MAAN peace paragraphs Flashcards
Introduction
In Shakespeare’s dramatic comedy ‘Much ado about nothing’ Shakespeare presents ideas about ______ to illuminate the importance of ____ in the Elizabethan Era
Conclusion
Ultimately, Shakespeare successfully utilises the denunciation of hero and the destruction of her reputation as a vehicle to illuminate the importance of ____ which thus conveys his ideas of ______ in the Elizabethan Era
Rotten Orange 1 and 2
In act 4 scene 1 Shakespeare utilises Claudio’s denunciation of Hero to illuminate the importance of an Elizabethan man’s honour and the fragility of a woman’s honour and reputation. This is clearly illustrated through the metaphor “rotten orange” which conveys how in the eyes of Elizabethan society, Hero has lost her value. The particular use of the adjective ‘rotten’ evokes a sense of decay, decomposition, and an image that has been degraded, the antithesis of purity and virtue that is expected of women within the Elizabethan era.
Rotten Orange 3 and 4
Certainly, the noun “orange” imbues a sense of freshness and fertility, seemingly reflecting on the Elizabethan patriarchal attitudes of using women to produce an heir. Indeed one can see the primary function of an orange is to be consumed however now ‘rotten’, the orange, like Hero, has lost its function and purpose in society. Shakespeare seemingly aligns a loss of honour to Hero being stripped of her value and function for men as a wife, heir, and woman. Furthermore, an Elizabethan audience would associate Hero’s name with loyalty and faithfulness which contradicts the accusations of her disloyalty and unfaithfulness, thus creating a sense of irony. Moreover, the adjective ‘rotten’ suggests something that has lost the value it once had, like Hero, who has been revealed to be impure and no longer has the respect of Elizabethan society.
Rotten orange 5 and 6
Alternatively, the adjective ‘rotten’ may demonstrate how once it has rotted, it can never go back which may highlight how Hero’s reputation and that of her family’s can never be recovered. Perhaps Shakespeare was trying to reflect how within the Elizabethan era women were expected to stay chaste until marriage and to remain pure and obedient. In addition to this women were raised to believe they were inferior to men and were dominated by male members of society. Furthermore, the church followed this principle and the protestant leader John Knox stated “Women in her greatest perfection was made to serve and obey man” More poignantly sinfulness and patriarchal views of Elizabethan society can also be evident when Claudio states that Hero “Knows the heat of a luxurious bed… approved wanton”. Through this metaphor of passion, Shakespeare illuminates how she is no longer pure and is now rejected by society and is looked at with disdain because of the sinfulness of her actions.
Rotten Orange 7 and 8
This is reinforced by the noun “heat” evoking a sense of hell, lust, and passion. In contrast, it may also represent Claudio’s fury and anger. Indeed, the adjective ‘luxurious’ portrays Hero’s indulgence in the pleasures of flesh connoting sensuality which contradicts the typical Elizabethan expectations of women being silent and submissive. Additionally, through the adjective ‘approved’ Shakespeare may have wanted to reflect how Hero has lost her worth as she was once admired by Claudio and others in society however after the accusations of her being impure, her reputation has been destroyed further reiterating the importance of chaste women and the fragility of a woman’s honour.
Rotten orange 9 and 10
Perhaps Shakespeare wanted to indicate how within the Elizabethan era, chastity and virtue were key factors in a woman’s reputation as well as her family’s. Not only did the accusation damage her reputation but also her father’s further highlighting the importance of honour and the fragility of reputation within society. Ultimately Shakespeare perhaps wanted to inspire change within the Elizabethan Era by using Claudio’s negative views towards women as a construct to criticise their attitudes towards women and reflect how men held all the power, making them believe that they were superior to women.
Pit of ink 1 and 2
Shakespeare utilises Leonato as a vehicle to explore ideas about honour in a Patriarchal Elizabethan society where a woman’s honour and that of her family’s was dependent on her reputation. Through the effective use of the metaphor ‘fallen into a pit of ink’, Shakespeare seemingly conveys how Hero’s metaphorical descent into degradation and corruption can be reflected in the permanent stain and tarnish of her reputation.
Pit of ink 3 and 4
The particular use of the noun ‘pit’ imbues a sense of hell and darkness suggesting her eternal punishment for sin. It also creates a sense of entrapment and inescapability possibly conveying how a woman’s reputation can be very fragile. Moreover, it is easily stained or broken to a place beyond repair, further illuminating how damage to reputation in the Elizabethan Era was permanent and could not be changed. Alternatively the noun ‘ink’ evokes a sense of darkness and permanence figuratively representing her loss of purity, thus further illuminating how Hero lost her status in society. Shakespeare seemingly wanted to portray how women lacked power in the Elizabethan and patriarchal society, demonstrating the degradation women faced on a daily basis.
Pit of ink 5 6 and 7
More poignantly, Elizabethan society’s dehumanisation and objectification of women is also evident through the metaphor ‘printed in her blood’. Shakespeare displays the permanence of Hero’s actions and the extent that she has brought shame and dishonour to Leonato and her family. This is revealed through the verb ‘printed’ which evokes a sense of labelling, branding, mirroring Elizabethan society’s unforgiving way of objectifying and dehumanising women where there was very little that a woman could do to defend their honour or even change their reputation. Additionally, the noun ‘blood’ may illuminate that the humiliation and her destroyed reputation cannot be removed, as well as her fathers as the humiliation runs through her veins. Shakespeare perhaps wanted to reflect on how Leonato was ashamed of his daughter’s actions. Indeed this conveys how within the Elizabethan Era, family reputation was also very important.
Pit of ink 8 and 9
Shakespeare employs the semantic field of dirt or filth possibly to highlight how their reputation is now dirty and damaged. Alternatively one may see the only way for Hero to shed her dishonour is by removing her blood portraying that the only way they could be relieved of humiliation is through Hero’s death. Ultimately Shakespeare perhaps wanted to reflect the strict customs regarding Elizabethan honour and how in the eyes of Elizabethan society women who were not chaste deserved to be shunned and humiliated. Furthermore Shakespeare may have wanted to present a new vision for society where women would not be shamed for -in the eyes of a modern audience- something very trivial.
Kill Claudio 1 and 2
Shakespeare utilises the male characters of the play in act 4 scene 1 as a vehicle to highlight the emphasis placed on reputation and social standing in Elizabethan society and honour is presented as something to always be defended.Beatrice’s anger and frustration at the mistreatment of women and the imbalance of power within the Elizabethan Era is evident when she commands Benedick to “ Kill Claudio”. Shakespeare highlights her anger at the injustice through the imperative command which further illuminates how the role of an Elizabethan woman was to be meek and submissive.
Kill Claudio 3 and 4
Through Shakespeare’s effective use of cacophonic alliteration, he creates a harsh and almost aggressive tone which mimics the anger and pain Beatrice feels at her cousin’s shaming. However it also evokes a tone of strength and power, perhaps Beatrice is seen to emulate the strength of men in Elizabethan men society. Beatrice wants her words to metaphorically stab and hurt Claudio as she is unable to do it herself. Shakespeare seemingly wanted to indicate how within the patriarchal Elizabethan society, the feminine voice is silenced and their actions and words are so limited, she has to ask Benedick to “kill Claudio” for her, further reinforcing the Elizabethan woman’s lack of power compared to men
Kill Claudio 5 and 6
Beatrice’s frustration at the limitations of Elizabethan women in society is also evident in “O God that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the market-place”. Indeed, through the repetition of “that I were a man” emphasises Beatrice’s feelings of injustice of the fragility of female honour and their inability to defend it as men could. Certainly, through Beatrice Shakespeare explores the devastation caused by female dishonour and the injustice present in the strength of the male voice in society.
Kill Claudio 7 and 8
The particular use of the noun ‘market-place’ evokes an image of an open and public venue which could suggest her desire to publicly humiliate Claudio as he did with Hero. Alternatively the verb ‘eat’ imbues a sense of consumption and feeding reduces Claudio to that of food. Similarly, this may link to how Claudio refers to Hero as a ‘rotten orange’. Just as how Claudio dehumanises Hero and reduces her to a piece of food, Beatrice, who constantly challenges the Elizabethan expectations for women, wants to ‘eat’ Claudio, imbuing a sense of empowerment.
