To Be and Not To Seem in Much Ado About Nothing - Literature Essay Samples

Many characters in Shakespeares plays disguise themselves in one way or another. An important component of many of the his plays is the masked revels. A character adopting a new outward persona is not at all unusual. This use of contrasting the apparent versus the real is put to very good use in Much Ado About Nothing, a play that greatly concerns itself with how human beings must struggle through life by dealing with the question of what is genuine and what is false. This struggle often takes the form of comic invention as shown in the subplot of Benedick and Beatrice, who start off the play by disguising their true feelings for one another through barbed ripostes aimed directly at the other. Much Ado About Nothing is a work of literature that considers the question of whether human beings are capable of dealing with the rest of the world in a totally honest way, or rather has the human race managed to exist as long as it has by welcoming even embracing some forms of deception.You seem to me as Dian in her orb / As chaste as is the bud ere it be blown; / But you are more intemperate in your blood / Than Venus, or those pamperd animals / That rage in savage sensuality (385-386). Claudio directs this to the woman that he was to marry. These are the words of a man who has considered himself deceived, and at first glance it might seem as though they are fitting. Upon closer examination, however, it becomes readily apparent that it was Claudio who was deceiving himself all along. Diana is an important allusion because she is emblematic of virginity. Claudio has wished for himself a maiden untouched by sin. The question arises, how could he ever have known whether Hero fit that picture of his perfect bride? He has hardly ever spoken to the woman and came home from a battle to seemingly fall deeply in love almost at first sight. Claudio knows nothing about Hero except that she is pleasing to his eye. Upon her he imprinted all the expected qualities he demands in a flawless wife. His choice of Hero was made with the expectations of what she seemed to be and with hardly any consideration of what she might actually be. He has deceived himself into thinking that Hero will fit his ideal image and when that image is shattered, he falls to pieces and instead imprints upon her all the qualities that he would despise in a wife. Claudio declaims, Hero itself can blot out Heros virtue (386). Yet it is not Heros true virtue that is in question, but rather Claudios vision of what Heros virtue should be and therefore would be. Everything that Claudio does is marked by his deception of himself that he knew exactly what Hero was like. She was like his idealized image and nothing else. She was certainly not like her own real image, because he had no idea what that image was, having never taken the time to sit down and find out what kind of person Hero was. Claudio lives by the rule that one lives their life how it appears to be and not how it really is. For t his, he pays dearly, yet he seems even after the violent wedding scene to be content, if not downright happy. Claudio still resides in his own lie to himself. Hero failed to match up to Claudios expectations, but he can carry on without her because he has already set out for himself to live as he lived before, living in his own falsely calculated perceptions. Thus, he can continue with Don Pedro the baiting and hooking of Benedick, while thinking that Hero is dead. Claudio is well at home in his self-deception of a simple black and white world. When he is to marry Hero again, it is through those eyes fogged over with a cloudy vision he calls clear. Other people exist in a world they create for themselves, never giving thought to the concept that they are not nearly what they think of themselves as being. The appearances of Dogberry, Verges and the constabulary of Messina give this idea form. Here exist men who to all inward perspective are the epitome of the correct manner of being a law enforcement officer. Dogberry and Verges both look upon themselves and each other as being the highest degree possible in a policeman. They are doing their job and they are doing it most extremely well. If not, why would they still have their jobs? It is clear, however, that their seeming has no direct relation to their actual being. In Act III, scene 3, it becomes obvious that Dogberry and Verges are completely inept. Through a series of catechisms, they both reveal themselves to be almost completely in ignorance of the right manner of going about their police work.If a man will not stand in the Princes name, then release him and thank God youre rid of the knave. (381)If people who have been drinking too heavily will not get to bed, then let them be until they are no longer drunk. (382)On and on it goes until one can no longer take seriously any police-like value in the characters. Yet, Dogberry and Verges are still of the opinion that they are above reproach. They live their lives in sweet, beautiful ignorance, never letting the whispers and tongues of the rest of the world threaten their wonderful bliss. This is a condition in which many people live. This is the kind of life that cannot be beaten down with the mere formality of external reality. Their view of their lives has been fashioned by their own corrupted minds to the point where even if they knew it was a lie, there would still be no threat of changing things. As Dogberry says of himself, I am a wise fellow, and which is more, an officer (389). The man who thinks himself wise can never let a thing like doubt cloud his judgment. For these types of people, reality is as reality does.Then there are those people who are aware of their own falsity, but are so at home within it that they wont easily let themselves be brought out into the reality fashioned by what they hide inside. Benedick and Beatrice fit perfectly into this arena. Both are strong characters, probably the most entertaining characte rs in the entire play. They are both clever and witty to the extreme while also being selfish almost beyond all hope. What each of them wants is exactly what they are disguising themselves to be away from: happily wedded bliss. They certainly seem on the outside to desire nothing more from each other than the occasional entertaining battle of humorous repartee. Inside, however, lies their actual being, two characters who are lonesome for human contact that doesnt rely on their intelligence but rather on simple human emotions. They embrace this deception because life would be too hard if they were to reveal their genuine selves. Benedick revels in his own lies and cant allow himself to think what he might be should he drop the veil. One woman is wise, yet I am well; another virtuous, yet I am well (376). Benedick may truly believe these words as he speaks them, but its more probable that he is constructing yet more walls between his outward appearance and what lies beneath. What lies beneath is not the tyranny of his sex which he says he believes in, but rather a simple adult male who desires the company of an adult woman. His fear of marriage is a false front which he engages at every turn. He enjoys the front hes presenting while knowing it is a lie. Similarly, Beatrice enjoys the lie while hiding the truth. She is just as tyrannous about her sex as Benedick is about his, but when forced into a situation she had not planned on, she is as helpless as Benedick in facing up to the principle of letting her hidden self be revealed. Stand I condemnd for pride and scorn so much? / Contempt, farewell, and maiden pride, adieu! (380). She doesnt know how to react because the false front has been lowered and shes forced to deal with the hard issues of whats inside and not with the soft issues of what she has thus far presented. Both Benedick and Beatrice can both be misconstrued as caricatures if one takes into account only their witty terrorizing of one another. Their characters take on dimension when seen in the light that they are individuals who put forward a disingenuous personality while keeping their honest emotions close to the heart. They accept the view that its better to live in deception than be courageous and show the world how they really feel. Even after admitting how they feel, they instantly backtrack to their old ways at the end the play. That false front they have been showing is too comfortable to give up completely. Its highly probable that their marriage turns into a constant replay of their best matches of wits. Its doubtful that Benedick and Beatrice will ever turn into a Claudio and Hero, filled with love. The marriage of Benedick and Beatrice will probably not be only a constant battle of wits, but a constant battle to lower their defenses and live the truth instead of the lie. Much Ado About Nothing contains repeated references to seeming and being. Taking place shortly after the beginning of the play is a dance where th e participants wear masks, most of whom pretend to be other people hidden behind the mask. Hero is said to be dead when actually she is very much alive. The play contains a host of images leading one to question what is genuine and what is counterfeit. The theme of the play questions whether it is preferable to live a life knowing there is deception in the world or should one struggle perhaps vainly with the quest for all truth all the time. The answer is a simple one. Deception exists in the world and is often a positive thing; it lets people live their lives more simply and with fewer complications, as ironic as that may seem. Works CitedShakespeare, William. Much Ado About Nothing. The Riverside Shakespeare. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1997. 366-396.

15 Best Bachelor’s in Public Health Online 2020

If you’re looking to get into a meaningful program where you can tackle real-world issues, then the best bachelor’s in public health may be the path for you.   The main focus of the public health field is to improve the wellbeing of both individuals and communities. Public healthcare professionals are in high demand these days, as many underserved groups are facing physical and mental healthcare issues. With this degree, you’ll be able to tackle these types of issues. The public health field is a combination of natural sciences, politics, and communications. You’ll learn the theoretical knowledge as well as the practical training it takes to pursue a career in public health. You’ll apply this knowledge to your fieldwork, laboratory practice, and internship experiences. What is a Public Health Degree? In this program, you’ll learn how to improve the health of individuals and society by promoting healthy lifestyles, controlling infectious diseases, and injury and disease prevention. You will learn how to discover, monitor, and treat healthcare issues. One of the main skills you’ll learn is research training. This includes learning how to come up with effective research questions, doing experiments, and analyzing and presenting your results.   Some classes you may take in this field include: Population HealthInfectious Diseases in SocietyData Analysis in Public HealthHealthcare Delivery Systems There are certain requirements you must meet in order to apply for this program. You’ll definitely need your high school diploma or GED. Most colleges require a GPA of at least 2.0. You will need to submit a personal statement that includes your goals and interests and how they line up with the school’s. Some programs require that you have some experience in the field, either by your work experience or prerequisite courses. Careers for Public Health Majors There are several potential career paths for public health care majors. If you choose to be a health educator, then your duties may vary by your work environment. If you’re a health educator for a college, then your duties would include creating programs specifically targeted toward young adults, like alcohol use and smoking. In the nonprofit industry, you would create programs specific to the community whom you’re serving. Those who work in public departments focus on public health campaigns, such as immunizations, stress management, or proper nutrition. If you work in private businesses then you’ll create programs to improve health based on the health problems of the employees. Working in a healthcare facility means that you work individually with patients or with their families.   If you decide to become a community healthcare worker, then you’ll need to fully study your community in order to serve them properly. You must research the data and find the health concerns of people in the community.   Public Health Salary Potential Your potential salary will definitely have an impact on the degree program you choose. So how much can you actually earn with a bachelor’s in public health? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average salary for community health workers was $39,540 as of 2018. The median salary for health educators was $54,220. The highest 10 percent of community health workers earned a salary of more than $65,890 per year. Entry-level community health workers earn a salary of $33,199 according to Payscale. The highest 10 percent of health educators earned more than $98,530 per year. Entry-level health educators earned $44,710 per year.   There are several different certifications and licenses that this degree prepares you for. This includes the CBIC Initial Certification, NBPHE Certified in Public Health, ACRP Certified Clinical Research Associate certification, CDR Certification Programs, and NCHEC Certified Health Education Specialist certification. What are the Best Public Health Degrees? We know that you have educational goals that you’re itching to pursue, but you may not know where to start. The editors of CollegeRank utilize a unique ranking methodology based on the following three aspects: 40% Potential Salary After Graduation: Average mid-career salary of school alumni   30% Institutional Accreditation: Regional and National Accreditation for the 2019-2020 school year   30% Overall Degree Affordability: Average cost of undergraduate and graduate tuition per school At CollegeRank, we strive to do our best to guide you and your family toward a fruitful academic career. The pursuit of knowledge is a noble one, and we want to help you reach your goals. For questions, comments, badge downloads, or data corrections, please feel free to reach out to us at editor@collegerank.net. 1University of South Florida-Main CampusLocationTampa, FloridaAverage Net Price$11,766More Information Studying at the University of South Florida has its benefits when it comes to campus life. The school is located just a mile from Busch Gardens and Adventure Island, and just over an hour from Walt Disney World. A bachelor’s degree in public health teaches students about the critical issues surrounding the health industry, including public health programs and policies, global health, epidemiology, biostatistics, and environmental health. As part of the 120-credit online program, students must take 30 core credits that focus on all aspects of the public health field. Students must also take 12 credit hours of foundational skills courses, which include the option of a public health seminar and studying abroad. Applicants must submit official transcripts and SAT and ACT test scores to the office of admissions as part of the required documentation. USF ranks No. 1 in the nation as the Top Public Health Program, according to its website.