Book 249 Much Ado about Nothing. William Shakespeare. My 100 books that changed the world has Shakespeare's Folio's in. Now it's fair to say that as I tried and failed to read Romeo and Juliet 42 years ago I am never going to read all 36 in the collection. To make it easier Peter downloaded the talking book from the library. I actually did enjoy the wit (sarcasm?) and humour and the plot. So this becomes my 34/100 books that changed the world which means I am over a third of the way. But I am 63.... 6/10 ( )

Just taught this with a group of 8th graders, and I really wasn't sure how it was going to go. They took to it like ducks to water! After getting them over the initial intimidation factor of Shakespeare, they rocked it. Also, Dogberry is my favorite. Friggin hilarious! ( )

I had fun using this as the first Shakespeare my 8th graders read. ( )

I find this story to be a bit shallow, but its a play, not easy to do character development. And its a play written in the early 1600's, where the caste system was in play, every person had a place with certain duties, requirements, and not much leeway for deviation. As a result, these stories are a bit constrained. I think its partly why Shakespeare is still read - he is brilliant at telling a story within these constraints, with double entendres and meanings within meanings. As a result, the story can be understood on many different levels (while also bringing in enough people to pay the rent).

Reading it on a modern level is difficult. Between not understanding common phrases of the day, and words meaning different things today and 400 years ago (for an example, look at the word gay), It also doesn't help that most readers (even back then), won't get references to ancient Greek writings, or even contemporary references to "best sellers" of the day.

Onto the story itself - this is a story about love, but love in the 16th century, where making a good match is more important than actual compatibility between partners. That Claudio and Hero are actually in Love (after only a day after knowing each other, without any sort of conversation) is actually a bonus.

Where the story shines is the relationship between Beatrice and Benedict - always circling each other with quick witted barbs, proclaiming that each other is the worst of the worst. Of course, this is not normally accepted behavior on the part of Beatrice. But Shakespeare allows for it by making her an orphan, being raised by her uncle. She is one of the few woman who actually has some sort of say in what happens in her life.

And, it brings to Don John, the bastard brother of Don Pedro, Prince of Arragon. Don John is actually an evil character. He just wants to cause chaos and watch it all burn, and I think he's a great character. No ulterior motives accept to screw over the establishment.

As for this story, I have a hard time with how poor Hero is condemned so quickly. I know, product of its time, but man, what an awful thing, to be completely ruined by rumor. And Claudio, a man who has only met this girl, doesn't even know her well enough to recognize her voice, when someone pretends to be her. Its fairly standard stuff, and without the witticism's of Beatrice and Benedict, this story would probably be considered one of Shakespeare's lesser story.

And on the edition - I read the Revised Penguin Edition from 1986 - I think the Signet Editions are better put together. I rather have the footnotes on the same pages as they occur, so I don't have to flip pages. Also, I think the Signet books have better information about the play, and drama in Shakespeare's time. ( )

Ganz schön, ist wahrscheinlich besser als Theaterstück zu sehen. ( )