Sexism In Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing

Sexism is something most women have dealt with in their lifetime, but in the 16th Century, they were treated as slaves. In Shakespeare’s play, Much Ado About Nothing multiple social commentaries are brought to light. In order to help show injustice on woman, a musical will show how women were not allowed to make choices, they were abused, and they were treated as objects. Women’s lives were in the hands of men. As people grow older, they are allowed freedom of choice, and a larger range of responsibilities, but women did not get that. In the play, women were not able to choose who to marry and live with for the rest of their lives. In one scene, Hero is talking to her father, and he tells her “… if the prince does solicit you in the kind, …show more content…
This is wrong though because a musical shows scenes as more dramatic, which is what it needs. In the play, Hero’s chastity was challenged by Claudio, who at one point calls her a “rotten orange” (4.1.31). If it wasn’t shown as a musical, people wouldn’t understand this reference, or what Claudio is really saying about her. As a musical, both humor and context clues can be added in to give it more appeal. In the 1993 film adaptation, they show Leonato and Claudio berating Hero. Hero doesn’t try to speak, and it just shows them talking and yelling. If it was a musical, it could have Hero portrayed as trying to stick up for herself, and being shut down, which makes more sense in the end. Music also adds an extra layer you otherwise wouldn’t be able to achieve. According to sonicbids “…more likely to conjure real emotion in your listeners, because it has images that people can relate to.” (Harrison, 2016) Although music is included in the original play, real emotions cannot be felt as strongly as if it was being sung. People will feel more empathy for the women, instead of the men. A musical is the best choice for bringing to light the inequality of women and men. A musical highlights inequality between men and women in the play because it shows how women couldn’t make decisions, they were abused with no consequences, and they were treated as objects/slaves. People have to see how women were treated and still are today. In order to provoke the strong emotions needed to show this social commentary, it has to be a musical. Many people might think how these men act is barbaric. Except, when it is thought about, could it really be that different from today's