Sign in or 
- EasyEdit
- Edit tags
-
(what's this?What are these tools?
People just like you can add or edit the content on this site. If you want to try editing, but aren't ready to add to this site, try our demo area.
Read more about editing pages at Wetpaint Central.
) - Report page
Share this
Opening Scene of Much Ado About Nothing by Angel Yuen
How is dramatic tension created in the opening scene of Much Ado About Nothing?
In the opening scene of Much Ado About Nothing, various sources of dramatic tension are brought up in the play which raise audience expectations of the future plot development and complexities between characters. This is mostly created through the insinuative content of the conversations throughout the scene.
The first and most obvious conflict in the scene is the hostility between Beatrice and Benedick. Beatrice nicknames Benedick ‘Signor Montanto’, a mockery of his arrogance and pride, while Benedick calls her ‘Lady Disdain’, showing recognition of her dislike for him. Their mutual detestation can also be seen through their rapid-fire exchange and the negative metaphors and diction they use throughout the scene. Despite their apparent abhorrence of one another, dramatic tension is created as in Shakespearean comedies like this, surprising and amusing developments in relationships are expected. Anticipation for further changes in their relationship is also sourced from some hints in the scene. For example, Beatrice’s sudden interruption in Leonato’s conversation to enquire about Benedick’s safety indicates her interest in him. Benedick’s comment that if Beatrice was not ‘possessed with a fury’ she would ‘exceed [Hero] as much in beauty as the first of May doth the last of December’, shows a slight positiveness towards Beatrice. Also, the repartee between the two and their common interest in outsmarting each other in their ‘merry war’ of punning wits show their compatibility and resemblance of one another. Moreover, dramatic irony is created as the audience would expect comedy rooting from Benedick’s strong and exaggerated disapproval of marriage as seen from how he decides to ‘live a bachelor’ , which causes further presentiment that there may be a positive turn in his relationship with Beatrice.
Another source of dramatic tension is Claudio’s admiration for Hero. Although Claudio says he feels that he loves her and wishes that ‘Hero would be [his] wife’ as she is ‘the sweetest lady that [he] ever looked on’, he asks Don Pedro whether Leonato has any son. With Don Pedro’s reply that ‘she’s his only heir’, it is difficult not to question whether his “love” for Hero was actually love for money, which creates dramatic tension by making the audience curious about whether he is actually after her fortune.
Don Pedro’s suggested ‘remedy’ by having himself ‘assume [Claudio’s] part in some disguise’ to court Hero also contributes to the dramatic tension created. His enthusiastic insistence of wooing Hero in disguise of Claudio makes the audience eager to find out whether his motive was more than just to help a friend. Also, it is very much anticipated that his disguise will give rise to the problem of mistaken identity later on, which is common in Shakespearean comedies. Claudio’s willingness to allow Don Pedro to court Hero in his name also shows his gullibility and innocence in matters of love. Dramatic tension is created here as it foreshadows future events where Claudio would fall into the trickery and deception of others due to his credulous nature.
Hero’s submissiveness to her father, as seen from how she remains conspicuous all through the scene by only speaking one line, shows how shy and gentle she is. Claudio also regards her as a ‘jewel’, a property the world can purchase, while Don Pedro plans to ‘take her hearing prisoner’ with ‘force’. The military terms and materialization of her being arouses the curiosity of the audience as to whether her acquiescence will cause her to become the victim of manipulation and suffering in the future plot.
Apart from Hero, Don John is another character who only gives one line of response throughout the scene. Despite being recently reconciled with Don Pedro, he does not participate enthusiastically or respond in a particularly friendly way in the conversation with Leonato and Don Pedro. Though he states that he is ‘not of many words’, his silence and terseness suggest that he might be secretly hiding his feelings and thoughts and is silently observing from the side, which allows us to doubt his sincerity in their reconciliation. This creates dramatic tension as it makes the audience anxious to find out what Don John is actually up to and whether he and Don Pedro are truly reconciled or not.
In conclusion, the speech, actions and behavior of the characters in the opening scene of the play all contribute to the creation of dramatic tension and suspense as they consist of much foreshadowing and various connotations, which establish a rapport with the audience and allow them to anticipate future developments in the plot.
The first and most obvious conflict in the scene is the hostility between Beatrice and Benedick. Beatrice nicknames Benedick ‘Signor Montanto’, a mockery of his arrogance and pride, while Benedick calls her ‘Lady Disdain’, showing recognition of her dislike for him. Their mutual detestation can also be seen through their rapid-fire exchange and the negative metaphors and diction they use throughout the scene. Despite their apparent abhorrence of one another, dramatic tension is created as in Shakespearean comedies like this, surprising and amusing developments in relationships are expected. Anticipation for further changes in their relationship is also sourced from some hints in the scene. For example, Beatrice’s sudden interruption in Leonato’s conversation to enquire about Benedick’s safety indicates her interest in him. Benedick’s comment that if Beatrice was not ‘possessed with a fury’ she would ‘exceed [Hero] as much in beauty as the first of May doth the last of December’, shows a slight positiveness towards Beatrice. Also, the repartee between the two and their common interest in outsmarting each other in their ‘merry war’ of punning wits show their compatibility and resemblance of one another. Moreover, dramatic irony is created as the audience would expect comedy rooting from Benedick’s strong and exaggerated disapproval of marriage as seen from how he decides to ‘live a bachelor’ , which causes further presentiment that there may be a positive turn in his relationship with Beatrice.
Another source of dramatic tension is Claudio’s admiration for Hero. Although Claudio says he feels that he loves her and wishes that ‘Hero would be [his] wife’ as she is ‘the sweetest lady that [he] ever looked on’, he asks Don Pedro whether Leonato has any son. With Don Pedro’s reply that ‘she’s his only heir’, it is difficult not to question whether his “love” for Hero was actually love for money, which creates dramatic tension by making the audience curious about whether he is actually after her fortune.
Don Pedro’s suggested ‘remedy’ by having himself ‘assume [Claudio’s] part in some disguise’ to court Hero also contributes to the dramatic tension created. His enthusiastic insistence of wooing Hero in disguise of Claudio makes the audience eager to find out whether his motive was more than just to help a friend. Also, it is very much anticipated that his disguise will give rise to the problem of mistaken identity later on, which is common in Shakespearean comedies. Claudio’s willingness to allow Don Pedro to court Hero in his name also shows his gullibility and innocence in matters of love. Dramatic tension is created here as it foreshadows future events where Claudio would fall into the trickery and deception of others due to his credulous nature.
Hero’s submissiveness to her father, as seen from how she remains conspicuous all through the scene by only speaking one line, shows how shy and gentle she is. Claudio also regards her as a ‘jewel’, a property the world can purchase, while Don Pedro plans to ‘take her hearing prisoner’ with ‘force’. The military terms and materialization of her being arouses the curiosity of the audience as to whether her acquiescence will cause her to become the victim of manipulation and suffering in the future plot.
Apart from Hero, Don John is another character who only gives one line of response throughout the scene. Despite being recently reconciled with Don Pedro, he does not participate enthusiastically or respond in a particularly friendly way in the conversation with Leonato and Don Pedro. Though he states that he is ‘not of many words’, his silence and terseness suggest that he might be secretly hiding his feelings and thoughts and is silently observing from the side, which allows us to doubt his sincerity in their reconciliation. This creates dramatic tension as it makes the audience anxious to find out what Don John is actually up to and whether he and Don Pedro are truly reconciled or not.
In conclusion, the speech, actions and behavior of the characters in the opening scene of the play all contribute to the creation of dramatic tension and suspense as they consist of much foreshadowing and various connotations, which establish a rapport with the audience and allow them to anticipate future developments in the plot.
|
|
Latest page update: made by
Anonymous
, Sep 20 2009, 6:55 AM EDT
(about this update
About This Update
Edited anonymously
4 words deleted view changes - complete history) |
|
More Info: links to this page
|
| Started By | Thread Subject | Replies | Last Post | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anonymous | Response to Opening scene of Much Ado About Nothing By Angel Yuen | 0 | Oct 14 2009, 5:28 AM EDT by Anonymous | ||
|
|
Thread started: Oct 14 2009, 5:28 AM EDT
Watch
Very informative and well written. Helped me to understand certain things a little better. Keep on writing!
|
||||
Showing 1 of 1 threads for this page
