A review by leona
Much Ado About Nothing: Oxford School Shakespeare by William Shakespeare

emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

'I cannot be a man with wishing; therefore I will die a woman with grieving.'

Much Ado About Nothing is definitely battling Hamlet for my favourite Shakespeare play. I am studying this at school, which I do think somewhat contributed to my enjoyment of it, as I understood a lot more of the content than I did Hamlet, but I also think that Much Ado is an easier play for those wanting to get into Shakespeare. The play definitely lives up to the comedy genre and was very amusing to read, but even more so to watch in the film and Catherine Tate / David Tennant versions. The scenes with Beatrice and Benedick were especially enjoyable. Shakespeare does such an excellent job on character work, and Beatrice and Benedick are probably my favourite characters of all time. Their witty, slightly arrogant and obnoxious humour is exactly what I love to read in characters, and the two were perfect in this regard. Their
romance was one of the most believable I think I have ever read, with the constant allusions to a previous relationship between them, to the perfect execution of the 'enemies-to-lovers' trope. Beatrice is an amazing character, and I find her particularly remarkable considering how outspoken she is, especially in Elizabethan England. Benedick is also such a feminist, the fact that he believed Hero had been wronged even before Beatrice told him so, and that he chose to threaten his friend Claudio on the word of Beatrice was such a powerful scene to me. So was Beatrice's 'oh that I were a man' scene. Honestly, two of the most well written characters in literature. I also hate Claudio with a passion. I remain confused about Don John however, he is a really irritating villain because he doesn't really have any reason to mess up everyone's lives other than that he is jealous of the others happiness, because he is a bastard.
I urge you to give Shakespeare a chance if you haven't already, it is definitely worth it.
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