Much Ado About Nothing Summary

Much Ado About Nothing Summary

Act 1

This act opens out with a messenger bringing the good news to Leonato (a wealthy and kindly man) of Don Pedro the Prince of Arragon and his men return from the war. The messenger tells Leonato that Don Pedro and his men are on their way over and will be there soon. Beatrice then starts to inquire about Benedick after which begins to insult him and this continues until the men are seen arriving to the scene.

Don Pedro and his men then finally arrive and are welcomed warmly by Leonato. While Leonato and Don Pedro converse Beatrice and Benedick engages in their usual war, throwing insults back and forth at each other. Don Pedro then informs them that they will be spending a month in Leonato’s house. Leonato then addresses Don John (bastard brother) and welcomes him to their home. Everyone except Benedick and Claudio then leaves to go inside.

Claudio then starts to tell Benedick of his love for Hero Leonato’s daughter and his plan to marry her. Benedick then tries to persuade Claudio not to get involved since he himself does not believe in marriage. At that moment Don Pedro come back to find out why they haven’t followed and Benedick informs Don Pedro of what Claudio plans to do and tries to get Don Pedro to side with him. Don Pedro however sides with Claudio and they both try to persuade Benedick to side with them. Benedick however disagree and sticks to his believe then leaves the scene.

Claudio and Don Pedro continues the conversation and Claudio admits that he is afraid to speak to Hero. So Don Pedro decides to woo Hero for Claudio at the mask ball then bring her to Claudio. They both agree to the plan and prepare to put it into action.

Inside the house, Antonio tells Leonato that a servant over heard Claudio and Don Pedro talking about Don Pedro love for Hero and his plan to woo and win her over. Leonato however refuses to believe this and says that he will only believe it when he witnesses it for himself.

In the meanwhile, Don Pedro friend also over hears Claudio and Don Pedro conversation and tells it to Don John who devices a plan to make Claudio believe that Don Pedro was trying to win Hero for himself. His friends agree to help him.

Act 2

This scene begins with Beatrice, Hero, Leonato and Antonio. The ladies both discuss what they think a perfect man should be along with the men. Beatrice then says that she would never get married until she gets the perfect man.

The dancing then begins and the people pair off. Beatrice dances with Benedick knowingly or unknowingly and insults him throughout the dance. Don Pedro Dances with Hero and begins to woo her for Claudio. Don John puts his plan in place and goes over to Claudio pretending that he thinks him to be Benedick and tells him that Don Pedro is wooing Hero for himself and Claudio believes.

When the real Benedick addresses Claudio and tells him that Don Pedro wants to see him he ignores him and walks away. Benedick then goes to Don Pedro and askes him to send him away so that he does not have to be near Beatrice who insulted him throughout the entire dance. Don Pedro refuses and at that moment Beatrice comes out with Claudio. Don Pedro then askes Claudio why the change in mood and he answers no to all the reasons Don Pedro puts forward. Beatrice then says that Claudio is jealous and Don Pedro tells Claudio that he has no reason to be since he has won Hero’s heart for Claudio. They then are engaged and the wedding date is set. Don Pedro then proposes to Beatrice after their conversation but she declines saying he is too high a prize for her to have.

After Beatrice and Benedick leaves and the rest discuss the wedding date. Claudio want it to be the following day but Leonato sets it for the following Monday which is a week away. Claudio complains about the long wait and Don Pedro suggests a way for them to pass the time. He devises a plan for Beatrice and Benedick to their merry war and fall in love. Everyone agrees to participate and keep quite.

Don John hears the news of the marriage and is upset. His friend Borachio devises a plan to frame Hero as a whore and let Claudio and Don Pedro catch her in the act. Don John is to convince them first then prove it by catching her in the act. However Hero’s servant would be the one sleeping with Borachio in Hero’s clothes. When Don Pedro and Claudio pass by the will see her. Don John agree with the plan and tells Borachio that he will be rewarded if he can pull it off.

Benedick is in the garden pondering on how Claudio turned from a warrior to a lover so quickly and doubts that he will ever be the same. Benedick hears Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato approaching, and he decides to hide among the trees in the arbor and eavesdrop. They see him there and decide to carry out their plan. They speak of Beatrice love for Benedick and how she would not tell him for fear that he will mock her. They all agree that Benedick would be a fool not to marry her since he is already undeserving. They then go in for dinner knowing that their plan was working. Beatrice then come out to call him in for dinner and as usual continues to insult him but instead of the usual he offers her compliments which confuse her. She then continues to insult him then leaves but Benedick takes them as insult given to prove her love to him.

Act 3

The same thing that was done to Benedick is done to Beatrice but by Hero and Ursula. Beatrice also believes what they have said while she was eavesdropping and decides to give Benedick a chance.

Meanwhile, Don Pedro, Claudio and Leonato teases Benedick about him saying that he will never be married. Benedick however informs them that his views have changed and they notice the change within him. They then start to tease him about being in love but Benedick ignores them and speaks to Leonato privately.

When Claudio and Don Pedro are alone Don John puts his plan into action and tells them that Hero is a whore and he can prove it. He tells them to come with him to catch her in the act and they agree. Claudio already starting to believe says that if it is true he will embarrass her publicly at the wedding the next day and Don Pedro agrees to help.

It night fall and Dogberry sets his men up outside Leonato’s house. Borachio and his companion pass by and Borachio then starts to tell the other the plan that he devise that was carried out the very night and how Claudio is going to embarrass Hero the very next day at the wedding. The police over hear them and arrest them then carry them to be questioned by Dogberry to be questioned.            

                      

Literature Assignment

A Commentary on Music in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing Movie (Act 1)

In the video Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare music plays a critically important role. The music in the video is significant because it is used to show the characters moods in a scene and also to it helps the audience to get a feel of the characters in terms of their emotional state. The movie begins with Beatrice reading a book to Leonato and some members of the household. The music in the background is soft and soothing which helps to capture the attention of the audience while also showing that the characters were in a peaceful, calm mood. Then it changes when Don Pedro (Prince of Arragon) and his men start approaching. The music gets louder and a tune showing excitement and joy starts to play instead. This again blends with the mood of the characters as they were happy to see the men who just return from war approaching the house. As the excitement heightens so does the music and this continues until the women and the men are finally together. But then the music changes again with scenes involving Don John. In these scenes we hear a kind of evil or dark tune playing which fits the mood of Don John and helps the audience to understand his feeling. The music also sometimes helps the audience to see what kind of personality a character as and it can also give a hint that something bad is about to happen. For instance when Claudio and Don Pedro were talking and being overheard the music hinted that something was going to happen with a suspense type of beat. This happened again while Don John and his companions planned their trick against Don Pedro and Claudio. So you see music does have a very important role in the video.

A Commentary on the Characters seen in Act 1

 Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon – Don Pedro is a kid hearted black man who always hope for the best for his friends and tries to encourage them as they do him. He helps out Claudio in wooing or wining over Hero’s heart since Claudio was afraid to do so himself. But though he is a sweet man he is envied and hated by his brother Don John who is an illegitimate child therefore called the bastard brother.  

Benedick, of Padua; a lord, companion of Don Pedro – Benedick a good friend of Don Pedro who does not believe in love or marriage and dislikes Hero’s cousin Beatrice who in turn dislikes him. He swears he would never get married and tries to dissuade Claudio from doing the same.

Claudio, of Florence; a count, companion of Don Pedro –Claudio a brave warrior who got honors in the war but a frightened man when it came to matters of the heart. Claudio was also a very easily persuaded man since he believed so easily the lies of Don John instead of trusting his friend.

Don John, "the Bastard Prince," brother of Don Pedro – Don John was the main villain in the play. He was an illegitimate child therefore referred to as the bastard child hence one of the main reasons for his hatred for his brother. He plots to destroy the friendship between Claudio and Don Pedro since he does not want any of the to experience happiness.  

Borachio and Conrade, followers of Don John – These are the men who support Don John in his plot, looks out for him and follow his every lead.

Leonato, governor of Messina –Leonato is the father of Hero who wants to see her married and also encourage her cousin Beatrice to do the same.

Hero, Leonato's daughter – Hero is in love with Claudio who she later gets engaged to. Hero is a beautiful, sweet and innocent young lady.

Beatrice, niece of Leonato, orphan – Beatrice is a very out-spoken young lady. She dislikes Benedick and is seen arguing with him throughout the entire first Act. She also like Benedick does not believe in love or marriage and also does not believe that there is a man that is suitable for her. She however supports her cousin and does not try to discourage her from her engagement.  

Antonio, an old man, brother of Leonato

      By: Kurne Williams

Biography of William Shakespeare (1564-1616)

WILLIAMS SHAKESPEARE LIFE STORY

It is not known for sure when William Shakespeare was born but from his baptism date it is assumed that he was born three days before his baptism which was on the26th April 1564. Williams Shakespeare was a playwright and a poet and was known to all as the greatest playwright to ever live. Shakespeare is referred to as this because his works have been a major influence on succeeding theatre. Shakespeare not only created some of the most accepted plays in Western literature, but he also changed English theatre by intensifying expectations about things which could be accomplished through characterization, plot, action, language, and genre. His works raise the status of theatres making them admired by people seeking entertainment and even intellectuals.

Shakespeare was the son of successful glover and alderman, John Shakespeare and Mary Arden the daughter of a successful landowner. He was the third child of eight and the eldest surviving son.Though very little is known of Shakespeare's schooling, it is assumed that he was educated at the grammar school in Stratford where he probably learned classics, Latin grammar and literature. This is believed by many especially Ben Jonson who commented that his works showed that he had knowledge on Roman comedy, ancient history and classical mythology.

At the age of eighteen Shakespeare married a woman by the name of Anne Hathaway who was older than him by about 8 years and they had three children together namely Susanna and a pair of twins called Hamnet and Judith but Hamnet died at the age of 11, reason still unknown.

 Shakespeare left Stratford for London to make his fortune roughly four years later. In 1595, Shakespeare was successful in being known as one the Lord Chamberlain's men, more senior members. This was an acting company which preformed often before the court. This theatre was later called the King’s Men and was the ones responsible for making Shakespeare an official playwright to the King of England. By 1597, Shakespeare wealth began to expand and about a year later he became a ten percent owner of the new purpose built theatre in London, the famous Globe Theatre where so many of his plays were later performed.

Some of the plays he did include: The Merchant of Venice, A Midsummer-Night's Dream, Much Ado about Nothing, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Henry IV, Parts I and II, Henry V, Richard II, King John and Julius Caesar, Titus Andronicus, Love's Labour's Lost, The Two Gentlemen of Verona, The Comedy of Errors and The Taming of the Shrew, Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth, King Lear, Twelfth Night, All's Well that Ends Well, Antony and Cleopatra,, Cymbeline, Henry VIII  The Tempest and The Winter's Tale.

THE ELIZABETHAN ERA

According to Wikipedia The Elizabethan era was a time associated with Queen Elizabeth I's reign (1558–1603) and is often considered to be the golden age in English history. It was the height of the English Renaissance and saw the flowering of English poetry, music and literature. This was also the time during which Elizabethan theatre flourished, and William Shakespeare and many others composed plays that broke free of England's past style of plays and theatre. It was an age of exploration and expansion abroad, while back at home, the Protestant Reformation became more acceptable to the people.

Literature Assignment

03/10/10

Unity we Stand, Divided we Fall

Dear Editor,

                     We often hear the statement “innocent suffers for the guilty” and never really take it seriously. But in the case of the humble Brother Man this statement is indeed a fact.

It all started with the news report of the vicious attack against a couple by a said bearded man or Rastafarian. This act of violence caused the people to turn against all Rastafarians whether good or bad and the innocent Brother man was a victim of their brutality.

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I relay this tragedy to you of how an innocent Rastafarian was attacked based on his physical appearance. It all took place one dark and cold September night. Brother man was walking calm and peacefully down the lane when the people whom he loved and cared for started to abuse him verbally at first then physically. I stood from a distance and observed all that was transpiring. I recall feeling as if I was experiencing or sharing each and every blow that came in contact with his body from the rocks to the sticks then the kicks and much more. I saw the blood gushing out from his head right down to the soul of his feet as his body just lay in the puddle of blood lifeless and I wept.

It hurt me deeply to see that this cruel, brutal, wicked attack was being done by the very same people he lend a hand and also his own people. I ask myself these questions night and day, Who gives us the authority to attack persons base on their physical appearance? Are we to suppress or look down upon a group of people based on their religious perspectives or preferences? Are we still so locked up in our slavery mentality that we are blind as to the need for us to unite and accept one another just as we are to bring about peace and love?

These are the questions that each of us need to take the time to examine for ourselves. Rastafarians, just like the rest of us are human beings who suffer the same thing we do, feel the same pains as us and go about their daily activities to survive just as we do. Though their religious perspectives, believes and tradition may be in some cases different to the common or ‘accepted’ religions in society we need not stick a label on them portraying them as the negative (murders, thieves etc) in society. Every man is given freedom of choice and should not be punished or judged for his decision. So let’s unite, stop suppression of the Rastafarians and as Brother man would always say spread peace and love to all our brothers and sisters no matter the physical appearance, religious views or circumstances.

                                                                                                            A concerned citizen

                                                                                                Done by: Kurne Williams