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    A Novel Approach to Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing
    A Novel Approach to Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing
    A Novel Approach to Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing
    Ebook83 pages2 hours

    A Novel Approach to Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing

    By Catherine McGrew Jaime

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    About this ebook

    For those who are interested in Shakespeare, but are intimidated by it, I have worked to make his play, Much Ado About Nothing, more understandable. I have taken most of the original dialogue and tried to add just enough scene and character identification to make the play make sense. For Shakespeare novices, I hope you enjoy this novel look at one of my favorite Shakespeare comedies!

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherCatherine McGrew Jaime
    Release dateSep 11, 2011
    ISBN9781465887504
    A Novel Approach to Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing
    Author

    Catherine McGrew Jaime

    Historian, and Author, Homeschool Mom of 12

    Read more from Catherine Mc Grew Jaime

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      Book preview

      A Novel Approach to Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing - Catherine McGrew Jaime

      Introduction

      Shakespeare didn’t write his plays as literature to be read, but as performances to be watched. But today, unfortunately, many do not have the opportunity to really watch, enjoy, and appreciate Shakespeare’s plays. As a result, many students and adults are missing out on the fascinating words that Shakespeare wrote over four hundred years ago.

      In an attempt to make his wonderful works more accessible, I have taken much of Shakespeare’s dialogue from Much Ado About Nothing and tried to add just enough scene and character identification to help make the play make sense to a reader. To help keep the dialogue clear, you will find Shakespeare’s words in italics. I kept most of his misspellings and improper punctuation, for a better feel of how Shakespeare reads. (The minor deletions I made from his original dialogue are of two types: (1) Where the lengthy dialogue didn’t seem to move the story along; (2) In a couple of places I took the liberty of removing a bawdier line or two that tend to go against what some readers might consider acceptable. I did keep a rather humorous scene with Constable Dogberry repeating the word ass.)

      ~~~

      Scene

      One

      News has been trickling in all day that the Sicilian soldiers have done well in the Florentine war. Family and friends congregate in the village square, awaiting official word of their loved ones. A messenger appears waving a letter and then hands it graciously to Governor Leonato. Leonato tears it open, joyfully reading it to those gathered around him: I learn in this letter that Don Pedro of Arragon comes this night to Messina.

      Applause and cheers ripple through the crowd, followed by questions as to the whereabouts of the army and their commander, Don Pedro. The messenger assures them, He is very near by this: he was not three leagues off when I left him.

      "How many gentlemen have you lost in this action?" All hold their breath to hear the response, But few of any sort, and none of name.

      "A victory is twice itself when the achiever brings home full numbers. I find here in the letter that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour on a young Florentine called Claudio."

      "Much deserved on his part and equally remembered by Don Pedro: he hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age, doing, in the figure of a lamb, the feats of a lion."

      Leonato smiles at the news. He hath an uncle here in Messina will be very much glad of it.

      Leonato’s niece Beatrice has been standing by quietly, listening to the conversations, and finally chimes in, questioning the messenger, I pray you, is Signior Mountanto returned from the wars or no?

      The messenger shifts uncomfortably at her unusual question and the harshness of her tone. I know none of that name, lady: there was none such in the army of any sort.

      Leonato’s daughter Hero speaks up to clarify the question Beatrice has asked: My cousin means Signior Benedick of Padua.

      Now the messenger understands and responds, O, he’s returned; and as pleasant as ever he was.

      Beatrice does not share his enthusiasm, pressing the messenger for more details: I pray you, how many hath he killed and eaten in these wars? For indeed I promised to eat all of his killing.

      The messenger is quickly pulled into a bantering match with Beatrice that he has no hopes of winning until Uncle Leonato intervenes: You must not, sir, mistake my niece. There is a kind of merry war betwixt Signior Benedick and her: they never meet but there’s a skirmish of wit between them.

      Beatrice interrupts her uncle, inquiring of the messenger: Who is his companion now? He hath every month a new sworn brother.

      "I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books."

      "No; and were he, I would burn my study. But, I pray you, who is his companion?"

      "He is most in the company of the right noble Claudio."

      "O Lord, he will hang upon him like a disease: he is sooner caught than the pestilence, and the taker runs presently mad. God help the noble Claudio! If he have caught the Benedick, it will cost him a thousand pound ere a’ be cured."

      "I will hold friends with you, lady."

      Beatrice laughs quietly. Do, good friend.

      Uncle Leonato tires of listening to his niece’s biting words and addresses her, You will never run mad, niece.

      "No, not till a hot January."

      Having spotted the soldiers coming over the nearest hilltop, the messenger interrupts Leonato and Beatrice suddenly. Don Pedro is approached.

      As the soldiers arrive, their commander Don Pedro greets the gathering villagers with mock chastisement: Good Signior Leonato, you are come to meet your trouble: the fashion of the world is to avoid cost, and you encounter it.

      "Never came trouble to my house in the likeness of your grace; but when you depart from me, sorrow abides and happiness takes his leave."

      "You embrace your charge too willingly." As Don Pedro appraises those gathering around, he nods approvingly toward Hero: I think this is your daughter.

      "Her mother hath many times told me so."

      Benedick, who has also arrived with Don Pedro and has been standing back a few steps from him, jumps into the conversation: Were you in doubt, sir, that you asked her?

      "Signior Benedick, no; for then were you a child."

      Governor Leonato and Don Pedro go off from the group to discuss the matter of the visit and Beatrice quickly jumps into a conversation with Benedick: I wonder that you will still be talking, Signior Benedick: nobody marks you.

      "What, my dear Lady Disdain! Are you yet living?"

      "Is it possible disdain should die while she hath such meet food to feed it as Signior Benedick? Courtesy itself must convert to disdain, if you come in her presence."

      Then is courtesy a turncoat. But it is certain I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted: and I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart; for, truly, I love none.

      "A dear happiness to women: they would else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank God and my cold blood, I am of your humour for that: I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me."

      "God keep your ladyship still in that mind! so some gentleman or other shall ‘scape a predestinate scratched face."

      "Scratching could not make it worse, an ‘twere such a face as yours."

      "Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher."

      "A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours."

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