Much Ado About Nothing: A Comedy or Tragedy? Azeemah B L Jaulim 12th Grade

‘Much Ado About Nothing’ is a captivating Shakespearean play which leaves the audience naturally puzzled over its genre. We keep pondering throughout the scenes whether its plot is a comedy or a tragedy. While the unfolding events underscore severe issues and a sense of repressed catharsis, Shakespeare wittily masks these elements with a comedic approach- giving us a lasting impression of the plot. Whether the play is more serious than expected of a comedy is yet to be discussed.

The title ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ itself suggests a sense of comedic triviality. In fact, a knowledgeable audience would appreciate that the word “nothing” was an Elizabethan euphemism for the female genitalia. It suggests that the dramatist is poking fun at the fuss generated by the male desire to gain approval of the female “nothing.” Indeed, the dramatis personae pun bawdily on it, often even linking it to “will”- another euphemism of the era to denote a phallic image and thereby the male desire. This comic element is thus highlighted by the sense of primitivity portrayed in the hidden meanings. Humanity crudely depicted as animals (males and females) is given a whole new dimension of humour to Aristotle’s notion of a man being a ‘social animal.’...