2. Introduction to Much Ado About Nothing
Type of Work
.......Much Ado About Nothing is a stage play in the form of a comedy centering on the activities of two war heroes and the women they love. Shakespeare shifts back and forth between the stories of the couples—Benedick and Beatrice, Claudio and Hero—interweaving them into a unified whole. The story observes the three unities (place, time, and action) established by ancient Greek and Renaissance thinkers and writers: (1) It takes place in one locale, (2) it lasts about a single day, and (3) it has one main story (although some view one or the other of the two love stories as a subplot).
Key Dates
.
Date Written: Probably 1598.
First Performance: Probably December 1598 or early in 1599.
First Printing: 1600 quarto edition by Valentine Sims for Andrew Wise and William Aspley; 1623 as part of the First Folio, the first authorized collection of Shakespeare's plays.
.
Date Written: Probably 1598.
First Performance: Probably December 1598 or early in 1599.
First Printing: 1600 quarto edition by Valentine Sims for Andrew Wise and William Aspley; 1623 as part of the First Folio, the first authorized collection of Shakespeare's plays.
.......The probable main source for the play was a short tale by Matteo Bandello (1485-1561), an Italian writer who became a bishop in France. Another apparent source was Orlando Furioso, a great epic poem, by Ludovico Ariosto (1474-1535).
Setting
..
.......The action takes place in the city of Messina in northeastern Sicily. Messina is in a mountainous province whose eastern shore is only about five miles across from the toe of the Italian boot. Modern Messina is a large city, with between 250,000 and 300,000 inhabitants.
..
.......The action takes place in the city of Messina in northeastern Sicily. Messina is in a mountainous province whose eastern shore is only about five miles across from the toe of the Italian boot. Modern Messina is a large city, with between 250,000 and 300,000 inhabitants.
Characters
..
Protagonists: Benedick and Beatrice, arguably, because they are both real, hotblooded characters—far more interesting than the other protagonist candidates, Claudio and Hero. The latter two are less animated, rather shallow characters, who idealize courtly love.
Antagonists: Don John; mix-ups and misconceptions
.
Benedick: Young lord from Padua who thinks he hates Beatrice but really loves her.
Beatrice: Niece of the governor of Messina who thinks she hates Benedick but really loves him.
Leonato: Governor of Messina, uncle of Beatrice, and father of Hero.
Don Pedro: Prince of Arragon, a fine fellow who has led his forces to victory in a war against his brother, Don John.
Don John: Don Pedro's bastard brother, a wicked fellow who was defeated by Don Pedro.
Claudio: Young lord from Florence who falls in love with Hero. He seems knightly and pure, but his conversations suggest that his attraction to Hero results partly from the fact that she will one day become a wealthy heiress.
Hero: Leonato's daughter, who falls in love with Claudio.
Margaret, Ursula: Hero's attendants.
Antonio: Leonato's brother.
Balthasar: Don Pedro's attendant.
Conrade, Borachio: No-good followers of Don John.
Friar Francis: Priest who helps Hero regain her reputation.
Dogberry: Constable of Messina.
Verges: Headborough.
Sexton
Boy
Minor Characters: Messengers, Watchmen, Attendants.
..
Protagonists: Benedick and Beatrice, arguably, because they are both real, hotblooded characters—far more interesting than the other protagonist candidates, Claudio and Hero. The latter two are less animated, rather shallow characters, who idealize courtly love.
Antagonists: Don John; mix-ups and misconceptions
.
Benedick: Young lord from Padua who thinks he hates Beatrice but really loves her.
Beatrice: Niece of the governor of Messina who thinks she hates Benedick but really loves him.
Leonato: Governor of Messina, uncle of Beatrice, and father of Hero.
Don Pedro: Prince of Arragon, a fine fellow who has led his forces to victory in a war against his brother, Don John.
Don John: Don Pedro's bastard brother, a wicked fellow who was defeated by Don Pedro.
Claudio: Young lord from Florence who falls in love with Hero. He seems knightly and pure, but his conversations suggest that his attraction to Hero results partly from the fact that she will one day become a wealthy heiress.
Hero: Leonato's daughter, who falls in love with Claudio.
Margaret, Ursula: Hero's attendants.
Antonio: Leonato's brother.
Balthasar: Don Pedro's attendant.
Conrade, Borachio: No-good followers of Don John.
Friar Francis: Priest who helps Hero regain her reputation.
Dogberry: Constable of Messina.
Verges: Headborough.
Sexton
Boy
Minor Characters: Messengers, Watchmen, Attendants.
No comments:
Post a Comment