Much Ado About Nothing is, if nothing else, filled with humor at every turn despite the serious nature of the circumstances. In response to the blog prompt; what surprised you or was shocking in these acts, and did they raise questions. Having read this play several times before--nothing surprised me on the surface, but after a closer read I found these items. Shakespeare seems to deploy a strong sense humor through the characters Margret, Hero, and Beatrice--despite the semi serious nature of the circumstance. An example is when Margaret takes a jab at Hero on her wedding day by saying to her "Twill be heavier soon by the weight of a man"(3.4.23.1447). And further along Beatrice pokes also when she says "Ye light o' love with your heels" (3.4.39.1447). Beatrice suggests that Hero may be a little too anxious to consummate the marriage.Humor continues along in the fourth act with what should be a happy, joyous occasion, which turns into mayhem. This emotionally charged scene should be a tender moment, but the boom is lowered with accusations of infidelity aimed at Hero.So for me the surprise is the ease with which Shakespeare moves between characters in these humorous scenes.
The most noticeable shifts or chances in these act are the sort of sing-song light humor as a continuous thread throughout the entire play. The Church/wedding scene is a prime example of humor and shocking emotional events. The wedding is anything but run of the mill--in fact it is fused with humorous sexual innuendos. The tome or rhythm seems to be short, quick spurts of words and humor mixed with an emotionally charged event. The introduction of the Friar seems to indicate a shift in action and an emotional change of the tone. In the final scene we see that maybe Benedick loves Beatrice more than she loves him. This reversal of roles or emphasis on the male as being the one actually admitting love is really cool. Not so typical because they previously both acted as though they despised the concept of love.
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