This Play Is About... Nothing!

Much Ado About Nothing: yet another play that I did not choose to read but one that I enjoyed immensely! This Shakespearean comedy is, as the title so plainly puts it, about nothing. I have only ever had the chance to read Shakespeare's tragedies in past English courses, so this was my first exposure to one of his comedies, and may I just say that I didn't realize how funny Shakespeare can be! I feel like more people need to give it his works a chance, and being exposed particularly to this play may help with that. I feel like it has many relevant and entertaining themes and events ranging from festivals, witty repertoire, love, betrayal, goofy villains, and a celebratory wedding to conclude the work. It is one of those plays that pokes fun at the fact that the human race makes such a big deal about sex, love, and marriage. Through its oftentimes ridiculous characters and funny situations, Shakespeare shows his audience that our dramatization of sex is exactly that: dramatic and uncalled for. Reading the play was an enjoyable experience, but being able to watch the movie brought the work to extraordinary life. It is really true what they say about plays being meant to be performed and not simply read. I must say that my favorite character in this play is Benedick. I find his steadfast stubbornness and proclamations against love and marriage to be perfectly ironic once he finds out that Beatrice loves him and he fully embraces falling in love. I also love Beatrice, because she acts and reacts in the exact same way, changing from a stony and fast-mouthed woman to a more tender and happy person. I think that both of these characters reveal that all any human really wants is to be loved. I also find it perfectly ironic that the characters have trouble believing things that they see with their own eyes, like when Claudio perceives Don Pedro to be wooing Hero for himself, but are willing to believe what they hear while eavesdropping. In all, this play is a genius work in its rather simple plot and fascinatingly well-crafted characters. I would recommend it to all types of readers. 

Some of my favorite quotes from Much Ado About Nothing:

​"I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow, than a man swear he loves me."

"Let me be that I am and seek not to alter me."

"There was a star danced, and under that I was born."

"When I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I were married."

"I do love nothing in the world so well as you --is not that strange?"

"I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest."

---