Why does this play resonate with a contemporary audience?
The play Much ado about nothing is relevant to contemporary audience and society because it encompasses themes that relate to our lives in the situations we may face, and the emotions we may feel. The play contains many themes that are relevant to our modern context, fundamental ones such as Love, betrayal, deception, dishonesty but also more complicated themes such as the battle of the genders, moral dilemmas, noting, human nature, rumor and so on.
One key themes of Much Ado about nothing, which is probably the most basic of themes, is love. We see the theme of love portrayed in the quote “I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest”. The Quote shows us the passion within the characters for each other, and relates to modern context because all of us experience this passionate love in our lives, whether it be for our parents, hobbies, pets, friends or partners. This shows us that one of the most key themes resonates with a contemporary audience.
Another key theme of Much ado about nothing, which is a more complicated theme, which is the battle of the genders. We see this in the quote "That a woman conceived me, I thank her; that she Brought me up, I likewise give her most humble thanks: But that I will have a recheat winded in my forehead, or hang my bugle In an invisible baldrick, all women shall pardon me. Because I will not do them the wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none; and the fine is, for the which I may go the finer, I will live a bachelor”. The quote gives us an insight into one of the main characters ideas about the opposite sex, who is Benedict, who does not hold women in high esteem, and in the quote explains that he thanks his mother for having him and bringing him up, but does not see women to be of any use to him, apart from sleeping with them, he also states that he does not trust them, and does not want to fall in love, so clearly this key masculine character has little respect for women. This relates to the battle of the genders, and the competition between them, and the esteem they hold each other in. the way in which it resonates with contemporary audiences is because we see this battle of the genders to be a constant debate in our society, We see it with job positions/opportunities, wages, divorces, child care and so on. The them battle of the genders is another theme that helps the play to resonate with a contemporary audience.
In conclusion this play resonates with a contemporary audience, because of the relevant themes it constantly portrays throughout it.
