Monday, May 29, 2023
booked.net
Reducing our footprint!   For every issue we print, we plant a tree!

No products in the cart.

  • About
    • Contributors
    • Disclaimers
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Giving back
    • Mission Statement
    • Past Issues
    • Where to Find
    • Call us at 613-935-3763
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinions
  • Lifestyle
  • Events
  • Columnists
  • Videos
  • Advertise!
    • Online
    • In Print
    • Classifieds
No Result
View All Result
No Result
View All Result

The Book Nook: Much Ado About Nothing

The Seeker by The Seeker
July 22, 2017
in Leisure & Lifestyle
Reading Time: 2 mins read
Melanee Morin
9
SHARES
46
VIEWS

Melanee Morin

Welcome to our latest columnist, Melanee Morin

You might also like

Revolutionize Your Study Routine: Study Online For CEM Select And Succeed

Getting to know True REST Float Spa – A conversation with the owners

21 Reasons Why We Love South Glengarry: Week 2, Lancaster and District Curling Club

My passion for reading began at a young age, culminating in a Master’s degree in English Literature from the University of Ottawa and a desire to promote literacy and culture, starting here at Cornwall’s local The Seeker newspaper.

The Book Nook will provide book reviews of both newly released novels about to hit bookstores and exciting books carried at The Cornwall Public Library (including local authors). Inquiries and comments may be sent to [email protected]

William Shakespeare’s enigmatic and lyric prose continues to enthrall readers and theatre-goers to this day, four centuries after they were originally written and performed. The tradition continues here in Cornwall every summer at the annual Shakespeare in the Park performance, a part of the Arts in the Park season held at Lamoureux park. In honour of this year’s performance of Much Ado About Nothing by Montreal’s Repercussion Theatre, let’s take a closer look at one of Shakespeare’s best, and most popular, romantic comedies.

Much Ado About Nothing takes place in the tranquil Italian village of Messina, home of nobleman Leonato, his virtuous daughter Hero, and his witty outspoken niece Beatrice. The arrival of Prince Don Pedro, his illegitimate brother Don John, and aristocratic soldiers Claudio and Benedick from a recently won war creates tension and intrigue in this idyllic town. Claudio immediately falls for the angelic Hero, while Benedick and Beatrice participate in a battle of wits exclaiming their disdain for love and marriage. While the reader is set to expect these two couples to come together in marriage, the traditional ending for a Shakespearean comedy, they must first overcome numerous trials and deceptions to reach the happy ending.

In the beginning of the play Beatrice laments, “Men were deceivers ever, / One foot in sea, and one on shore, / To one thing constant never,” while Benedick similarly decries the “sharp tongues” and flightiness of women. However, these dual gender stereotypes are proven to be simply another example of baseless accusations that run rampant throughout the play: Don John attempts to undo Claudio and Hero’s marriage by implying Hero is unfaithful, and Hero subsequently fakes her own death until her good name is restored. Messina is a world where everyone talks and the power of both true and false words is shown. Even Beatrice admits “I was born to speak all mirth and no matter.” Within this lighthearted comedy, Shakespeare examines how deception and lies both create and calm tragedy. When Claudio realizes his mistake in believing rumours about Hero, Don Pedro’s earlier advice to him rings true: “And thou shalt see how apt it is to learn / Any hard lesson that may do thee good.”

Much Ado About Nothing is one of Shakespeare’s most accessible and relatable plays for modern audiences, dealing with timeless themes of love, deception, and redemption.

If you want more Shakespeare, Repercussion’s production of Much Ado About Nothing runs until August 15th at various locations (see www.repercussiontheatre.com).

Author

  • The Seeker
    The Seeker

    View all posts

Tags: LiteratureMelanee MorinThe Book Nook
Next Post

Eating Locally at Marrow and Spice

Inner Site Sidebar

Advertise Here
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube TikTok
Don't miss anything!

Get notified of all our new news by ringing the bell at the bottom left corner!

Content Safety

HERO

theseeker.ca

Trustworthy

Approved by Sur.ly

2022
The Seeker Newspaper is located at 327 Second Street E., Cornwall, ON K6H 1Y8 -- All rights reserved
The Seeker does not accept responsibility for errors, misprints or inaccuracies published within. The opinions and statements of our columnists are not to be presumed as the statements and opinions of The Seeker, and should not substitute professional or medical advice.
ISSN 2562-1750 (Print)

ISSN 2562-1769 (Online)
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Opinions
  • Lifestyle
  • Events
  • Columnists
  • Videos
  • Advertise!
    • Online
    • In Print
    • Classifieds

© 2023 Reducing our footprint!   For every issue we print, we plant a tree!

You were not leaving your cart just like that, right?

Enter your details below to save your shopping cart for later. And, who knows, maybe we will even send you a sweet discount code :)

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.
Go to mobile version