Setting in Shakespeare’s ‘Much Ado About Nothing’
SETTING IN SHAKESPEARE’S ‘MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING’
Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” unravels the powerful pressure that society places upon an individual, because at the heart of this play is the society of Messina which powerfully influences the characters and the way they live their lives. The Messinian society of the 16th Century is in stark contrast to our own busy and hyped society of today where words are quickly losing their importance and prominence, as other forms of communication are taking over. Shakespeare structures this play around the code of conduct that governs Messinian society and forces its citizens to judge each other on appearance rather than on any sort of truth. This play, structured as it is around the complexity and conventions of Messinian society, uses these confines to skilfully unravel a story of tragedy and comedy whilst exposing the diversity of the human mind. Shakespeare composes this text using a variety of language structures to create different atmospheres and dimensions between the characters who, interestingly, still appeal to a 21st century audience.
The most important character in “Much Ado About Nothing” is Messina itself, because it is the structure of Messinian society that has shaped the characters into the people they are. In Messina, characters find it easier to believe in words ‘about’ people than in people themselves, which is a solid foundation for the many deceptions and lies that are prevalent amongst the characters. Initially we see Messina in many ways attractive because it is presented to us in the opening scenes as busy, lively, witty, teasing, socially animated and entertaining. But it is not until we scratch under the surface of its superficial appearance that we realise it is also brittle and fragile, exposed to treacherous misrepresentations and too much at the mercy of slander, malice and abuse. Messina is a deeply convention bound society which pivots around honour, trust and social rank. To
Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” unravels the powerful pressure that society places upon an individual, because at the heart of this play is the society of Messina which powerfully influences the characters and the way they live their lives. The Messinian society of the 16th Century is in stark contrast to our own busy and hyped society of today where words are quickly losing their importance and prominence, as other forms of communication are taking over. Shakespeare structures this play around the code of conduct that governs Messinian society and forces its citizens to judge each other on appearance rather than on any sort of truth. This play, structured as it is around the complexity and conventions of Messinian society, uses these confines to skilfully unravel a story of tragedy and comedy whilst exposing the diversity of the human mind. Shakespeare composes this text using a variety of language structures to create different atmospheres and dimensions between the characters who, interestingly, still appeal to a 21st century audience.
The most important character in “Much Ado About Nothing” is Messina itself, because it is the structure of Messinian society that has shaped the characters into the people they are. In Messina, characters find it easier to believe in words ‘about’ people than in people themselves, which is a solid foundation for the many deceptions and lies that are prevalent amongst the characters. Initially we see Messina in many ways attractive because it is presented to us in the opening scenes as busy, lively, witty, teasing, socially animated and entertaining. But it is not until we scratch under the surface of its superficial appearance that we realise it is also brittle and fragile, exposed to treacherous misrepresentations and too much at the mercy of slander, malice and abuse. Messina is a deeply convention bound society which pivots around honour, trust and social rank. To