1. Much Ado About Nothing
The sources

2. MAAN - the sources Stories of slandering chaste women were a tradition
H and C from Italian poet (Ariosto) and Spenser.
Both plots = woman accused of being unfaithful and lover is tricked by seeing a disguised servant
BUT – biggest creative debt owed to a work by Bandello (1554)

3. Bandello… Set in Sicily
Follows same pattern, and the woman (Fenecia) faints.
Sent to live with uncle, supposed to be dead.
Villain confesses, fiancé (Timbreo) is forgiven on promise to marry another woman of the father’s choice.
One year passes – Fenecia looks completely different (is even prettier)
Timbreo marries her, confesses his sin at the wedding breakfast, and her true identity is revealed.

4. Ways Shakespeare changes his source…
Examining how Shakespeare changed his sources is a good way of understanding what possible themes/ideas/messages he was interested in communicating…
H and C are younger
Love is shallower, less well-established
Fenecia’s family = not wealthy. Hero’s wealth top in Claudio’s mind
C accuses H in public
No one in Fenecia’s family believes the claims

5. So…
What do these changes suggest about how Shakespeare wanted his audience to react to this storyline?

6. Beatrice and Benedick
No obvious source – Shakespeare’s own invention? (Told you he was awesome)
Two closest possible sources:
John Lyly – romantic plots with well-matched, eloquent lovers.
Castiglioni’s “The Courtier” - includes good-humoured banter between the sexes and courtly conversation.

7. Links to other plays FALSE accusations of female infidelity
Othello, Cymbeline, The Winter’s Tale
ALL deal with the supposed or actual death of the accused woman
Sparring/warring lovers
The Taming of the Shrew
Eloquent/verbose women
Katarina in Shrew, Viola in 12th Night, Rosalind in As You Like It

8. Recurring themes/motifs
Deceptions
Loyalty
The position of women
“tricks” (these may appear as a range of things - disguises, secrets, eavsdroppings and misunderstandings)
Make notes as you go – we will stop and discuss