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4.08 AVERAGE
4.08 AVERAGE
funny
lighthearted
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
yeah ngl i preferred twelfth night. thank you for inspiring pride and prejudice though 🙏
Reread 2021 - rating unchanged. Shakespeare said “just sprinkle in several Romeo and Juliet parallels but make it a comedy and julia will eat it up”
5/5 stars
Plot: 5/5 - I'm literally embarrassed that this is my first complete reading of Much Ado About Nothing but now that I know I love it there's no turning back. This is one of Shakespeare's comedies that takes his usual tropes and REALLY amps them up- PURPOSEFULLY mistaken identities, all the sass and fun with Benedick and Beatrice, Hero's faked death!! And also it always makes me happy when the "bad guy" gets his comeuppance in the end.
Characters: 5/5 - I love both Beatrice and Hero so so so much!! They are such wonderful foils for one another and yet their bond is so strong and it's just fabulous. There were also some parallels between Hero and Juliet, which was super fantastic for me. I also really enjoyed Leonato, Hero's father, which was just wild to me because I can't think of another father of Shakespearean lit who I have a fondness for..?? And obviously it goes without saying that Beatrice and Benedick are adorable. They're all the banter of Katherine and Petruchio except actually likeable together!
Pacing: 5/5 - I mean lowkey the scenes with the constable and the watchmen weren't very thrilling, but in the end we needed them, so I'll drop my complaints. Also come on, it's a play. It's pretty dang short and it'd have to go terribly wrong somehow to lose points on pacing.
Writing: 5/5 - Do I even... do y'all really need me to elaborate on this one? It's Shakespeare. This is literally the pinnacle of written language, in my opinion. Just for fun I'll share a few of my favorite quotes:
"Silence is the perfect herald to joy. I were / but little happy if I could say how much." (the precursor to Mr. Knightley's "If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more"? I think so).
"O God, that I were a man! I would eat his / heart in the marketplace!" ICONIC.
"My griefs cry louder than advertisement." / "Therein do men from children nothing differ."
"In a false quarrel there is no true valor."
"Why what's the matter / that you have such a February face, / so full of frost, of storm, and cloudiness?"
Enjoyment: 5/5 - I mean in case I wasn't clear, I love this play a lot. It has joined the ranks of A Midsummer Night's Dream for my favorite comedies. Do read it.
"I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your good books."
"No. An he were, I would burn my study."
5/5 stars
Plot: 5/5 - I'm literally embarrassed that this is my first complete reading of Much Ado About Nothing but now that I know I love it there's no turning back. This is one of Shakespeare's comedies that takes his usual tropes and REALLY amps them up- PURPOSEFULLY mistaken identities, all the sass and fun with Benedick and Beatrice, Hero's faked death!! And also it always makes me happy when the "bad guy" gets his comeuppance in the end.
Characters: 5/5 - I love both Beatrice and Hero so so so much!! They are such wonderful foils for one another and yet their bond is so strong and it's just fabulous. There were also some parallels between Hero and Juliet, which was super fantastic for me. I also really enjoyed Leonato, Hero's father, which was just wild to me because I can't think of another father of Shakespearean lit who I have a fondness for..?? And obviously it goes without saying that Beatrice and Benedick are adorable. They're all the banter of Katherine and Petruchio except actually likeable together!
Pacing: 5/5 - I mean lowkey the scenes with the constable and the watchmen weren't very thrilling, but in the end we needed them, so I'll drop my complaints. Also come on, it's a play. It's pretty dang short and it'd have to go terribly wrong somehow to lose points on pacing.
Writing: 5/5 - Do I even... do y'all really need me to elaborate on this one? It's Shakespeare. This is literally the pinnacle of written language, in my opinion. Just for fun I'll share a few of my favorite quotes:
"Silence is the perfect herald to joy. I were / but little happy if I could say how much." (the precursor to Mr. Knightley's "If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more"? I think so).
"O God, that I were a man! I would eat his / heart in the marketplace!" ICONIC.
"My griefs cry louder than advertisement." / "Therein do men from children nothing differ."
"In a false quarrel there is no true valor."
"Why what's the matter / that you have such a February face, / so full of frost, of storm, and cloudiness?"
Enjoyment: 5/5 - I mean in case I wasn't clear, I love this play a lot. It has joined the ranks of A Midsummer Night's Dream for my favorite comedies. Do read it.
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
my enjoyment of this was definitely bolstered by seeing it live!! super fun read, funny, silly, overall a great experience!!
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content to be aware of: mild innuendo (reference to wedding night), I honesty can’t remember about language 😬😅 (it’s possible there is some mild swearing)
Genre and Tropes: Drama/Play, Comedy, Misunderstandings, Love at First Sight (one couple), Sworn against marriage (other couple)
Synopsis:
Coming back from war, Don Pedro and his retinue are hosted by Leonato and his family. Claudio immediately falls in love with Leonato’s daughter, Hero, and Don Pedro promises to help him in his endeavor. Meanwhile, Benedick and Beatrice are ignoring their feelings for each other, verbally taunting as they go. Through a series of overheard conversations (many of which are planned for the eavesdropper’s benefit) many plots and snares are laid. Join in the fun as Don Pedro’s brother, Don John, tries to cause as much mischief as possible.
My thoughts/review: This play was hilarious!! It will definitely be one that I read on a regular basis. I love Beatrice and Benedick so much: their witty banter, how they are in denial about liking each other, and how their friends have to trick them into realizing their feelings. 😂 All the scenes with the Watch and how they are mixing up words (often to the complete opposite meaning of what they intend). If you are intimidated by Shakespeare (or even if you aren’t) I highly recommend listening to The Literary Life Podcast episodes that go along with this play. They are fantastic and will open up new layers of meaning (or even just help you follow along with the basics).
challenging
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
t4t Benedick Beatrice i have spoken my truth
This was one of the funniest plays by Shakespeare I have read. I quite enjoyed it and highly recommend it. It's worth a good laugh and an excellent English assignment.