Alternate question: Shakespearean Comic Elements in Much Ado About Nothing.
Shakespeare wrote his play in accordance with the conventions of an easily identifiable genre – history, comedy or tragedy. ’ For centuries, William Shakespeare has been a beacon of storytelling genius. He has the ability to tell timeless stories that can be classified within the genres comedy, tragedy and history. Proving as relevant today as they were 500 years ago, these stories conform to certain elements that define what genre the story falls under.
Comedies such as The Taming of the Shrew and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Tragedies such as Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet and Histories such as King John and Henry V have all played a relevant role in defining the genres Shakespeare writes by. In particular, Shakespearean comedies hold prominence in obvious, recurring elements such as Mistaken Identity, Young lovers struggling to overcome obstacles and of course a happy ending, A prime example of this is his renowned comedy – ‘Much Ado About Nothing’. Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy set in Messina, Italy about two contrasting duos; Claudio and Hero, and Benedick and Beatrice.
Claudio and Hero are young lovers in which are practically are entwined in a young, true love, whereas Benedick and Beatrice are a couple who are introduced fighting in a flippant manner, to be eventually tricked into confessing their true feelings of love for one another. There original actions are caught in the line said by Leonato “There is a kind of merry war betwixt Signor Benedick and her. ” (Act 1, Scene 1, Line 45) A meddlesome character, Don John the Bastard is displeased at such happiness and sets up a scenario which makes it seem young Hero has been unfaithful to Claudio, although she is oblivious to the matter.
Nevertheless, the two couples end up happily married after some mistaken identity and an unsettling marriage ceremony. As far as a complete happy ending, thanks to a Constable who is the expert of malapropisms, Dogberry, Don John is captured and everything is wonderful once again in the city of Messina. The play very obviously shows rudiments of a Shakespearean comedy structure, the key elements being mistaken Identities, young lovers struggling to overcome obstacles and of course, the happy ending. A very prominent element of Shakespearean comedies and more specifically ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ is the mistaken identity dilemma.
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