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Much Ado About Nothing

"Much Ado About Nothing" draws from a rich tradition of slandering women and themes of deception. Shakespeare's creative debt is particularly notable to Bandello's 1554 tale set in Sicily, where a woman accused of infidelity is saved through mistaken identities and misunderstandings. Unlike his sources, Shakespeare presents younger lovers and elevates themes like superficial love and wealth. Analyzing his adaptations of sources like John Lyly and Castiglione reveals deeper insights into character dynamics, false accusations, and recurring motifs like loyalty and the position of women in society.

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Much Ado About Nothing

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Much Ado About Nothing The sources

  2. MAAN - the sources • Stories of slandering chaste women were a tradition • H and C from Italian poet (Ariosto) and Spenser. • Both plots = woman accused of being unfaithful and lover is tricked by seeing a disguised servant • BUT – biggest creative debt owed to a work by Bandello (1554)

  3. Bandello… • Set in Sicily • Follows same pattern, and the woman (Fenecia) faints. • Sent to live with uncle, supposed to be dead. • Villain confesses, fiancé (Timbreo) is forgiven on promise to marry another woman of the father’s choice. • One year passes – Fenecia looks completely different (is even prettier) • Timbreo marries her, confesses his sin at the wedding breakfast, and her true identity is revealed.

  4. Ways Shakespeare changes his source… • Examining how Shakespeare changed his sources is a good way of understanding what possible themes/ideas/messages he was interested in communicating… • H and C are younger • Love is shallower, less well-established • Fenecia’s family = not wealthy. Hero’s wealth top in Claudio’s mind • C accuses H in public • No one in Fenecia’s family believes the claims

  5. So… • What do these changes suggest about how Shakespeare wanted his audience to react to this storyline?

  6. Beatrice and Benedick • No obvious source – Shakespeare’s own invention? (Told you he was awesome) • Two closest possible sources: • John Lyly – romantic plots with well-matched, eloquent lovers. • Castiglioni’s “The Courtier” - includes good-humoured banter between the sexes and courtly conversation.

  7. Links to other plays • FALSE accusations of female infidelity • Othello, Cymbeline, The Winter’s Tale • ALL deal with the supposed or actual death of the accused woman • Sparring/warring lovers • The Taming of the Shrew • Eloquent/verbose women • Katarina in Shrew, Viola in 12th Night, Rosalind in As You Like It

  8. Recurring themes/motifs • Deceptions • Loyalty • The position of women • “tricks” (these may appear as a range of things - disguises, secrets, eavsdroppings and misunderstandings) • Make notes as you go – we will stop and discuss

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