Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing": The Condensed Version

Act 1

In the intial parts of the play, the reader notes that Lenato, one of the main characters and father of Hero, recieves a letter from the messenger announcing the arrival and Don Pedro, Claudio and Benedict, as he makes preparation for their arrival. Upon annoucement, Beatrice proceeds to exclaming her disdain towards Benedict. When Don Pedro and his group recieve salutation from Lenato, Benedict and Beatrice exchange their sleezy remarks and isult towards each others characters and is subsequently invited to stay and they proceed into the dining area. After which Claudio professes his love for Hero to Benedict who counter act by saying  he would never love a woman. After inquiring about their absence, Don Pedro is informed on Claudios love for Hero and was supportive. Don Pedro devised a plan to diguise himself as Claudio and declare his love for Hero at a masked ball.
Confusion araises where a servant believes he has heard Don Pedro Profess his love for Hero at the night of the masked ball, Don John and his servant Conrad who inquires of his depression and finds that John struggles over his iabity to out on a front. Here his servant reminds him that he and his brother have now make amends and he nust strive to up hold it. Borachio declares that he has heard news of Claudio and Heros marriage. There is a conflict of opinion where the rumour Don Pedros plans and Claudio plans collide.Borachio uses this information as a drive to make trouble for Claudio.

Act 2

At the ball, the latest gossip was exchanged. Don John ends up courting Hero for himself and plan to elope that very night, The conversation continued, Subsequently, Don Pedro approached Claudio to profess the good news of Heros agreement to wed. Don Pedro, being the cunning match making was convinced to make Beatrice and Benedict fall in love,

Don Pedro find light to the fact that Claudio and Hero were going to get married and found need to destroy it. Bonachio was convinced to have sex with Heros gentlelady Margret who was evidently his girlfriend and haller Hero's name in the process to give the illusion that Hero was impure and was having sex with somene else before she was wed to Claudio. Visual witness will see Hero's dress on Margret and will be assured it is her. When word get back to Claudio, he decides to embarass her infront of the entire congregation and curse her in announcement of impurity and "nastiness'.

Leonato, Claudio and Don Pedro engage in conversation about Beatrices love for Benedict as Benedict easdroppied near by. Then Beatrice is sent to fetch Benedict fro dinner where he believes he sees the denial of Beatrices love towards him in her attitude.

Act 3

Hero and Ursula seek to convince Beatrice that Benedict is in love with her by a procedure to similar to that of Dob Pedros actions as they describe Benedicts love sick condition under the purpose influence the Beatrice could not hear them. and similar to Benedict reaction, Beatrice pitily returns her love to favout his.

Elizabethan Theatre

Elizabethan Theater English drama came into existence during the reign of Elizabeth 1, developing into a sophisticated and very popular art form. Before the reign of Elizabeth 1, theater companies traveled about the country performing plays whenever and wherever they could find an audience, or they would perform in courtyards of inns. Spectator would watch plays either from the ground or from balconies or galleries above. James Burbage was the name of an actor who constructed England’s first playhouse. When Shakespeare was twelve years old, an actor named James Burbage built London’s first theater just beyond the city walls in Shoreditch, which he simply named “The Theater”. In 1597, the city fathers closed down the theater. In late 1598, Richard Burbage, the son of James Burbage and his men, dismantled it and hauled it in pieces across the Thames to Southwark. It took them six months to rebuild it, and when they eventually did they renamed it the ‘Globe‘. Scholars disagree about what the Globe actually looked like, since there were no surviving drawings or descriptions of it. William Shakespeare refers to it as ‘the wooden O,’ so we have a sense that it was round or octagonal. It was of importance that the theater had a lot of space for plays as well as sporting activities. The building had to be small enough that the actors could be heard. It is said that performances usually draw an audience as large as 2,500 to 3,000 people. The houses were uncomfortable at times because people didn’t bathe or change their clothes very often in those days. People who paid the entrance fee of a penny would usually stand. Some would sit behind performances and this was classed as the second most seat in the house although they only saw the backs of the actors and probably couldn’t hear well either. In those days actors had no technological assistance like modern actors. There were no sets or lighting at the Globe. Plays were performed in the bright afternoon sunlight, and a playwright’s words alone had to create the mood. The first Globe met its demise in 1613. This occurred when a cannon was fired as part of a performance of Henry VIII and ignited the theatre’s thatched. Everyone escaped unharmed, but the Globe burned to the ground. Although it was rebuilt, the Puritans had it permanently closed in 1642. Almost four centuries later after the original Globe was demolished it was later rebuilt. After long years of fund-raising and construction, the theater open to its full season on June 8, 1997, with a performance of Henry V.
Elizabethan Drama　 During the late sixteen century, Elizabethan drama came into full bloom. Playwrights turned away from religious subjects and began writing more sophisticated plays. Drawing on models from ancient Greece and Rome, writers reintroduce tragedies. Dramatists also began writing their plays in carefully crafted unrhymed verse, using rich language and vivid imagery.
William Shakespeare William Shakespeare was born on April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, northwest of London. Shakespeare’s father, John, was a successful glove maker and businessman who held a number of positions in the town government. His mother, whose name was Mary Arden, was the daughter of his father’s landlord. No written evidence of Shakespeare’s boyhood exists. However, given his father’s status, it is highly probable that he attended the Stratford Grammar School. His attendance at the grammar school from ages seven to sixteen would have provided him with a good education because discipline at school was strict and school hours lasted from 6a.m to 5p.m. At the age of eighteen, Shakespeare married twenty six year old Anne Hathaway, and six months after the marriage Anne gave birth to a daughter, Susanna, baptised 26 May 1583. Twins, son Hamnet and daughter Judith, followed almost two years later and were baptised 2 February 1585.Hamnet died of unknown causes at the age of 11 and was buried 11 August 1596. By 1594, Shakespeare became part owner and the principal playwright of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, one of the most successful theater companies in London. In 1599, the company built the famous Globe theater in Southwark. This is where most of Shakespeare’s plays took place. When James 1 became king in 1603, following the death of Elizabeth 1, he took control of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men and renamed the company “The King’s Men.” In about 1610, Shakespeare retired to Stratford, though he continued to write plays. On April 23, 1616, he died and was buried in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford. The first published edition of his work, called the First Folio, was issued in 1623 by John Heminges and Henry Condell. Shakespeare’s varied output includes romantic comedies like A Midsummer Night’s Dream and As You Like It; history plays such as Henry IV, Parts 1 and 2; tragedies like Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth; and later romances like The Tempest. In addition to his plays, he wrote 154 sonnets and three longer poems.

The Book versus The Movie

Comment on the 1st 15 minutes of the movie in comparison to the book

     The movie as opposed to the book was depicted with visual aid, that is the characters, setting, attire and accents. The actors utilied their environment and they're body language to bring life and expression which better made allowances to understand that language. Their expressions and tone of voices help to set the mode of critism, malice and conflict name between Benedict and Beatrice. Those actor who were not directly involved in the argument acted as chorus who jeared on the insult being tossed between the characters
     The music, which was intune with the feel of the movie, also aided in setting a sense of anxiety as the men and women prepared for they meetings. The music was rich alone with the atmosphere of the characters: rich with anticipation and excitment which transfered into the viewer.
     The setting, where the novel failed to adhere to, was vibrant and accurate in comparison to time frame of the written play. Once again, the benefit of the visual aid corresponding to the movie lent a convincing feel to the era in which the play was written. Their mode of transportation, and  the props such as the book Beatrice read from demonstrated the stage of advancement of that era.
      However, the extensive dialogue in the book allowed for more description and insight into the conflicts of the characters. This gave the reader a better understanding of the atmosphere between the characters.

William Shakespear as we knew him

The History of the Life of William Shakespear

         With reference to the Biography published in the play, 'Much Ado About Nothing', William Shakespeare was born in Stratford upon Avon on April 1564. He was born to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden. Shakespeare, was the last of three children as well as the eldest son. His elder siblings, both of whom where girls. This Catholic family provided William Shakespeare with what was percieved to be a traditional up brining of that era.

         26 year old Shakespear married his 18 year old wife, Anne Hathaway, 3 months pregnant with their first child, in December 1582. On May 6th 1583, the couple produced their first of three children, Suzanna Shakespear. Suzanna was then proceeded by her twin siblings, Hamnet and Judith, on February 22nd 1585. In the midst of Shakespear youthful yet burdensome life, he left his family in Stratford on Avon to work in London, having been accused of deer theft.

        Shakespear made his first appearance in the public eye as a playwright when he was first featured with Johannes Factotum. In April 1593, William published his poen 'Venus and Adios' with dedication to the Earl of Southampton; its success thereafter was manifested in the reprinting nine times over nine years. This, however, was proceeded by another phenomenal poem entitled 'The rape of Lucrece".

        Due to the historical plague, theatres remained in-active, but the instance of reactivation, Shakespears work became the subject of rivalry of the Lord Chamberlains Company who produced a play in Shoredith Theatre. Soon there after, Shakespear authored additional plays, namely, The Gently men of Venus, Love's Labour's Lost and The Taming of the Shrew. The most famous and world renouned being Romeo and Juliet. Shakespear was, at this point, believed to be the greaest author and playwright because of his extraordinary talent in captivative writing, both plays and poetry. He dominated the play entertainment world for quite sometime with his undeniable passion and expertise in the field.

       Shakespears died in 23rd April 1616. His succeses carried on through out his 52 year life spand. Having been survived by his wife, William left behind a high standard of dramatic playwright as well as his work that's still studied and recited to this very day.

          



Questions on Brother Man

1) Conflicts which were evident in the novel Brother Man were between:

• Papacita and Girlie where their disagreement bleed through there commom law marriage which lead to ther subsequent separation. This conflict is known was eternal.
• Cordelia where she struggles with her sanity. This can be considered internal conflict.
• Papacita and Minette where Papapcita wanted Minette as his 'woman' but she wasn't as interested as she was in Papacita as she was in Brother Man. This conflict is known was external.
• Minette, as she battles between her love for Brother Man as it applies to her lovng him as a father or as a lover.

2) Internal Conflicts is the struggle between opposing needs, desires and emotions within a single character. External Conflict is a characters struggle against an outside force which maybe another character, society as a whole, or something in nature(hurricane).

3) Three types of irony are:-

•  Dramatic -Dramatic irony is when the words and actions of the characters of a work of literature have a different meaning for the reader than they do for the characters. 
• Situational - An outcome that turns out to be very different from what was expected, the difference between what is expected to happen and what actually does.
• Verbal - A figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant.

4) The basic idea of irony is to say or imply something and mean or do something else. This most evident in the character of Brother Man and his nteraction with the residents of Orange Lane, especially those who he help significantly.

In the early stages of the novel, the reader sees that Brother Man is the epitome of a Saviour, namely Jesus Christ. Brother Man, having been converted to the faith from a 'bad' youth, was conpassionate and understanding, having experience some similar cases as people in the lane, he helped emotionally spiritually as well as financially. To the rude display of gratefulness by the people inb the lane by pelting Brother Man to a pulp near death after his help this very people who abse him now.


5)                                                                                                        St. John's
                                                                                                           Antigua

The Daily Observer
Coolidge
St. John's
Antigua

Dear Editor,
             After years of general observation and the witnessing of a brutal ambush on a native, namely Brother Man, I am ashamed to see the extent at which the juvinile mind set of the residents of Orange Lane. The Rastafarian Religion is becoming more established and is a rapidly expanding religion. Wide spread; not only restricted to the Caribbean but through out the world. Rastafarianism has impeded the membrane of every society with it's unorthodox practises.
            Rastafarianism, just like any other religion, has to up sides and it's down sides. Altough it empowers peaceful, righteous living, thus unity, it's usually methods of worship which is in breach of the law which governs society. It was bought to my understand that in order for worship to take place, the particiant must first indulge himself with an illegal herb to hallucinate as a means to 'communicate' or 'connect' with God. This baffles me as to, if hypothetically speaking, the practise of my religion collide with my moral standing, is it really a wholesome practise worth participating in?
          However, from witnessing rastafarian behaviour, I've observed the peaceful countinence of the followers. This may purpose of being Christ-like and humble with everyone and upholding that image, it one to be admired. This is a crutial area where other religions fall short. Where other worshippers of the Catholic denomination demonstate was is commonly known as 'one day Christian' behaviour Rastafarianism is a way of life (as all religious beliefs ought to be). It entails a change of attire, a change of hair style (now optional), a change of mind set and a change of heart.
         As my beliefs of Rastafarianism is still scattered, I am stedfast in the belief that Rastafarians should not be discriminated against because, in most cases, they are most in tune with themselves and with God as many of us have fallen short of.

                                                                                                                  Yours Sincerely
                                                                                                                     Concerned
        

What are some of the narrative techniques that Roger Mais uses in the novel, 'Brother Man'?

Some of the narrative techniques Roger Mais uses are dialogue, flashbacks, setting(the environment could be used to depict the socio-economic status of the characters) and religion.


How does Roger Mais develop characterisation?

    Roger Mais uses the dialogue as a means of characterisation, whereby through the dialogue, the reader gets the direct perspective of the parties involved in the conflict. Here, as opposed to the omniscient narrative, the reader understands the characters emotions and experiences from a first hand stand point.
   Secondly, Mais uses the town gossip to show a different or an outside point-of-view of the plot. However, this method of characterisation does not fully exploit the true nature of the character but it does put a reader at the advantage of understanding the conflict from an outsiders perspective.
   Lastly, flashback is a crutial means of characterisation because this gives 'substance' or a more indepth understanding of the characters history; reputation or legend. For example, Brother Mans reflection of when he was a younger, living with Velta and the conflict between her and his best friend. This allows the reader to relate to the character in a more intimate fashion.

Where/What is the setting?

The setting is in Kingston, Jamaica, more specifically Orange Lane in the 1950's. Judging from the discriprion of the lane, it is in a low socio-economic region of the country.

Some themes in the novel 'Brother Man'.

• Love
• Deception
• Religion
• Insanity
• Desperation
• Abuse
• Hatred
• Greed
• Jealousy
• Insecurity

Discuss the different plots that are in the book.

   There were roughly 5 plots developing simultaneously in the novel 'Brother Man'.
Namely between the following persons: Girlie and Papacita; Papacita and Minette; Cordelia, Bra' Ambo and Brother Man; Brother Man and Minette; Papacita, Fellows and Corporal Jennings.
   The plot between Girlie and Papacita was one of the most intriguing of the plots. Here is where two completely distinctive personalities clash in a common law setting. Papacita, an ungrateful, unfaithful, womanizing, greedy, self-absorbed man in a relation ship with a woman who was quite the contrary. She's faithful to Papacita, she is unconditionally in love with him, she basically devotes her body, soul and mind and is therefore submissive to Papacita who continually takes her for granted. All of Papacita's nasty attributes leads to his subsequent demise by the hand of his beloved Girlie.
   Papacita and Minette. This plot lies behind the closed doors of Papacita and Girlies relationship. Papacita goes through many lengths to tear Minette away from Brother Man, even to the extent of black man. Shortly after Brother Mans arrest, Papacita bails him out of jail as a means of finding his way into the good graces of Minette. This plot, as opposed to that of Papacita and Girlie was short coming in the climax.
   Thirdly, Cordelia, Bra' Ambo and Brother Mans plot was a bit more long winded than that of the others where it took longer to me resolved as well as the facts to the this plot wasn't completely clear. However, Bra' Ambo, who despised Brother Man and through Cordelia, framed Brother Man for possession of counterfeit which concluded in Brother Man going to jail.
    Brother Man and Minette have an underlying romance that was not fully surfaced in the novel. Minettes submissiveness and beyond fatherly love for Brother Man which govern her faithfulness and actions towards Brother Man who did not display the same interest that Minette did. Nonetheless, the intimate affair between Brother Man and Minette left a puzzled atmosphere for the reader in the later parts of the novel.
   Lastly, the plot among Fellows, Papacita and Corporal Jennings where Corporal Jennings was seeking out the source of the counterfiet dictribution with in Kingston, Jamaica, one of which was Papacita. This ploy had a interesting climax but unfortunately did not have theexpected out come.
  Many, if not all, of the plots in the novel 'Brother Man' are intertwined with one another which was one of the key elements of the novel. Here, the reader would notice that each character played a role in every plot whether it be large or small.

How was foreshadowing displayed in the book?

Foreshadowing occured in several aspects of the novel. Some of which were: Papacita leaving Girlie, the disasterous relationship between Bra' Ambo and Brother Man and Brother Man's attempt execution (in Brother Man's quest to be like Jesus Christ, his life experience with the people of the village reflected that of the story of Jesus' life on earth).

How does religion play a huge part in bthe novel?

    Religion mainly played a large role in the life of the character Brother Man. Religion was the drinving forced that govern Brother Mans actions. Religion also undeniabley was a manfestation in his life when the people of the village, people Brother Man helped in their time of need, turned against him. These people were the cause of his near death experience as their thunderous pelts of stone and anything harmful in hand struck him. He rose again in 3 days as the bibles teaching say of the story of Jesus Christ.
   This novel also highlights the battle between believers and non-believers of the faith. The weak hearted and the easily lead astray versus the strong hearted and strong willed. One of the main lying ideas for this novel wqas religion and its effect on the lives of those who believed.

Home Assignment 29/09/2010

The Biography of Rogers Mais

This Jamaican born novelist, journalist, painter, poet and playwright was born in 1905 to a Middle Class family. His development as a successful writer was evident in his 10 top place positions in Literary Competitions. Subsequently, Mais became deeply involved in journalism and he wrote strong social critque pieces in addition to poetry and short stories for his local weekly newspaper People's National Party, Focus and the Daily Jamaica Cleaner. An article, namely Public Opinion in 1944 landed Mais a six year jail time sentence. This terrible period in the artists life inspired the novel The Hills Were Joyful Together in 1953 which was proceeded by Brother Man in 1954 and Black Lightening in 1955. Brother Man being the most popular of the trio. Prior to his novel successes, Mais published his play George William Gordon in 1940. In Roger Mais' writing, he incorporates and by entension reflects his strong biblical and spiritual beliefs as well as political standing and inequlity. In 1978, Mais was presented with the Order of Jamaica, as the nation demonstrated its repect and appreciation for Mais' work.

What does the Critiques say about 'Brother Man'?

 The concensus of the reviews of Roger Mais' Brother Man consider the book to be strongly religious with regards to the indepth nature of rastafariamism. Critque Annie Paul states in her review that "It’s interesting to read Brother Man today, when Rastas and things Rastafarian have acquired such cultural charisma that their image". She exaggerated the fact that rastafarianism has become a very prominent religion in society as it is was triggered in song by Bob Marley and the forms varied along with their founders but it was refreshing to have this religion in particular being exhibited in book, namely by Roger Mais.

 Other critiques note that the novel depicts a contrast from what culture in Jamaica had once been like in comnparison to what it is now. Imani claims in his review "(Brother Man) is not a mere historical artefact providing a window into Jamaica’s past, but shows an improvement in style, a sophistication in the development of themes and exploration of human character". He further explains that Mais' way of developing his characters also reflects the change or the growth into a new fashion.

Rastafarianism

 In the 1930's Marcus Garvey prophecied that a King would raise out of Africa to free the black race from the restrains of white colonialism and so the Rastafari movement was born. In the mid-1930's Hailie Selasse I

rose to power in Ethopia. He was believed to be the prophecied King. Selasse I was, however, not his original name, and the religion adopted his given name which was 'Rastafari', who they believed was a mdern day saviour of the colonialised oppressed blacks. Selasse I was over thrown in later years during a marxist revolution in Etheopia. He later died mysteriously which rose him to the status martyrdom in the eyes of Rastifari followers. The most popular sacrement of Rastafarianism is enbodied in ganga. A very potent form of marijuana which is used for entertainment, clarity, relaxation and to induce communion with a higher entity.

 Critiques of Rastafarianism state that rastafarianism is a very young religion which does not stress group worship or an orthodox organised relgious structure; there are no set rules of values and therefore no insistence on the protocols. Though it does not display the characteristics of traditional religion, Rastafari does insist that each person is not apart from but has a constant connection with God, which is evident in the use of 'I and I'. Critique Daemona Young states that "the use of a hallucinagenic substance was a form of sacriment for many 'heathen' religions through out the ages. While Rastafarians heavily defend the practise there is little eveidence to prove it's legitemacy."

Literary Devices

Literary Devices

Prose Fiction
Novel - A novel is a long larrative in literary prose.

Novella - A narrative fictrional prose that is shorter than a novelbut longer than a novelette.

Short Stories - a work of fiction that is usually written in short fiction prose. They're plots are short and quickly resolved.

Elements of Prose Fiction
Narrative Technique - The method involved in writting or telling a piece or literature.

Point-Of-View - refers to the way or perspective the narrator approaches his or her material.

Characterisation - The way in which a writer creates and develops his/her characters.

Setting - The time and place in which a play takes place.

Theme - The abstract subject of a piece of work; it's central idea or ideas.

Plot - The plan of a literary work, especially of dramas and novels.

Style - The characteristic manner in which a writer expresses him/herself, or the particular manner of an individual literary work.

Literary Devices
Imagery - is used in literature to refer to discriptive language that evokes senery, experience.

Symbol - A symbol is something which represents something else (often and idea) by analagy or assosiation.

Irony - consists of said or wirtten that suggests the opposite of their meaning.

Satire - a literary work in which human vice or folly is attacked through irony, derision or wit.

Allusion - A figiure of speech that makes a reference to or representation of a place, event, literary work, myth, or work of art either directly or by implication.

Structural Devices
Stream of Consciousness - The attempts to convey all the contents of a characters mind.

Interior Monologue - An attempt to convey in words the process of consciousness or thought.

Flash back - A sudden jump backwards in time to an earlier episode or scene in a story of a novel, play or film.

Foreshadow - The technique of suggesting or prifiguring a development in a literary work before it occurs.

Time Frame - A given interval especially in relation to a particular date(era), event or process.

Mortif - A recurrent element - word, image, object, phrase or action.

Juxtation - to put side by side or close together

Types of Fiction
Novel - a work of fiction that is usually written in short fiction prose. They're plots are short and quickly resolved

Novella - A narrative fictrional prose that is shorter than a novelbut longer than a novelette.

Short Story -  a work of fiction that is usually written in short fiction prose. They're plots are short and quickly resolved.

Short-short Story - A very brief story, usually comproses a simple plot and end in a surprise, irony, or joke.

Vignette - A brief piece of fiction that vividly depicts or describes a person, place, or event. Vignettes need do not have a climax or much plot.

Prose Poem - A very short piece of work that exaggerates upon imagery, rhythm, and other elements of poetry.

Anti-Story - A Work of fiction that takes the form of an essay or other non-fiction work.

Novelette - Not a literary form at all, but simply a designation used by some magazines for short stories.

Literary Context
Social - living together in groups

Political -  relating to the state or it's government.

 Hystorical - from the past; connected to the past.

Religious - observant of religious laws or practices.

Ethnic - different ractial or social groups of people from different countries.

Moral - conforming to accepted standards; having integrity

Intellectual -  rational; highly intelligent; devoted to mental or intellectual pursuits.

Cultural - refers to the patterns of human activity and the symbolic structures that give such activities significance or importance.