Much Ado About Nothing: Context (WJEC Eduqas GCSE English Literature)
Revision Note
Context
Context should inform, but should never dominate, your analysis of the text. Any comments on contextual factors must always be linked to the themes in the play. When exploring the context in which Much Ado About Nothing was written, you should consider:
the contexts in which the text is set
the contexts in which the text is received
its literary context (genre)
Each of the topics below links directly to Shakespeare’s ideas in Much Ado About Nothing:
Gender Roles
Honour and Virtue
Discord and Harmony
Gender Roles
The stereotype of Elizabethan women as chaste, modest, subservient and wholly dependent on men, whether a father or a husband, is taken mainly from how women were portrayed in literature
Shakespeare, like other playwrights, borrowed plots from classic literature
The storyline of Hero and Claudio likely came directly from a story by Italian poet Ludovico Ariosto
This is not how most people lived their lives, but there were great differences between men’s and women’s roles in Elizabethan England
These differences were mostly rooted in schooling
Boys were able to attend grammar school from the ages of 6 or 7, whereas girls were mainly home-schooled (except for the poor)
The lack of formal education for women led to a disparity between what men and women were thought to be capable of
Women were allowed to own property, but the law dictated that ownership of any property transferred to a woman’s husband upon marriage
The disparity between the roles of men and women is highlighted by the character of Beatrice
When Hero is abandoned at the altar by Claudio, Beatrice cries “O God, that I were a man!”
This means that she wishes that she were entitled to the qualities that men are not only allowed to have, but are celebrated for, such as the ability to take personal revenge on men like Claudio
She wants to fight Claudio but, because she is a woman, she has to ask Benedick to do this on her behalf
The story of Beatrice and Benedick was original and very popular in Shakespeare’s time
Beatrice sees everyday sexism around her and decides to fight back by turning men’s insults back on them
She often uses Benedick’s own words against him, inverting his insults to her own advantage
This clash of wits ends up being the reason why they are so well-suited, as Beatrice gives as good as she gets
While Hero represents the “ideal” Elizabethan woman, Beatrice is unusual as she embodies more male characteristics of being loud, talkative and funny
Leonato himself says that she is too outspoken and, because of this, she will never marry
The theme of female solidarity is also evident, as Beatrice passionately implores Leonato to believe Hero’s innocence
However, no one believes Hero and Beatrice simply because they are women
The play also concerns itself with the role of male friendship and bonding through banter
It is used to cement friendships between men and to exclude women from such conversations
It also involves the use of sexual innuendo and laddish jokes in order to be one of the crowd
For example, when Leonato introduces Don Pedro to Hero, he immediately makes a joke about whether or not his daughter is really his
In the play, humour acts as both a weapon and a shield
The sexist jokes demean women, but they are also made because of the men’s insecurities
The fact that they know that women can hurt them emotionally is a chink in their armour
Hence why Benedick does not wish himself exposed to falling in love
Honour and Virtue
In Elizabethan times, it was very important for a woman to maintain her virginity until she was at least engaged
Any rumours that a woman was not a virgin would not only harm the woman’s reputation, but also that of her father and future husband
Although women were expected to remain virgins until marriage, it was generally thought acceptable if an engaged couple had sex between the agreement to marry and the actual wedding ceremony
The same expectations of virginity were not in place for men
It was a father’s duty to protect his daughter’s chastity at all costs
If a daughter engaged in any form of sexual activity before marriage, this would dishonour her father and her family
This explains Leonato’s extreme reaction at the altar when Claudio refuses Hero
In addition, a wife’s faithfulness was a reflection of her husband’s status and ability to control her
A cuckold is a man depicted with animal horns as a shameful sign that their wives had been unfaithful
Cuckolds became a running joke in Elizabethan plays
After marriage, any expression of female sexuality or feminine desire was considered to be deeply disturbing
Many people thought that women could not control their lustful urges, so it was quite common for men to fear their wives’ fidelity and, therefore, to be “cuckolded”
Concerns about Hero’s fidelity and virginity before marriage is a key plot point in the play
The shaming of Hero is an example of male hypocrisy, as it was seen acceptable for men to sleep around, but obviously not women
The character of Don John is also a symbol of infidelity
As he is Don Pedro’s illegitimate brother, he is the proof that some women do sleep with men who are not their husbands
His existence confirms the worst fears of characters like Claudio and Leonato
The social anxiety around his illegitimate birth automatically makes him the “villain”
In Elizabethan society, the very fact that he is illegitimate makes him “evil”
Discord and Harmony
Discord is evident in the play, as it combines humour with more serious themes such as honour, shame and social conventions
It is ultimately a comedy that ends with multiple marriages and no deaths
However, death is not absent, as Hero pretends to die of humiliation
The play shares some plot elements with tragedies such as Romeo and Juliet
The word “nothing” in Shakespeare’s time had contradictory meanings
It could mean the absence of anything, but it was also pronounced as “noting”, meaning observing or taking note
Messina is a large port city on the Italian island of Sicily
It could be a place of play and restoration, yet the society was strictly bound by custom and convention
Before the formation of a professional police force, each area of a city was policed by ordinary citizens
They were called the “watch” and arrested wrongdoers
They were often mocked in Shakespeare’s day for their sense of self-importance and pompousness
The play ends with a dance, like several other Shakespearean comedies, which signals harmony and restored order
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