Much Ado About Nothing Illuminator, Period 3
Wow, I really underestimated this play. I thought that it would be boring. Though, this play seems to be rather good. Already in the first two acts we find love interests and hate that could be a way of flirting.
“Alas! He gets nothing by that. In our last conflict four of his five wits went halting off, and now is the whole man governed with one: so that if he have wit enough to keep himself and his horse; for it is all the wealth that he hath left, to be known a reasonable creature. Who is his companion now? He hath every month a new sworn bother.” (Act I, Scene i) This is said by Beatrice about Benedick. They are at Leonato’s house. She is explaining her feelings to Leonato, Hero and a messenger. We learn in this quote that Beatrice has been having problems with Benedick for a long time. This quote also gives a vague idea on how Beatrice acts. She is very angry and seems to speak her mind no matter what. She also seems very independent. She is the opposite of her cousin Hero. What do you guys think of Beatrice? Do you like her or not. Also, the timing of this quote reveals another side of Beatrice. She is the one who brings up Benedick and their recent fights. Her bringing Benedick up shows that she wants to talk about him. This gives the possibility that she likes him. Shecould just be trying to hide this love with such obvious hate. Do you guys believe that Beatrice could like Benedick? Why or why not. I believe that she does and we will see this later in the play.
So what do you guys think of the first two acts? Did you guys enjoy it as much as I did? Probably not because reading this play was the only thing I had to do in ISS. Anything would have probably entertained me.
-Julian Garcia
Category: Illuminator 5 comments »
May 9th, 2009 at 6:48 am
Act 1
Theseus and Hippolyta begin with talking about their wedding plans. He was very excited about his wedding and tells Philostrate to give them something to do until their wedding day. Philostrate tells Hippolyta that he will marry the two of them with a big celebration at the wedding. Egeus comes into the room and starts complaining about his daughter. Hermia doesn’t listen to her father when he says she has to marry Demetrius. They threaten her with death. Lysander accuses Demetrius for loving Hermia’s friend, but once he found Hermia; she just left her friend. They all leave except for Lysander and Hermia, and she is left to think about the wedding. Lysander and her make a plan to travel to a house far away and get married and be free from Athenian law. Hermia gets excited and agrees to go. Helena enters and is sick because Demetrius doesn’t love her anymore. They tell her the plan and wish her goodluck. She is envious and they go and prepare for the trip. She thinks that if she goes into the woods after them, she can win back Demetrius’ love.
In Athens, a group of people practice for the wedding, playing music. They discuss a song that has meaning that they will play at the wedding. They assign the parts of the ensamble. Bottom interrupts saying he should be the one assigning the parts. Quince convinces him that his part is good for him. He says that the lion’s part is very hard to learn anyway. Quince once again has to convince Bottom that he cannot play the lion. This whole scene is based on planning the music for the wedding.
-Dan Black
May 9th, 2009 at 9:38 am
Uh, Dan wrong place to blog, our book is “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. By the way great summary!
-Kianat Zamir
May 10th, 2009 at 3:11 pm
Haha, losers ^^
kidding.
Anyway, I do not really care for Beatrice. She doesn’t really bother me as a character, but she seems to get in the way a lot. All she does is complain, which is probably annoying to the other characters.
Also I agree that Beatrice likes Benedick. She always talks and complains about him. I think that this is Beatrice’s way of flirting, since she seems like a mannerless and independant person. When we were younger, people always used to say that we would be mean to the people we had crushes on. That could be what is going on in this story.
Lastly yes, this story isn’t too bad. It is somewhat interesting to try to figure out what will happen in the end– a lot more interesting than the Odyssey!…
And yeah you would be in ISS, Julian. Was your mom mad?
-Leah Sevco
May 10th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
Leah, Beatrice is awesome. She reminds me of one of those drama queens and she sits there and makes fun of other people. She is quite funny.
I think they will be together, because when they set up Benedick he becomes happy from the fake news. Also when two people make fun of eachother, usually they like eachother in the end.
This book does have its ups and downs, but it is enjoyable and pretty funny. I like the way how they make fun of eachother by names, and they are having these mixed identites. I’m anxious to see what will happen next.
-Alex
May 10th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Hahaha, Leah…
Well, I like the character of Beatrice a lot because she is very witty with Benedick and hearing what she has to say to him makes me laugh out loud while I’m reading. Of course I think Beatrice likes Benedick, I believe she is just afraid to admit her feeling because she thinks she will get hurt and look like a fool, but she doesn’t know that Benedick feels the same way about her.
. I am enjoying this story because it is one of Shakespeare’s comedies and his comedies are my favorite!
I’m glad this occupied you time in ISS, Julian, also it is good to hear that you liked it
-Rebecca