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Essay / Shakespeare, intending for his plays to be performed and published, included the idea of trial by combat in many of his works. In his time, men valued their honor. Based on their friendships and alliances, the English defended this honor in battle. Because the audience enjoyed the action of one character fighting another, the writer included several duels in his literary works. Shakespeare's play Much Ado About Nothing reflects the history, philosophy and offenses marked by a duel; His characters' conflicts reflect the duels that were common in Renaissance Europe. The art of dueling began when a treaty between France and Spain failed in 1526. Once the sport spread from Spain and France to England and the rest of the Europe, it has become a popular form of protection against attackers. The duels were structured around three types: state, judicial and duel of honor (Davis). All involved military men and men of stature, as women were not considered worthy of facing an enemy. In fact, women were rarely the cause of private disagreements (Mehaffey). Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing is one of the rare duels provoked by a woman “…You killed my child. If you kill me, my boy, you will kill a man. » Leonato was trying to make Claudio feel even worse by saying that he should kill him in this duel so that he can say that he killed a man and a child (Shakespeare 5.1.88 -89). Additionally, the sport was taught in special schools where teachers called "Weapon Masters" trained citizens and actors to develop proper techniques. In these schools, men were taught that their sword was part of their clothing and defined him as a man (Davis). Claudio in the Elizabethan era went to one of the schools that taught ...... middle of paper ......ies in the Italian Renaissance. (1997). Online. JSTOR. April 8, 2014.ch%3FQuery%3Dduel%2Brenaissance%2Boffense%26amp%3Bprq%3Ddueling%2Brenaissance%26amp%3Bhp%3D25%26amp%3Bacc%3Don%26amp%3Bwc%3Don%26amp%3Bfc%3Doff%26amp%3Bso % 3Drel%26amp%3Bracc%3Doff&resultItemClick=true&Search=yes&searchText=duel&searchText=renaissance&searchText=offense&uid=3739920&uid=2&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21103953477977>Mehaffey, Karen. “Duel” Dictionary of American History. (2003). Online. Gale Student Resource Center. April 8, 2014. Shakespeare, William. Much ado for nothing. New York: Simon & Schuster Paperback, 1995. Print.Wilson, William. “Philosophy of the Duel”. Philosophy of Dueling. NP, 2007. Web. April 10.2014.
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