4.3.1

Summary

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Act 2, Scene 3

In contrast to his half-brother’s malevolent (evil) plot, Don Pedro tricks Benedick into falling in love with Beatrice, aided by Claudio and Leonato.

Opening soliloquy

Opening soliloquy

  • The scene begins with a soliloquy from Benedick.
  • He is disappointed in the changes he sees in Claudio since he fell in love.
  • However, unlike the “profess’d tyrant to their sex” of Act 1, Benedick appears more open to the possibility of falling in love himself.
  • This creates dramatic irony for the audience as we know what Don Pedro is planning.
Comic scene

Comic scene

  • This is a largely comic scene as Benedick attempts to hide and eavesdrop on the conversation between Don Pedro, Claudio and Leonato.
  • All the way through the scene, they are fully aware of where he is - as are the audience.
  • It is almost as if we are involved in the deception.
Eavesdropping

Eavesdropping

  • Benedick learns how the others have ‘learnt’ of Beatrice’s love for him via Hero.
  • This helps convince him that what they have discussed is genuine, as does the fact that Leonato is involved.
  • Part of trick involves criticising Benedick and his proud nature.
  • They will not tell him of Beatrice’s ‘love’ for fear he will make fun of her.
Blank verse

Blank verse

  • As intended, Benedick responds as intended to the “bait” and resolves to be “horribly in love” with Beatrice.
  • When she is sent to call him into dinner, he addresses her much more politely as “Fair Beatrice”, in contrast to “Lady Disdain.”
  • He also greets her in blank verse rather than prose.
Ending soliloquy

Ending soliloquy

  • In a humorous attempt to save face (embarrassment) Benedick in another soliloquy at the end of the scene states that the reason he swore to be a bachelor was that “I did not think I should live till I were married.”
  • He accepts his friends will likely make fun of him for his change in attitude towards love, as they do in Act 3, Scene 2.
Jump to other topics
1

Key Terminology

1.1

Key Terminology

1.1.1Key Terminology1.1.2End of Topic Test - Key Terminology
2

Structure & Form

2.1

Structure

2.1.1Structure2.1.2Acts 1 - 32.1.3Acts 4 - 5
2.2

Form

2.2.1Tragicomedy2.2.2End of Topic Test - Structure & Form
3

Act 1: Plot Summary

3.1

Act 1, Scene 1

3.1.1Summary3.1.2Key Lines3.1.3Key Lines 23.1.4End of Topic Test - Act 1, Scene 1
3.2

Act 1, Scene 2

3.2.1Summary3.2.2Key Lines
3.3

Act 1, Scene 3

3.3.1Summary3.3.2Key Lines3.3.3End of Topic Test - Act 1, Scenes 2-3
4

Act 2: Plot Summary

4.1

Act 2, Scene 1

4.1.1Summary4.1.2Key Lines4.1.3Key Lines 24.1.4Key Lines 34.1.5End of Topic Test - Act 2, Scene 1
4.2

Act 2, Scene 2

4.2.1Summary
4.3

Act 2, Scene 3

4.3.1Summary4.3.2Key Lines4.3.3Key Lines 24.3.4End of Topic Test - Act 2, Scenes 2-3
5

Act 3: Plot Summary

5.1

Act 3, Scene 1

5.1.1Summary5.1.2Key Lines
5.2

Act 3, Scene 2

5.2.1Summary5.2.2Key Lines
5.3

Act 3, Scene 3

5.3.1Summary
5.4

Act 3, Scene 4

5.4.1Summary
5.5

Act 3, Scene 5

5.5.1Summary5.5.2End of Topic Test - Act 3
6

Act 4: Plot Summary

6.1

Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 1)

6.1.1Summary6.1.2Key Lines6.1.3Key Lines 2
6.2

Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 2)

6.2.1Summary6.2.2Key Lines6.2.3Key Lines 2
6.3

Act 4, Scene 2

6.3.1Summary6.3.2End of Topic Test - Act 4
7

Act 5: Plot Summary

7.1

Act 5, Scene 1

7.1.1Summary
7.2

Act 5, Scene 2

7.2.1Summary7.2.2Key Lines
7.3

Act 5, Scene 3

7.3.1Summary
7.4

Act 5, Scene 4

7.4.1Summary7.4.2End of Topic Test - Act 5
8

Key Themes

8.1

Key Themes

8.1.1Love & Marriage8.1.2Deception, Appearances & Noting8.1.3Gender8.1.4Reputation8.1.5End of Topic Test - Key Themes
9

Recap: Main Quotes

9.1

Characters Quotes

9.1.1Beatrice9.1.2Beatrice 29.1.3Benedick 19.1.4Benedick 29.1.5Benedick 39.1.6Benedick 49.1.7Benedick 59.1.8Beatrice & Benedick9.1.9Beatrice & Benedick 29.1.10Beatrice & Benedick 39.1.11Claudio9.1.12Claudio 29.1.13Claudio & Benedick9.1.14Don John9.1.15Don John 29.1.16Don Pedro9.1.17Hero9.1.18Leonato9.1.19Leonato & Messanger
9.2

Text Structure - Quotes

9.2.1Deception, Appearances & Noting9.2.2Gender9.2.3Reputation

Practice questions on Summary

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Events of Act 2, Scene 3Put in order
  2. 2
    In his final soliloquy, what reason does Benedick give for swearing to be a bachelor?Multiple choice
  3. 3
    Why do Don Pedro, Claudio and Leonato pretend that they will not tell Benedick of Beatrice's 'love' for him?Multiple choice
  4. 4
    What is the purpose of Benedick's opening soliloquy in Act 2, Scene 3?Multiple choice
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Summary

Key Lines