Compare “Rome And Juliet” And “Muc Ado About Nothing”
There are many similarities between Shakespeare's Much Ado About
Nothing and Romeo and Juliet. Was this Intentional or Accidental? Even though
Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy, and Romeo and Juliet, is one of his saddest
tragedies, the two plots share many common incidents. Did Shakespeare mean to
have these coincidences or did they happen by accident? In both of his dramatic
works, the Masque is a key element furthering the infatuation of the lovers.
Also the balcony scenes in both plays are crucial because without them the plot
could never have reached its denouement. It seems that God came into both of
the plays in the spirit of the friars; because they had good plans to keep love together.
In both plays, the masque functions as a dramatic device which initiates
the love plot. It occurs in a social gathering, but not without the help of
costumes. If it were not for costumes the result of love might have been
drastically different. How was the masque used to get lovers together? In the
case of Romeo and Juliet, Romeo hears about the masque and decides to go,
thinking that he might be able to get away with this scheme. Upon entering he
sees Juliet and right away, he knows it is love. If he had not worn the costume,
the hosts might have ejected him from the party and he might not have met
Juliet. Much Ado About Nothing has a similar but also different approach
towards love at the masque. In Much Ado, Count Claudio is not able to gather
the courage to court Hero. Instead Don Pedro, who is one of Claudio's very
close friends, offers to go and woo Hero for his friend. This point is
illustrated by Don Pedro for his great plan to get Claudio and Hero together
"Thou wilt be like a lover presently/ And tire the hearer with a book of words. .
.. That thou began'st to twist so fine a story? "1 Don Pedro's costume allows
him to woo Hero, posing as Claudio....
View Full Essay
