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.

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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.

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