In the same way at the start of Act 3 Beatrice is fooled into believing that Benedick loves her. This can be somewhat connected to the title of the play “Much Ado about Nothing” as In Shakespeare’s time, the “Nothing” of the title would have been pronounced “Noting.” Indeed, many of the players participate in the actions of observing, listening, and writing, or noting. When the women manipulate Beatrice into believing that Benedick adores her, they conceal themselves in the orchard so that Beatrice can better note their conversation. Since they know that Beatrice loves to eavesdrop, they are sure that their plot will succeed. Noting in the play is what can be shown to be the sort of resolution that can create happiness from turmoil and so it has some success in making Beatrice and Benedick believe that they have feelings for each
They often show an inordinate naivety about the world tending to land them in trouble. Despite princess status, they still make excellent housewives, as Snow White shows keeping house for many (male) dwarves. In short, they display the characteristics required by women before equal rights. Hawthorne attempts to imbue Phoebe with a higher purpose and morality but in the end only gives her characteristics displayed by these Disney princesses. Indeed despite Hawthorne telling us to laugh at and ridicule the ugly Hepzibah, she displays a far greater sense of good and a much more complex character than Phoebe.
I think the play was aimed mainly at teenage girls but mum, dad and even teenage brother would enjoy it. The way that the play was put together makes me think the director was trying to give it a bit of a pantomime and musical feel because there was a lot of singing, dancing and interaction with the audience. However, there is no doubt that it was a play exploring the ‘important’ issues of a teenage girl’s angst caused by attracting the attentions of older ‘sex gods’ when actually happiness is staring her in the face. The set
Benedick and Beatrice argue with delightful wit, and Shakespeare develops their journey from antagonism to sincere love and affection with a rich sense of humour and compassion. Since Beatrice and Benedick have a history behind them that adds weight to their relationship, they are older and more mature than the typical lovers in Shakespeare’s comedies, though their unhealthy competitiveness reveals them to be childish novices when it comes to love. The play can also be perceived as a comedy of manners through the humorous bickering between Beatrice and Benedick. At the beginning of the play Beatrice interrupts the men speaking to make a smart remark on Benedick; “I pray you, is Signor Mountanto returned from the wars or no?” The fact that she interrupts questions her manners as a woman of that time, where there were great expectations of women to be submissive to men, however we soon unravel that Beatrice isn’t just an ordinary woman of that century, she’s greatly independent which is also seen in the continuous bickering between her and Benedick. This, however, also makes it funny because of the reactions received from other characters, for example the uneasiness of the Messenger after Beatrice’s very forward statement.
The characters of Seinfeld have such great chemistry that we love to watch them, and feel like a part of it. A major flaw with many sitcoms is when the non-main characters get their own plot lines and viewers must endure them while waiting to get to the real meat of the show. Each of the characters of Seinfeld has an equal and valuable role and because of this, none of the sub-plots ever seem boring. The sitcom is rated PG, with mild sexual references, and infrequent course language, therefore would be suitable for viewing between 7.00 pm and 9.00 pm to audiences consisting of young to middle age adults as they are closest to the age of the characters, hence would relate more with the situations and issues
In the play, it suggests that Puck is a mischievous fairy who has built up a reputation of scaring and playing pranks on mortals, but he also has a much kinder side. He sometimes helps people finish their work or chores and provides them with good luck as well. Puck is a well-rounded character whereas Bottom is a bit plainer. Bottom, an arrogant and ignorant worker in the play is seen more narrow-minded. He frequently makes rhetorical and grammatical mistakes in his speech and thinks highly of his skills as an actor (when rehearsing a play, he wanted to play all the main roles).
Throughout the play, the three witches along with Hecate are always on the audience and character’s minds even when they aren’t present. The witches are central to the action in Macbeth, they represent the temptations we’re all faced with at some time. Temptations that we see through Macbeth when he gives in to them and completely flips his manner. The witches are the characters seen first, setting the tone of the play. While waiting for Macbeth, they torment a sailor whose wife refused to give them chestnuts, just for the pure pleasure of it all.
Ophelia is a beautiful woman who is at the mercy of the male figures in her life – mainly her father, Polonius and her brother Laertes. Laertes and Polonius love Ophelia tremendously and feel it is their obligation to shelter her from the cruelty of the world. When Polonius is told that Ophelia has entertained Hamlet without any parental consent, it is stifled very quickly by Polonius and Laertes – the double voices of patriarchy – telling her that she is too naive and that her behavior is unsuitable. In Act I, Scene III he begins his dialogue with Ophelia by warning her of the potential danger that love with Hamlet (Ophelia’s lover) could bring. He feels it his obligation to protect her form a potential broken heart: “The canker galls the infants of the spring Too oft before their buttons be disclosed,” (I, III, 39-40) implying that Hamlet, as the canker, may ruin her before she ‘blossoms’.
This comedy was absolutely hilarious and entertaining. It was a Shakespeare in modern dress. The comedic value was found in their mischievous escapades, such as Viola Hastings pretending to become her fraternal twin brother Sebastian, and the numerous amounts of humorous teen crushes throughout the film. It spoke out more to teenagers because teens go through love triangles, and at times it can get them into a huge mess. Both of these films were wonderful in making viewers
“To be or not to be… that is the question”. More people know this line than have actually read Shakespeare. It resonates with us, whether we are broody teenagers lounging in our rooms hating our parents, or middle aged women wondering whether our lives are really over…already. My favorite assignment in this class so far has been watching the Hamlet soliloquys. The variation of tone and flavor that an actor can put on these overly famous words is breathtaking.