Character Map

Word Choice-Jeain

While reading the play, I noticed Shakespeare's choice of words for each character in the book. It seemed to me that the language was made entirely for English professors. Every character had a strong hold of the English language, and would speak almost effortlessly. I believe the word choice used is solely because of the time period in which it was written. The robust vocabulary creates an environment full of upper class characters who's biggest problem is who they like. I think this makes for an interesting story, and it was done on purpose so that the upper class of the time would be attending Shakespeare's plays.

Dogberry-John Michael

This story had only one character that stuck out to me. Dogberry is such an important character to the story. I hate that his role was so short, he deserved a bigger part in the story. According to the character analysis at the beginning of my book, he is a middle class character who tries to speak like a nobleman. Rather than giggle at the character's inability to form a sensible sentence, I feel only the utmost sympathy for this guy. He tries so hard to do his job right and pursue criminals, and the only reason it doesn't work is because he can only say the opposite of what he means. Maybe Shakespeare was using him as a symbol for what the law was like back in his day: although they were passionate and put their job above everything else, their class kept them from doing their job right.

Story Overview-Tyler B.

This play was a simple collection of love stories. I would believe it to be the very first romantic comedy. It set the mold for every funny love story ever made. It has everything the modern romantic comedy has: a cuple who often argues with one another (Beatrice & Benedick), a person who tries to stop them for their own greedy purposes (Don John), and a different cuple that models the "perfect relationship" (Claudio & Hero). It even has a relateble comic relief character (Dogberry). It bothers me to think that this mold was set over 400 years ago, and screenwriters are recycling this over and over again. I wish that the writers would get more creative and set their own molds for the genres they write for. I'm wonder just how many of Shakespeare's stories have been modified and copied into modern entertenment.

A Look on the Impact of the Story-by Cameron Waggoner

The time at which this story takes place is of much relevance to an in-depth analysis of it's meaning. When this story was written, women were expected to be completely beside their husbands in whatever affair he chose to engage in, no matter her opinion on the matter. In other words, they weren't given a lot of 'wiggle room' to do as they please. This would include things like being able to speak out or hold a leadership position. Shakespeare completely defies this ideal, and gives the women in this play (although I hear that he's done it in other plays as well) a role where they speak out often and even against men. While this may not have solved anything immediately, it did a good job of subtly giving the idea that a woman can do much of what a man can do. It's the little things like this that cause equal opportunity employment (and will likely get rid of the glass ceiling in white collar jobs in a matter of years). In fact, it is suggested often that many of Shakespeare's plays inspired the Queen of his time to deliver great speeches that were not expected of women at the time.