Much Ado About Nothing Flashcards
Character: Leonato
Shakespeare presents Leonato as a generous host, a troubled father and a character with significant status who is well-respected.
- Farther figure
- Concerned with respect than with the welfare of Hero
- Fiery temper
- In the end, he does what he should
- Well respected
- Significant status
Quotes:
- “Good signor Leonato” Act 1, Scene 1
- “Her mother hath many times told me so” Act 1, Scene 1
- “Do not live Hero, do not ope thine eyes” Act 4,Scene 1
- “Death is the fairest cover for her shame” Act 4,Scene 1
- “Bring me a farther that so loved his child”Act 5,Scene1
Theme: Appearance vs Reality
Shakespeare suggests that nothing is what it seems to be.
Character: Claudio
Shakespeare presents Claudio as a charming and loyal solider but also as a naive young man.
Quotes:
- “Can the world buy such a jewel” Act 1, Scene 1
- “In mine eye she is the sweetest lady that ever I
looked on.” Act 1, Scene 1
- “Not to knit my soul to an approved wanton”
Act 4, Scene1
- “Rotten orange” Act 4, Scene 1
- “For this I owe you” Act 5, Scene 1
Theme: Class
Shakespeare demonstrates that no matter the class or status of the person, they are still subject to deception.
Character: Benedick
Shakespeare displays Benedick as an intelligent man, excellent soldier and a character with ever changing views on love.
- Outspoken
- Confident
- Objectifies women and believes he is an ideal lover
Quotes:
- “Skirmish of wit” Act 1, Scene 1
- “I have the toothache” Act 3,Scene 2
- “Lady Beatrice, have you wept all this while”
Act 4, Scene 1
- “Troth, no; no more than reason” Act 5,Scene 4
Theme: Love
Shakespeare displays love as a felling that encompasses everyone, however, it also comes with a manipulating affect.
Character: Beatrice
Shakespeare portrays Beatrice as an extremely intelligent woman who uses her wit to guard against the vulnerabilities of love.
- Witty, arrogant and confident
- Uses sarcasm as a defence mechanism
- Very loyal cousin
- Extremely intelligent
- Strong and independent
Quotes:
- “Skirmish of wit” Act 1, Scene 1
- “I promised to eat all his killing.” Act 1,Scene 1
- “What fire is in mine ears” Act 3, Scene 1
- “better than reportingly” Act 3, Scene 1
- “Taming my wild heart” Act 3, Scene 1
- “I would eat his heart in the marketplace”Act 4,Scene 1
- “I confess nothing nor i deny nothing” Act 5, Scene 1
- “They swore that you were well-nigh dead for me” Act 5, Scene 1
- “I will stop your mouth with a kiss” (Benedick)
Theme: Deception
Shakespeare demonstrates deception as an act that is not always evil with the gulling of Beatrice and Benedick, however in the case of Don John, it is.
Character: Hero
Shakespeare presents Hero as a young and charming maid, but also as a mischievous character when it comes to love.
Quotes:
- “such a jewel” Act 1, Scene 1
- “She is so self-endeared” Act 3, Scene 1
- “My cousins a fool, and thou art another”Act 3,Scene 4
- “Rotten Orange” Act 4, Scene 1
- “her ear lose nothing of the false sweet bait that we lay for it” Act 3, Scene 1
- “Approved wanton” Act 4, Scene 1
- “Printed in her blood” Act 4, Scene 1
Character: Don Pedro
Shakespeare presents Don Pedro as a man with lots of respect and good will who uses his own status to get his way.
- Respected
- High status
- His loyalty to his friends makes him not see the truth
- Too full of pride
- Redeemed because he is penitent
Quotes:
- “Good signor Leonato, […] your trouble?” Act 1, Scene 1
- “Link my dear friend as a common stale” Act 4,Scene1
- “My heart[…]on my honour[…]very full of proof” Act 5,Scene1
- “For we are the only love-gods”
Character: Don John
Shakespeare portrays Don John as scoundrel who is only interested in causing havoc.
Quotes:
- “I am a plain-dealing villain” Act 1, Scene 3
- “I’d rather be a canker in a hedge, than a rose in his
grace” Act 1, Scene 3
Character: Dogberry
Shakespeare portrays Dogberry as a simple-minded character, who’s owns foolishness protects him from deception.
Quotes:
- “I think they that touch pitch will be defiled.” Act 3, Scene 3
- “yet forget not that I am an ass.” Act 4, Scene 2
