Beatrice and Benedick
Understanding Love and Marriage in Shakespeare
- Attitudes to Love & Marriage
- Themes explore different beliefs about love.
- Considerations include love at first sight vs. deeper understanding of a partner.
The Code of Courtly Love
- Definition: Idealized love between a knight and a noble lady.
- Characteristics:
- Knight performs heroic deeds for the lady's honor.
- Lady viewed as unattainable and godlike.
- Relationship emphasizes purity and self-discipline.
- Surrendering to physical desires reflects poorly on the lady's worth.
The Code of Chivalry
- Mandates for Knights:
- Loyalty to king and bravery in battle.
- Defense of the Church and protection of the weak.
- Gentle treatment of women.
- Historical Context:
- Concepts of courtly love and chivalry were prevalent in literature before and during Shakespeare’s era.
The Conventions of Love
- Social Dynamics:
- Men should love women of equal or higher status.
- Women often reject men's advances to maintain honor.
- Rejection increases men's desire.
- Men are emotionally consumed by their feelings and actions.
- Common tropes found in Romantic Comedies today.
Couples in Much Ado about Nothing
- Benedick & Beatrice vs. Hero & Claudio:
- Hero and Claudio are depicted as characters who fall in love at first sight.
- Beatrice and Benedick are characterized by conflict and banter, initially denying romantic feelings.
- Key Ideas Presented:
- Couples must overcome obstacles to find love.
- Conflicting personalities may lead to unexpected romantic developments.
Foils in Literature
- Definition of a Foil:
- A character who contrasts with another to emphasize specific qualities.
- Example: Sherlock Holmes (protagonist) and Watson (foil) highlight Holmes' intelligence.
Marriage as a Yoke
- Analysis of Benedick's Views:
- Refers to marriage as ‘a yoke’, indicating a negative view of marital commitment.
- Questions traditional gender roles and expectations in marriage.
Benedick's Attitude Towards Women
- Resolve to Remain Unmarried:
- Claims to be grateful to women yet chooses bachelorhood, reflecting cynicism about relationships.
- Describes himself as a ‘professed tyrant’ towards women, revealing his resistance to romantic engagements.
Claudio's Perspective on Women
- Claudio's Motivation for Marriage:
- Sees Hero as a valuable possession (compares to a 'jewel').
- His inquiry into her family background showcases a focus on wealth and status over personal connection.
- Connection to Courtly Love Tradition:
- His admiration is laced with superficiality.
Glossary of Key Terms
- Subvert: To undermine established systems or authority.
- Conform: To behave in accordance with societal norms.
- Patriarchy: A societal structure where men hold primary power.
- Superficial: Lacking depth or thoroughness; surface-level.
- Genuine: Authentic, real, or true.
- Satirise: To humorously critique or exaggerate.
Character Analysis: Claudio and Benedick
- Character Traits:
- Identify three adjectives for both Claudio and Benedick.
- Foil Relationship:
- Analyze how Claudio may contrast with Benedick, particularly around adherence to patriarchal norms, and how they embody or reject societal expectations.
Presentation of Benedick’s Views
- Analysis Structure: Use WHAT, HOW, WHY
- Example:
- Benedick’s boast about bachelorhood suggests potential fear of commitment, revealing an inner conflict about masculinity within a patriarchal society.
Analysis of Claudio’s Views
- Shakespeare's Presentation:
- Claudio is characterized by superficial admiration, treating love as a transactional relationship.
- His views reflect satirical elements of courtly love.
Peer Assessment Guidance
- Use the green KS3 booklet for giving feedback on analyses.
- Encourage constructive criticism focusing on strengths and areas for improvement (WWW: EBI).