An exploration of the dark elements present in Much Ado About Nothing Essay Example

An exploration of the dark elements present in Much Ado About Nothing Essay Example An exploration of the dark elements present in Much Ado About Nothing Essay An exploration of the dark elements present in Much Ado About Nothing Essay Essay Topic: Literature Much Ado about Nothing Much Ado About Nothing is essentially a romantic comedy. One of the central themes is love and the plot centres on the characters expectations and the way in which they deal with love. Although Much Ado About Nothing is typical of many of Shakespeares romantic comedies there are dark elements, which run throughout the play. As soon as the play begins in the first scene, the reader is introduced to Don Pedro and Don John: two brothers. Don Pedro is an important nobleman from Aragon; he is socially superior to everyone else and is often referred to as Prince. Don John on the other hand is the illegitimate brother; he is often referred to as the Bastard. In Elizabethan times illegitimate children were perceived as evil, they were socially inferior as a result of the circumstances in which they were conceived. They were often seen as a representation and reminder of the sin through which they were created. Shakespeare immediately establishes a strong connection between the negative connotations and attitudes that were present in Elizabethan society at the time regarding illegitimate children and Don Johns character. He does this by ensuring that the reader notes the dark shadow that Don Johns presence casts during the otherwise happy and jovial first scene where everyone gathers to welcome Don Pedro and his men back from the war. At first during Act I Scene I there is no mention of Don John in the conversation, and there is no direct speech addressed to him. Only once Leonato has finished greeting Don Pedro and Beatrice and Benedick have exchanged wry remarks does he eventually turn to greet Don John. This implies that although Don John and Don Pedro are brothers and should be treated as equals, Don John is treated as an inferior simply because he is illegitimate. As a contrast to the jovial exchange between Leonato and Don Pedro, the exchange between Leonato and Don John is short and succinct. Don Johns reply to Leonatos greeting, Act I Scene I Lines 140-41 I thank you. I am not of many words, but I thank you. implies that he is a brooding man, that he has deep-rooted issues and troubles and is very melancholy. His disposition and nature all seem to be a result of his unfortunate background. As a result of his background Don John appears to be extremely resentful. His resentment is manifested through his actions and behaviour. Right from the beginning of the play from when we are introduced to Don John he is presented in a negative light. During Act I Scene III Don John is in the company of one of his followers and companions, Conrade. During this scene Shakespeare reveals Don Johns unpleasant nature. Conrade asks Don John why he is so miserable and dejected. Don John replies There is no measure in the occasion that breeds, therefore the sadness is without limit. Don John is telling Conrade that there is no limit to his misery. Don Johns reply indicates that he is self-indulgent, his anger and frustration at his situation has led him to become embittered. He is so self-absorbed that he refuses to let anyone talk him out of his anger. When Conrade presses him for an answer Don John replies telling him that even if there was a reason it would make no difference. Already Shakespeare is presenting Don John to the audience as an unreasonable and melancholy man who will not change for anyone. Shakespeare emphasises this aspect of Don Johns character through his next speech, where Don John professes his stubborn and insensitive character. I cannot hide what I am. I must be sad when I have cause, and smile at no mans jests; eat when I have stomach, and wait for no mans leisure; sleep when I am drowsy, and tend on no mans business; laugh when I am merry, and claw no man in is human Again Shakespeare emphasises Don Johns self-centred nature by the repetitive use of I. Conrade Don John is the antithesis of Don Pedro; he is the opposite of everything the play wants to be about. The dastardly plan to ruin Claudio and Heros wedding is as a result of his hatred for marriage, as well as his resentment towards Don Pedro and anyone who is close to him. It is the ideal of marriage that has caused him to be in his unfortunate position. The fact that he was born out of wedlock may have led him to hold a deep hatred for marriage. If there were no marriage, if marriage did not exist, he would not have to endure the ridicule and degradation that he suffers at this moment. As well as Don Johns plain dealing villain there are other elements of darkness throughout the play. Shakespeare uses the device of deception in different instances to show the reader that all is not as it seems, and often judgements made on observations are wrong. There are two main instances where the plot involves deception and deceit. Firstly there is the plot to bring Beatrice and Benedick together and second there is the more malicious plot, devised by Don John, to ruin Claudios marriage to Hero. The whole farce through which Benedick and Beatrice are eventually brought together and led to reveal their true feelings for one another is carried out using the device of deception. Although there is no malicious intent, the act of deception its self is negative as it is based on playing with peoples feelings.

No Need to Justify Our Love

No Need to Justify Our Love Standardization Taking alcohol is a lifestyle (cc). Lifestyle entails many things and is not limited to some aspects of our life.Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on No Need to Justify Our Love specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Therefore, cycling, becoming a vegetarian, moving out of geographical locality or being gay is also lifestyle choices (xcc). Lifestyle is does not attract interest (cc). Therefore, it happens to be arrogant to refer to gay as mere choice of lifestyle. It should not be disguised in the veil of ‘common sense’ (xcc). Lifestyle is wearing accessories of various design and shape (cc). Been gay is not all that, and should not be labeled as such, as it a show of discrepancy despite the media hullabaloo that centers on the fact about sexual anomalies associated with it. Having a sexual orientation is a birth right (cc). Gay couples should be in a position to have and enjoy the sam e since it is their birth right too (xcc). Some laws are just made to oppress the minority (cc). Gays are a minority in society and the amendment of the marriage act to lock out gay marriages is another attempt at the discrepancy of the minorities, this time gays. Marriages are man and woman unions since the day immemorial (cc). Gays and other same sex associations are and man and woman based and hence they cannot qualify to be marriages. Hence if that is the case they should scraped and should not be allowed t o continue on whatever basis (xcc).Advertising Looking for assessment on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Statistics show an overwhelming support for gay especially in Australia and in the Americas (cc). The government should not shy away from all that support shown everywhere and should live to the expectation of the people and come up with legislation that supports the same (xcc). Amer ica is a big country (cc). Most of the people support the issue of gay marriage. In Australia where the population is quite small in comparison with the American one, gay has seen the light of the government and has been approved. America should embrace the same human rights approach shown by a smaller country and have the right upheld for that section of the minorities (xcc). Counter Considerations The study starts with a sentence alluding to the fact that taking alcohol is a lifestyle choice. The author goes on to enumerate other activities that he also allude being lifestyle choices like cycling a bicycle, becoming a vegetarian or relocating to a seaside. This is a case of counter consideration. The author, having considered the first act as a lifestyle choice, concludes the later can also be the same. The issue of homosexuals is discussed at large; long and unwinding counter considerations for the reader to decipher are used. If buying accessories is a lifestyle issue, and they say that homosexuality is an issue of lifestyle, then the comparison becomes demeaning and rather arrogant and despicable to treat a minority grouping of people. A country like Australia has upheld the rights for gay marriages following studies that have shown greater support for the same. This support is rather vibrant also in the United States and the same ought to be done so as human rights may be seen o manifest itself and unfairness treated with disdain (Fisher and Scriven, 1997). Analogical Arguments The issue of 17 year olds who happened to tie the knot just the other day is a case analogical argument that is normative in nature. If their wedding is stopped as was stopped anyway, they will turn 18 years in a matter of time and that will mean they enter automatically in the right for marriage bracket. However, the issue of gay rights which entails adults older than the two notorious young adults are been curtailed and put on hold. It makes no sense according to the writer. Ma rriages are meant for children and fun in satisfaction brought about by sex. That is true for the gays as much as fun is involved. This is putting into consideration that some marriages bear children while don’t. So people enter into marriage for fun in that case and it is legal. Then why not legalize homosexuality based on simple inductive reasoning?Advertising We will write a custom assessment sample on No Need to Justify Our Love specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Deduction and Induction Lifestyle is anything that a person does to enhance his livelihood. Like riding a bicycle and building a house in the south coast to move into. Therefore, Based on inductive and deductive reasoning, choosing sexual orientation ought to be a lifestyle. One can choose to have same sex partner or an opposite sex one. Marriages are also reserved for man and woman. If it involves anyone who happens to come from the same sex orientation, it is not marriage. Is government justified to curtail such marriages? Based on the deductive reasoning approach, it happens that the government, in this case, is right in denying gays that right. Most Australians, however, support the marriage for gay. This is despite been a small country. Almost a similar percentage of Americans support homosexuality. However, the Australian government has enacted laws that govern and uphold gay rights. This is not the case in America. Based on deductive reasoning, it follows that Americans will automatically feel more oppressed considering they are majority. Based on the same concept, the lawmakers in the United States continue to offer very flimsy, if nay, reasons for the failure to enact the supporting legislation for the gay. They engage in innuendos and jumping the gun on that issue. This is a character of fear. They fear been segregated politically. Fear is an operative word and hence in this case it should not apply as it is a case of rights of fello w humans been put on the limelight (Fisher and Scriven, 1997). Inferences and Fallacies There are negative-allusion and positive-allusion arguments. The above case has much of the two that leaves the reader to judge or to decipher. By alluding to the Australian study that gives the issue of gay rights the green light, authors want to point out to the United States government the manner in which it is treading on the human rights of its people. In that way it may warrant the appropriate action from that government and have the right for the gay approved. However, there is a fallacy as United States has not done anything to suggest that it is not upholding human rights. It is considering other groups that form the larger of the country. The word fear is used to refer to the operations of humans. However, in this text case study, it is also used to infer to homosexuality as a fear that tries to evade the ordinary marriages and the responsibilities that come with it. This fear is an inf erence that borders on fallacy and misrepresentation of facts.Advertising Looking for assessment on social sciences? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Domestic violence is inferred to show the rotting of opposite sex marriages. Although this is a great fallacy in terms of facts, it is an inference that same sex marriages should be given a try as they might be the medicine needed to heal the rot in opposite sex marriages. There is mention of 17 year olds who want to tie the knot but the law goes on to hinder that on age basis. This is an inference to the fact that it is null and void since they will hide and do what married couples do and tie the knot the moment they hit 18 years. Broadly it alludes to the fact that gays may be denied their rights for now to operate openly. However, they will do their thing in hiding until that time they get the required green light from the government of the United States. By saying that the institution of marriage has withstood far greater challenges than a couple of drunkard teens, the author brings to the fore the simplicity of the gay issue. It means that those saying that the institution of m arriage will be compromised are wrong on that front. It has withstood many challenges, and it will also withstand this one. This is great fallacy as the issue is that light. Many an organization has been critical of it and the government is in the forefront in the demonization of it. Conclusion The text combines many critical thinking aspects. The issue discussed is marred by allusions and great fallacies. It also has arguments that are normative and analogical. The issue combines inductive and deductive reasoning that is coupled with conclusions that are for the reader to decipher. It also has notable generalizations that try to create or magnify situations at hand. Reference Fisher, A. Scriven, M. (1997) Critical Thinking: Its Definition and Assessment. United States: Center for Research in Critical Thinking (UK) and Edgepress (US).