William Shakespeare - Much Ado About Nothing

Shakespeare ist, auch wenn das schrecklich abgekaut erscheinen mag, einer der ganz Großen. Ein brillianter Unterhalter. Ein famoser Menschenkenner. Ein geistreicher Wortspieler (sowohl oberhalb als auch unterhalb der Gürtellinie).

Konfrontiert mit seinem halben dramatischen Werk (ein herzlicher Dank hier an Herrn L. und sein eindrucksvolles Seminar) würde ich rückblickend sagen...mmmh...mein unangefochtenes Lieblingsstück ist eine Komödie. Und um die vordergründige Banalität dieses Statements noch zu steigern: Eine Liebeskomödie.

Warum? Wegen der grandiosen Wortgefechte natürlich.

Das Internet ist voller Zusammenfassungen, darum verweigere ich diesen Leserservice an dieser Stelle und springe direkt zu den Zitaten. Und um es kurz zu machen...wem das gefällt, dem gefällt auch der Rest. Dann heißt es ab in den Buchladen, Reclams zweisprachige oder Penguins einsprachige besorgen. Einen Sessel besetzen. Ein Heißgetränk nach Wahl bereitstellen. Und etwas über die Wortgewalt der Liebe lernen.

beginnen wir mit Komödie (mit etwas Liebe):

"Claudio: Benedick, didst thou note the daughter of Signior Leonato?
Benedick: I noted her not; but I looked on her.
Claudio: Is she not a modest young lady?
Benedick: Do you question me, as an honest man should do, for my simple true judgment; or would you have me speak after my custom, as being a professed tyrant to their sex?
Claudio: No; I pray thee speak in sober judgment.
Benedick: Why, i' faith, methinks she's too low for a high praise, too brown for a fair praise and too little for a great praise: only this commendation I can afford her, that were she other than she is, she were unhandsome; and being no other but as she is, I do not like her.
Claudio: Thou thinkest I am in sport: I pray thee tell me truly how thou likest her.
Benedick: Would you buy her, that you inquire after her?
Claudio: Can the world buy such a jewel?
Benedick: Yea, and a case to put it into. But speak you this with a sad brow?
Claudio: In mine eye she is the sweetest lady that ever I looked on.
Benedick: I can see yet without spectacles and I see no such matter: there's her cousin, an she were not possessed with a fury, exceeds her as much in beauty as the first of May doth the last of December. But I hope you have no intent to turn husband, have you?
Claudio: I would scarce trust myself, though I had sworn the contrary, if Hero would be my wife.
Benedick: Is't come to this? Shall I never see a bachelor of three-score again?"

und enden mit Liebe (und etwas Komödie):

"Benedick: I pray thee now tell me, for which of my bad parts didst thou first fall in love with me?
Beatrice: For them all together, which maintained so politic a state of evil that they will not admit any good part to intermingle with them: but for which of my good parts did you first suffer love for me?
Benedick: Suffer love. a good epithet, I do suffer love indeed, for I love thee against my will.
Beatrice: In spite of your heart, I think. Alas poor heart, if you spite it for my sake, I will spite it for yours, for I will never love that which my friend hates
Benedick: Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably."