Shakespeare wrote many of his plays to discuss and criticise the society he lived in and the strict regulations that were attached to it. Much Ado About Nothing is a romantic comedy. Without detracting from the obvious frivolity that the audience can see on stage, the play invokes many issues about courtship and marriage and Shakespeare deals with them, Shakespeare uses love and relationships to closely examine and comment on how relationships developed in the society he lived in. Love is the prevalent theme through the play, with the younger characters all in love. The title of the play,...
in its own foil - the ideals of courtly love. As William Kittredge said that "courtly love must involve a love that is extremely idealised and superficial, with the vassal or servant-like suitor, who is often a valiant knight, devoting himself completely to an ideal woman who is often the daughter of a powerful man." The true relationship of Beatrice and Benedick compared to the relationship of Claudio and Hero, gives the reader not only a better understanding of the power of the literary foil, but also a foil into which that reader can reflect and better understand himself.