Key Lines

Beatrice

BEATRICE: Not until God make men of some other metal than earth. Would it not grieve a woman to be overmastered with a piece of valiant dust?

Biblical imagery

Here, Beatrice uses Biblical imagery and the idea that God created Adam from the earth to question the idea that men are viewed in society as superior to women.

“valiant”

The use of the adjective “valiant” is ironic - particularly in light of the way Claudio (a brave, courageous - “valiant” soldier) treats Hero in this scene when he wrongly believes Don John’s lies.

Equality of the sexes

The verb “overmastered” highlights Beatrice’s (and possibly Shakespeare’s) belief in equality between the sexes: one should not outrank the other.

Claudio

CLAUDIO: Tis certain so. The Prince woos for himself [...] beauty is a witch.

Key line

CLAUDIO: Tis certain so. The Prince woos for himself [...] beauty is a witch.

Definitive language

Claudio’s language here is definitive (“Tis certain”) showing just how easily he can be manipulated by Don John.

Deception and appearances

The use of the metaphor “Beauty is a witch” relates again to the theme of deception and appearances.
Claudio feels he has been duped by Hero’s attractiveness, as though she has lured him by casting a spell over him.

Witchcraft

The misogyny of a patriarchal society is no better illustrated through the persecution of women who were accused of witchcraft in the 16th and 17th century.
Many innocent victims were burned at the stake, drowned or stoned to death simply because they were accused of being witches and were unable to provide evidence to the contrary.

1Key Terminology

1.1Key Terminology

1.1.1Key Terminology

1.1.2End of Topic Test - Key Terminology

2Structure & Form

2.1Structure

2.1.1Structure

2.1.2Acts 1 - 3

2.1.3Acts 4 - 5

2.2Form

2.2.1Tragicomedy

2.2.2End of Topic Test - Structure & Form

3Act 1: Plot Summary

3.1Act 1, Scene 1

3.1.1Summary

3.1.2Key Lines

3.1.3Key Lines 2

3.1.4End of Topic Test - Act 1, Scene 1

3.2Act 1, Scene 2

3.2.1Summary

3.2.2Key Lines

3.3Act 1, Scene 3

3.3.1Summary

3.3.2Key Lines

3.3.3End of Topic Test - Act 1, Scenes 2-3

4Act 2: Plot Summary

4.1Act 2, Scene 1

4.1.1Summary

4.1.2Key Lines

4.1.3Key Lines 2

4.1.4Key Lines 3

4.1.5End of Topic Test - Act 2, Scene 1

4.2Act 2, Scene 2

4.2.1Summary

4.3Act 2, Scene 3

4.3.1Summary

4.3.2Key Lines

4.3.3Key Lines 2

4.3.4End of Topic Test - Act 2, Scenes 2-3

5Act 3: Plot Summary

5.1Act 3, Scene 1

5.1.1Summary

5.1.2Key Lines

5.2Act 3, Scene 2

5.2.1Summary

5.2.2Key Lines

5.3Act 3, Scene 3

5.3.1Summary

5.4Act 3, Scene 4

5.4.1Summary

5.5Act 3, Scene 5

5.5.1Summary

5.5.2End of Topic Test - Act 3

6Act 4: Plot Summary

6.1Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 1)

6.1.1Summary

6.1.2Key Lines

6.1.3Key Lines 2

6.2Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 2)

6.2.1Summary

6.2.2Key Lines

6.2.3Key Lines 2

6.3Act 4, Scene 2

6.3.1Summary

6.3.2End of Topic Test - Act 4

7Act 5: Plot Summary

7.1Act 5, Scene 1

7.1.1Summary

7.2Act 5, Scene 2

7.2.1Summary

7.2.2Key Lines

7.3Act 5, Scene 3

7.3.1Summary

7.4Act 5, Scene 4

7.4.1Summary

7.4.2End of Topic Test - Act 5

8Key Themes

8.1Key Themes

8.1.1Love & Marriage

8.1.2Deception, Appearances & Noting

8.1.3Gender

8.1.4Reputation

8.1.5End of Topic Test - Key Themes

Jump to other topics