of marriage. Claudio is a man of honour and he is humiliated when he thinks he sees Hero in a compromising situation with Borachio. He had wooed her in public therefore he had to take a public revenge to save his honour. The actual scene in the film is rich in emotions emphasized by the use of loud music and the tragic reaction of Leonato, hauling his daughter both with shame and anger. Hero has been humiliated and unjustly accused.

She is being reported as dead as a drastic measure to save her honour, and Claudio will repent and mourn Hero by accepting a substitute bride. Like in most comedies, the theme of deception is very present in the play. At the beginning of the play the Bal scene (II, 1) is an introductory scene to the future deceptions happening in the text. The visual effects in the film are very efficient; the masks are highlighted by close camera shots strengthened by joyful music. The masks establish confusion, and the theme of deception of appearances is introduced.

The theme of deception in the play is beneficiary both for the comedy and for the tragedy. In the case of Don Pedro's attempt to unite Beatrice and Benedick, the effect is definitely comical. They are both being tricked the same way overhearing a set up conversation in the garden. In the film, the scene takes place in the picturesque gardens of a beautiful Italian country house, on a sunny day. The music emphasizes the romantic setting, and conserves the Shakespearian verses sigh no more, ladies sigh no more which adds grace to the scene. The ridicule situation, which both Benedick and Beatrice find themselves thrown into, is no longer the result of an act of treason but more of a harmless farce.

The cruel deceptive scene plotted by Don John, however, feeds the tragic element of the play, disturbing the equilibrium of all the characters: Hero, Claudio, Leonato, but also Benedick and Beatrice when the latter asks her lover to kill Claudio (IV, 1. 285). The reader (viewer) is tempted to believe that the comedy is turning into a tragedy. In the film, Don Johns malevolent plans to disturb the harmony around him are always set at night, in a sort of dim and humid underground place. Anytime John and his men are conspiring, the music indicates that something bad is going to happen. The costumes indicate good from evil with the choice of a different colour trousers for the men. Claudio, Pedro and Benedick wearing blue ones and John, Borachio and Conrad wearing black ones.

One could argue that Brannagh is overstating the obvious by pointing out all these differences; on the other hand, it is also simplifying a difficult text originally meant to be seen and not read. The use of deception as a tragic element is not only used by the bad characters though, the friars idea to pretend hero as dead, is throwing Claudio in a state of grief that is changing his mind and making him realize his fault. It is interesting to see at that stage of the play, how Benedick takes part of the secret although he is one of the Princes soldiers, and would be expected to believe the honourable Prince. Not only does he disagree with the Prince but he is also ready to meet Claudio and kill him. There is a slight difference from the text to the film at that stage.

In the film, Benedick does not dare Claudio aside, but face to face to both Claudio and the Prince and compromises his army position publicly. Kenneth Brannagh wanted to emphasize Benedick's dramatic love devotion for Beatrice, when Shakespeare emphasized more the comedy ending the scene and the Act with both Claudio and Pedro mocking Benedick with bawdy jokes. The role of both men and women in the play is very paradox. We are dealing with a good number of contrasted characters. First of all, the characters of Hero and Beatrice: they are cousins but Beatrice is an orphan and therefore has no parental authority, which makes her a lot more independent in action as in spirit. The deletions of Heros scene in the film make the character of Beatrice (Emma Thompson) become the central protagonist.

Her witty prose makes her sound more interesting than Heros versified speech. Hero represents the submissive woman daughter, remember what I told you. If the Prince do solicit you in that kind, you know your answer. (II, 1. 58 - 59 - 60), when Beatrice represents the educated lady who can stand for herself and who will do whatever pleases her, and when the Prince asks her if she would have him, she answers: No, my lord, unless I might have another for working-days: your grace is too costly to wear everyday (II, 1. 302 - 303 - 204 - 205). The men show their power when it comes to the wedding scene, showing no respect to Hero and not even allowing her a response to the accusations held against her. However, in the rest of the play, the weaknesses of the male characters are contributing to the comical aspect of the play. Leonato is a weak father; Claudio a passive protagonist; Don John, a conventional villain.

The performance of Kenneth Brannagh as Benedick is extremely funny because he is over effeminate and does not correspond to a conventional male character. The only time he could have proved his masculinity would have been in killing Claudio as Beatrice ordered him to. But by a reverse of circumstances he did not get a chance to execute his plan. The men representing the law and the civil order, are characterized by Dogberry and Verges. They fail to prevent Johns plans to happen and they are ridiculed both by Shakespeare and Kenneth Brannagh although in different ways. Shakespeare emphasized Dogberrys misuse of words to be compared with Benedick gifted and witty speech.

However this aspect is totally obliterated in the film since Michael Keatons performance is a lot more visual. He looks terribly dirty and filthy, he walks strangely and all his movements make him act as a real clown. Either way is effective since both performances are amusing. Claudio is the character who according to Beatrice he that hath no beard is less than a man (II, 1. 31 - 32), he is very gullible, na ve and romantic. In the film, he looks very young indeed and he wears the mask of cherub at the bal to emphasize his young age. The character of the Prince seems to be the only one that represents masculinity, and wisdom, although he is the only unmarried character.

In the film version he is played by Denzel Washington, who is a black actor, and his racial difference also makes him stand apart from the others. Although some critics have often classed Much Ado About Nothing as simplistic, the variety of characters and various themes encountered show that it is far from the truth. Kenneth Brannagh's version of the play is very close to the original text, besides some irrelevant deletions. He obviously favoured the intelligent couple to the na ve couple, and his use of camera work and music were very effective to a better understanding of the play. However, his over-present performance as well as the one of his wife (Emma Thompson as Beatrice) might show a bit of favourites and maybe a bit of arrogance on his part. 334


Free research essays on topics related to: version of the play, don john, hero and claudio, benedick and beatrice, na ve

Research essay sample on Benedick And Beatrice Hero And Claudio

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