Shakespeare's comedy is based on cruelty and subversion
Shakespeare’s comedy is based on cruelty and subversion discuss.
Shakespeare created comedy in Much Ado through the characters behaviour, dialogue and prose but his comedy is often seen as cruel and subversive. Cruelty can be defined in many ways, one definition is behaviour which causes physical or mental harm to another, another is to inflict pain or suffering and enjoy the pain or distress of others. Plato said that ‘laughter is an emotion that overrides rational self-control’. From this definition we clearly see that this play cannot be cruel and only comedic because although Don Pedro almost sabotages Claudio’s wedding, all ends well so the characters do not enjoy inflicting pain towards others or at least succeed. This must be a comedy rather than tragedy as it ends in two happy marriages. Much Ado About Nothing is considered to be one of Shakespeare’s best comedies and the play is not only considered a comedy but a romance as well, a romance being a feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love. We clearly see throughout this play that mystery associated with love through the characters Beatrice and Benedick. This play is classed as a comedy rather than a tragedy as it is about the relationship between two couples and although it almost ends in death it swiftly changes direction into a comedy as the ending is happy and therefore unlikely to be based around cruelty. Critics say ‘the tragic and comic fade into each other by almost insensible gradiations’ and therefore this play can be nothing more than just humorous and not have vindictive humour.
Playful humour in one’s eyes can be seen in Act 1 when Beatrice deliberately humiliates or misconstrues the messenger by changing his words and coming back with insults about Benedick ‘I would burn my study. But, I pray you, who is his companion?’ Although here Beatrice is throwing insults about Benedick we can read between the lines, we know that she is actually in love with Benedick and she is then
Shakespeare created comedy in Much Ado through the characters behaviour, dialogue and prose but his comedy is often seen as cruel and subversive. Cruelty can be defined in many ways, one definition is behaviour which causes physical or mental harm to another, another is to inflict pain or suffering and enjoy the pain or distress of others. Plato said that ‘laughter is an emotion that overrides rational self-control’. From this definition we clearly see that this play cannot be cruel and only comedic because although Don Pedro almost sabotages Claudio’s wedding, all ends well so the characters do not enjoy inflicting pain towards others or at least succeed. This must be a comedy rather than tragedy as it ends in two happy marriages. Much Ado About Nothing is considered to be one of Shakespeare’s best comedies and the play is not only considered a comedy but a romance as well, a romance being a feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love. We clearly see throughout this play that mystery associated with love through the characters Beatrice and Benedick. This play is classed as a comedy rather than a tragedy as it is about the relationship between two couples and although it almost ends in death it swiftly changes direction into a comedy as the ending is happy and therefore unlikely to be based around cruelty. Critics say ‘the tragic and comic fade into each other by almost insensible gradiations’ and therefore this play can be nothing more than just humorous and not have vindictive humour.
Playful humour in one’s eyes can be seen in Act 1 when Beatrice deliberately humiliates or misconstrues the messenger by changing his words and coming back with insults about Benedick ‘I would burn my study. But, I pray you, who is his companion?’ Although here Beatrice is throwing insults about Benedick we can read between the lines, we know that she is actually in love with Benedick and she is then