Much Ado About Nothing Essay

Much Ado About Nothing Essay

Prompt 4

In the play, Much Ado About Nothing written by William Shakespeare, the notion of justice and righteousness is repeated throughout the play. With many characters being wronged and demanding equity, the theme is continuously brought up throughout the play. The historical period during the time of the play reflects back upon the societal norms and convictions of the time period. With characters, like the Friar, whose primary role is to shed light on those who were morally wronged and accused as well as push their own agendas with intentions to bring justice, they significantly are brought up to display the beliefs of the society.

Throughout the play, Much Ado About Nothing, the Friar is seen mentioning, “when he shall hear she died upon his words, the idea of her life shall sweetly creep into the his study of imagination, and ever lovely organ of her life.” (Shakspeare, 4.1.9. 13-17.) This quote reflects upon the purpose of the Friar’s plan and overall position as a religious character in the play: to make things right. Shakespeare again presses the significance of this holy figure, the friar, and his significance in how relevant the plan that he devises truly is. The friar is looked upon as a symbol in this play as the epitome of holiness and all things that bring justice. When the friar mentions the above quote, he discusses the bona fide meaning of what he predicts will happen when Claudio realizes that Hero has “died.” The friar’s plan was meant to rid Hero of the infamy by which she was stigmatized with.

At the wedding of Claudio and Hero, when Claudio began to accuse Hero of all the treacherous things that she had apparently done, Hero had begun crying in despair because she had been wronged and even the man whom she was about to marry didn’t believe her. Her father had shamed her saying that she should die and that death would have been better than the shame that she had brought upon them. The friar, the holy figure in the play, was one of the few members who didn’t shame her and actually put faith in her innocence. “Marry, this well carried shall on her behalf change slander to remorse; for that is some good: but not for that dream I on this strange change, but on this travail look for the greater birth. She dying, as it must so be maintain’d upon the instant that she was accused, shall be lamented, pitied, and excused of everyhearer: for it so falls out.” (Shakespeare 4.1.9. 1-8.) The friar takes charge during this scene and manages to convince those around him to believe in this plan that he forms for the good of his people. His convictions again reflect on the themes of the play as well as the society in which adultery and cheating is looked down upon but faith and religion gives people hope in the most positive parts of things, which the friar enforced.

The friar’s primary role in the play, Much Ado About Nothing, was to get both Claudio and Hero married, being the religious figure that he is. When he devises a plan to help Hero and clear her name which has been destroyed, he has his own intentions as well. He wanted to get the two married, which was his job, so his plan had his own agenda as well. Through it all, the friar is seen to have positive intentions, when he is quoted saying: “that what we have we prize not to the worth whiles we