Is Benedick the comic hero of the play? How far do you agree with this statement? Suggesting if Benedick is the comic hero of Much Ado About Nothing is difficult to pin point a precise hero as each character possess a different comical trait. For the reason that each character during the play being a character to laugh at or with for respite after tragic events, for instance Dogberry’s use of malapropism mocks authority and makes fun of those who are in it. Devices that are used by Benedick and Beatrice are Bawdy language, word play and puns, which are very different compared to Dogberry’s According to Aristotle the idea of comedy comes from speculation concerning men dancing, signing and cavorting around the image of a phallus.
The first impression most have of the Fool is that his presence serves as form of comic relief, in order to set a lighter tone to the play; however, because of this, his death is crucial to the bleak ending of the play. The Fool uses wit, rhyme and music and criticises Lear in an entertaining way, alleviating some of the tension particularly when Lear has been cast out in the cold night by his daughters. The fool remarks ‘naughty night to swim in’, in which the alliteration bring rhythm to his words, and the verb ‘swim’ highlights the rainy weather and the danger it poses for Lear’s health. ‘Naughty’ also suggests disobedience, which has been demonstrated by Lear’s daughters, however by using it instead to refer to the ‘night’, the Fool deflects the blame and attempts to draw Lear into the present in order to reach clarity. His comedy is so great that he is able to transcend normal societal rules; Elizabethan England was an incredibly hierarchal society in which absolute respect ought to be shown to those in power, and yet although he is a servant, the Fool’s humorous nature seems to exempt him from the expectation of respectfulness.
Quince’s pun, ‘for it is nothing but roaring’ (when in conversation with Snug) alludes quick-witted humour. Quince’s double-entendres are also amusing, ‘some of your French crowns have no hair at all…’ Quince’s repartee particularly displays the typical features of a comedy. Thirdly, the use of sarcasm and insults also enforce my expectations of the play being a dramatic comedy. ‘You have your father’s love, Demetrius’ is one example of sarcasm, as said by Lysander. His comment comes across as sarcastic as he is mindful, and perhaps jealous, of the fact that his lover’s father wishes her to marry another man - Demetrius.
Both demonstrate similar attitudes towards each other throughout the play, which fluctuates between love and hate. At the beginning of the play Beatrice and Benedick are shown to be quarrelling as they have been portrayed to do throughout most of the play, “a bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours”, such speech like this clearly indicates the hate which is exposed as Beatrice argues with Benedick, and he does not stand back on this and also responds in such nature of speech, “I would my horse had the speed of your tongue, and so good a continuer. But keep your way, o’ God’s name, I have done.” In a response like this the suggestion of love hate relationship is undoubtedly pure, however some reader/ viewers can interpret this as just hate as there speech for each other can be exceedingly harsh, this then implies how the beginning of the play is opening with turmoil and disturbance between their
He insults Polonius calling him a Whore-Monger. After this exchange Polonius remarks “Though this be madness, yet there is method in't” (II, II, 204). Meaning that Hamlet could be mad but that there seems to be intent behind his madness. When Rozencranz and Guildenstern visit Hamlet he receives them kindly until he learns they are spying for his mother. He then increases his feigned madness.
There were two kinds of Fool during Shakespearean times. These were: the natural Fool - a physically and mentally disabled person; and an artificial Fool - a witty and clever actor. The Fools first appearance is in Act I scene IV, where he shows his views of Cordelia, Goneril, Regan and Lear. To begin with he believes that Goneril and Regan are fools, expressing this to Lear through the phrase 'How now, Nuncle! Would I have two coxcombs and two daughters'.
Furthermore The Clown Punk uses imagery of violence and threat to get this across to the reader. There are many but in this case I have used the example of “shot through with indelible ink” the word ‘shot’ in tales that the tattoos has puncture the skin also ‘indelible ink’ ties in as the puncture skin is permanent, and will never go away, like the clown punk. This is a contrast between the poets although they both have a feel of threat; they are used in different ways. The imagery created in both of the poets finds the reader regretful of the characters. In the Clown Punk the imagery, “the deflated face...” the Narrator uses descriptive language for the reader to picture what this ‘Clown Punk’ could look like this is underline by the use of the word ‘deflated ’this is a real feel of ‘Clown Punk’ and gives the reader some sympathy toward him.
Early on in the play (Act 2 Scene 3) the audience enjoys the jovial atmosphere alongside the characters until Malvolio abruptly ruins the mood. “Have you no wit, manners, nor honesty, but to gabble like tinkers at this time of night?” Malvolio seems to relish scolding Sir Toby and the others as he includes the simile “gabble like tinkers” which proves he has taken the time to select the right words to insult them with. The audience dislikes him for disrupting the fun of the scene whilst it provides a specific motive for the conspirators to plot his deception. Shakespeare uses one detail about Malvolio to instantly turn the audience against him: Malvolio is a puritan. At the time the play was written, puritans were not popular with the general public because of their miserable rules against most forms of entertaintment.
Shakepeare’s use of the name “Bottom” adds humour and irony to the play, whilst ensuring the audience doesn’t take him too seriously. Throughout this scene there are various jokes made, for example, Quince wants to make Flute act the woman of the play. In reply, Flute argues, “Nay, faith, let not me play a woman: I have a beard coming.” However, Quince states “That’s all one: you shall play it in a mask.” A joke such as this would follow the humorous convention of a Shakespearean play, as the idea of the lead heroin having a beard seems both uncanny and implausible. Thus, Shakespeare uses the convention of a light, humorous tone within Act 1 through his characters and their role within the play. Shakespeare does this in order to add humour and irony to his slapstick play.
is laid upon your hate That heaven finds means to kills yours joys with love” (V, iii, 291-293) “For there never was a story of more woe, then this of Juliet and her Romeo” (V, iii, 309-310) Tragedy- Reinforced by the death of Mercutio as it is seen by Levin as quite an ironic end, as he has been the satirist- “represents the play moving from Romantic comedy to Romantic tragedy.” Comparing Comedy & Tragedy- Tragedy tends to isolate where comedy bring together, to reveal the uniqueness of individuals rather than what they have in common with others. Examples have been shown with the progression of Juliet whom begun in tragic settings as an only child mother “But one, poor one, one poor, and loving child” (IV, v. 46) whilst Romeo friar reflects on then as “two in one” (II.iv.37) yet again when taking the potion “my dismal scene I needs must act alone.” (IV.iii. 19) reflected in the setting of each of them dying