Much Ado About Much Ad0
Here you can find all of the basic information regarding Much Ado About Nothing as a more general play (the plot, the characters, some fun facts, performance history, etc.)
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Much Ado About Nothing Explained in Under 5 Minutes
Much Ado About Nothing: Did You Know?
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Much Ado About Nothing is one of Shakespeare's most popular plays and comedies due to its use of wordplay and slapstick comedy.
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The title "Much Ado About Nothing" is a double entendre-- It not only means making a big deal about nothing, but can also be taken to be in reference to the Elizabethan slang for certain female anatomy ("no thing").
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Much Ado About Nothing is the last example of Shakespeare's clown characters being bumbling and/or unintelligent. After Dogberry, the clowns were often some of the more intelligent characters in the play.
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Much Ado About Nothing is often credited with popularizing the phrase "curiosity killed the cat", which comes from one of its contemporaries, Every Man in His Humour.
Much Ado About Gender
One of the most prominent themes in Much Ado About Nothing is the societal role of gender in the Elizabethan period and the subversion of gender expectations throughout the story. This is seen through the main female protagonist Beatrice and her independence and outspokenness, the men's obsession with virginity and maidenhood and general fear of marriage, and ultimately highlights the double standards for gender at the time.