Reading Journal

How is comedy constructed in Much Ado About Nothing and how are the serious elements emerging?
Act 1-2

• The use of sarcasm and satire between Beatrice and Benedick
• Use of schemes between Claudio and the Prince to get Hero - immaturity
• Serious elements such as the past between Beatrice and Benedick - a deeper undertone is beginning to emerge through Beatrice in act 2 scene 2 but again through the use of comedy
• Sincerity portrayed through the use of Don John's character - why is he so bitter and uptight? He says, 'I'd rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his [Don Pedro's] grace' - cutting off his nose to spite his face - perhaps Don John is jealous of his illegitimate brother, as he will never be as important regardless of his current status?
• How does the romance develop between characters such as Hero and Claudio and Beatrice and Benedick?
• How does authority develop?
• Will Don John change his ways further in the play?
• Why do the characters mask themselves and put on a front? What do they have to hide?
• Why is it called Much Ado About Nothing when clearly it is about something?
• Do we really understand the characters?
• Use of dramatic irony/confusion to generate humour
• Narrative - follows Propp's eight character types
• Narrative -binary oppositions e.g bad vs good- Don John vs rest of cast
•  How far will Don John go to cause disruption?
• Why is Beatrice so powerful, more powerful than Hero?
• Beatrice questions the typical role of women in those days - she is strong, independent, does not want a husband
• Perhaps Hero has more to offer later in the play
• Comical construction - use of sexual tension 
• Will Don John become romantically involved with anyone or is he too cold and mischievous?