The Lives of The Female Characters In Much Ado About...

The Lives of The Female Characters In Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare It is hard to imagine that there could or ever have been restrictions on the choice of one’s spouse become a reality, more so far for women than men. Women’s rights, especially when it came to choosing a mate, were minimal during the Elizabethan period. Marriages for women tended to be arranged or not allowed before, during and after the 16th century. One might wonder what rights women did have, concerning marriage and how could they be seen in the play, â€Å"Much Ado About Nothing† by William Shakespeare. In Elizabethan England, women were only seen as marriageable if they kept their virginity. During the time in†¦show more content†¦In Elizabethan times, a young girl’s aims were to get married at a young age, so an audience in those may have been surprised by Beatrice’s rebellious nature. Hero on the other hand would have been seen as an agreeable character who obeys fathers will and is always helpful. We see this throughout the play, such as when Antonio and Hero’s father warn her that prince Don Pedro may ask her to marry him on the night of the ball. Hero says nothing, however we see her co-operation through Beatrice’s remarks â€Å"is it my cousin’s duty to make courtesy and say, Father, as it please you.† She is helpful in the plot to bring about Beatrice and Benedick together as we see by her statement: â€Å"I will do any modest office, my lord, to help my cousin to a good husband. In modern times, we see Hero’s character as sweet and innocent. In modern times Beatrice would be seen as a socially acceptable character. She is witty, cheeky and thinks for herself. We see her as mischievous throughout the whole play, especially in her conversations with and about Benedick, in which she uncontrollably mocks him. We can see this in one of her opening lines in the play; in act 1 scene 1 she sarcastically queries â€Å"How many hath Signor Benedick killed? For indeed, I promised to eat all of his killings.† When Benedick arrives we see their first meeting of the play, complete withShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s Romeo And Juliet1591 Words   |  7 PagesShakespeare is a prominent figure present throughout history. His writing is credited as some of the most influential pieces written in English literature. Shakespeare was born in 1564 in England. He attended school, but did not further his formal education after dropping out of grammar school. In 1590, he left his wife and three children in order to become a playw right and actor. He was successful with this, and, because of his reputation, became a popular playwright in England. After his deathRead MoreMuch Ado About Nothing: Pride and Prejudice1431 Words   |  6 PagesIn Much Ado About Nothing, William Shakespeare depicts both Benedick and Beatrice as characters with one major flaw: both are full of pride. With the use of the masquerade scene, as well as the orchard scenes, Shakespeare allows the characters to realize their awry characteristic. By realizing their erroneous pride, Benedick and Beatrice are able to correct this and not only become better citizens, but fall in love. From the very first scene in the play, Beatrice is shown as a character who isRead More Portrayal of Women in William Shakespeares Plays Essay3560 Words   |  15 PagesWilliam Shakespeares characterization of women varies immensely from one comedy to another. In his works, Taming of the Shrew, The Merchant of Venice, and Much Ado About Nothing, he portrays both dominant and submissive women. 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However, this common theme appears in literature as far back as the Elizabethan Era. It is not surprising that William Shakespeare’s ideas would be recycled and modernized; he is the second most quoted source in the English language, only preceded by the bible (â€Å"William Shakespeare Timeline†). In one of his most famous plays, Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare conveys his idea that a person must be wary of others attempting to manipulate his life through the use of duplicity. AlthoughRead MoreCompare And Contrast The Color Of Water And Much Ado About Nothing1106 Words   |  5 PagesFinal Essay In the book The Color of Water by James McBride and the play Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare are two independent women who have been hurt in their lifetime by someone close to them. They both play major roles in their respective works, Ruth McBride is the mother of James McBride who is the author of The Color of Water and Beatrice is the cousin of Hero is the main female role in Much Ado About Nothing. They are both smart and resourceful as shown in both stories but also painedRead MoreEssay on Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare2442 Words   |  10 PagesMuch Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare Much Ado About Nothing in fact has a great deal to say about love and marriage. What is Shakespeare trying to tell us about relationships between men and women? Compare the plays treatment of love with that in Silas Marner In Much Ado About Nothing there are many different forms of love and relationships that range from youthful infatuation to parental love. Shakespeare makes many comments about men and women and