Victoria's Favorite Much Ado About Nothing Quotes

Here are a few quotes that caught my attention while reading Much Ado About Nothing.

“There are no faces truer than those that are so washed. How much better is it to weep at joy than to joy at weeping!” (Leonato, 1.1.26)

“Is it possible disdain should die while she hath such meet food to feed it as Signior Benedick?” (Beatrice, 1.1.118)

“Scratching could not make it worse an ‘twere such a face as yours were.” (Beatrice, 1.1.134)

“Friendship is constant in all other things save in the office and affairs of love. Therefore all hearts in love use their own tongues. Let ever eye negotiate for itself and trust no agent, for beauty is a witch against whose charms faith melteth into blood.” (Claudio, 2.1.173)

“Then down upon her knees she falls, weeps, sobs, beats her heart, tears her hair, prays, curses: ‘O sweet Benedick, God give me patience!’” (Claudio, 2.3.154)

“Shall quips and sentences and these paper bullets of the brain awe a man from the career of his humor? No! The world must be peopled. When I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I were married.” (Benedick, 2.3.242)

“As strange as the think I know not. It were as possible for me to say I loved nothing so well as you, but believe me not, and yet I lie not, I confess nothing, nor I deny nothing.” (Beatrice, 4.1.283)

“And when I lived, I was your other wife, and when you loved, you were my other husband.” (Hero, 5.4.61)

“A miracle! Here’s our own hands against our hearts. Come, I will have thee, but by this light I take thee for pity.” (Benedick, 5.4.96)

-Victoria

Victoria's Much Ado About Nothing Project

For my project, I wrote an essay about how a case could be made to claim that Dogberry (the ridiculous constable) could be intelligent and know what he is doing all along. I'm not saying I support this posistion, but I wanted to see if I could make an argument for it. :) Sorry it's so long in a blog post...

Dogberry's Intelligence

In Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing,” the character Dogberry is often viewed as the honest fool who manages to set all the deceptions to rights. However, if one takes a careful look at Dogberry, there are several signs of his intelligence. For example, many of Dogberry’s malapropisms use the exact antonym of the word he supposedly intends. In the real world, Shakespeare most likely wrote this intentionally just for humor’s sake. However, if we look at Dogberry as a person rather than a figment of Shakespeare’s imagination, a case can be made for him actually possessing superior intelligence and knowing exactly what he is doing all along.

First, we should ask why he would pretend to be foolish if he really were clever. Perhaps this man was simply hiding behind a foolish persona in order to unmask the constant deception around him. Maybe if he actually behaved as intelligent as he really was, people would have been more on guard around him. For example, if Dogberry had been a typical, sensible constable with vigilant, sensible watchmen, Borachio may have not been so loose-tongued in disclosing his crime in the open night air.

Moreover, let us consider specific examples of his intelligence. Dogberry uses wordplays of puns, analogies, and metaphors in ways just as intelligent as any other character in the play. For example, Dogberry tells the Watch, “…if you do take a thief…let him show himself what he is and steal out of your company” (3.3.57-59). This is a play on words that could just have easily come out of the quick witted Benedick’s mouth. Soon after that speech, Dogberry uses a clever analogy using an ewe and a lamb (3.3.68-71). This analogy not only represents clarity of thought, but also an understanding of human nature.

Sixth and lastly, we should look closer at his malapropisms. I already mentioned his ability to pick the perfect “wrong” word when speaking, but some of his word mix-ups could be interpreted to have a deeper meaning. If, in some instances, Dogberry actually meant to use the word he chose, the entire meaning of some of his sentences are different. For example, when Dogberry speaks to Leonato about his companion Verges, he says, “…his wits are not so blunt as, God help, I would desire they were…” (3.5.10-11). We assume that Dogberry misspoke, and meant to say “sharp.” However, let us consider the possibility that he intentionally used the word “blunt” to show another aspect of human nature and society. At first, we believe that we wish everyone were smarter. However, there are some people who we would almost wish they were less clever. For example, I am sure nobody minded a simple-minded servant or slave. In “Much Ado About Nothing,” Margaret the gentlewoman was more sharp of wit and tongue than Beatrice approved; Beatrice wished Margaret were more blunt of wit. So, was Dogberry being very foolish or very wise in this sentence?

Thirdly, we should consider the way in which all the deceptions come to light. It appears as though Dogberry simply “stumbles” across the truth in a haphazard way. In the context of the real world, however, this does not add up. There are several very bright minds in the play who fail to figure out the actual truth. Is it very likely that Dogberry the bumbling idiot would be able to discover and unravel the evil plots? Probably not, and this again points to the likelihood of Dogberry being a very clever man.

To conclude, Dogberry’s character was most likely intended by Shakespeare to be a very foolish and humorous character who somehow manages to save the day. However, Shakespeare’s intelligence creeps into Dogberry’s lines and actions, giving enough evidence to make a reasonable argument that Dogberry is much more intelligent than he appears.

-Victoria

Skyeler's Favorite Much Ado About Nothing Quotes

"methinks she's too low for a high praise, too brown for a fair praise, and too little for a great praise."

"Silence is the perfectest herald of joy.  I were but little happy if I could say how much."

"Well, everyone can master a grief but he that has it."

Skyeler

Skyeler's Much Ado About Nothing Project

My project for this play was to find pictures and/or word phrases that Claudio used to describe Hero.  I put them into a simple Photoshop project.

Skyeler 

Much Ado About Nothing

Conquering Shakespeare called for a plan!  Contrary to popular belief, not all my Shakespeare students were eager to begin our study.  I knew that we needed to prepare them for success.  After many hours reading and browsing those who know Shakespeare better than I, I had a course of action.  We will approach each of our eight plays in the following way.  First, we will read a children's version of the play.  This will introduce the story and characters in a "friendly" manner.  Next we will watch a movie version.  Shakespeare was an entertainer.  The words were made to be performed.  Then we will tackle the Bard head on.  By the time we are reading Shakespeare, it will be familiar and not scary or intimidating.  That is the plan!  

I decided to start us off with the comedy, Much Ado About Nothing.  A comedy would be a fun start, light and happy (unlike the dark tragedies we will be delving into later).  Also, quite a few of the kids are already familiar with the movie version.  They were assigned the children's version (Lamb's or Nesbit is always good) to read and then we met for our first meeting to watch the Kenneth Branagh/Emma Thompson version of Much Ado About Nothing.  How fun!  

After watching the movie, we had a small activity that summed up the play in 15 minutes.  The Folger Shakespeare Library's A 15 Minute Much Ado had a narrator reading a summary that was interspersed with quotes from the play.  The kids were supposed to read and dramatize the quotes when it was their turn.   We all had some fun with this.

 

 Calleigh, Skyeler, Riley, Elizabeth, Tori, and Aly

All in all it was a great start to our new study.  Those of you familiar with our Jane Austen Lit Study from last year will remember that for each book there was a blog project assigned.  We will be doing the same with Shakespeare.  Each play will give the kids the opportunity to get creative with Shakespeare.  I look forward to seeing what cool ideas they come up with this year.

~Angel

Stepping into Shakespeare

"Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears." "To be, or not to be: that is the question." "All the world 's a stage." "But, for my own part, it was Greek to me." "Double, double toil and trouble." "Beware the ides of March." "Out of the jaws of death." "The game is up."

All famous quotes. All William Shakespeare.

Why study Shakespeare? Many believe there is no need for it. I beg to differ. Shakespeare is found every day in each of our lives. Maybe it's a reference in a book. Maybe it's a quote like one of the above. Maybe you used in a sentence one of over 1,700 words that Shakespeare invented. There is a huge possibility that you are using Shakespeare daily without even knowing it!

Our study will not only include reading the plays, it will include seeing as many productions on stage as we possibly can. After all, Shakespeare was meant to be performed. Part of understanding and enjoying Shakespeare is in the performance!

This year we will be traveling through eight of Shakespeare's plays. As we travel, I hope to dispel the myth that Shakespeare is "boring" or "difficult." And I hope to instill, if not a love, a respect for Shakespeare's beautiful words.

As we begin our travels, I leave you with one of my favorite quotes that I memorized in 9th grade Honor's English with Mr. Barge.

"O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father, and refuse thy name.
Or if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love
And I'll no longer be a Capulet."

~Angel