Summary

Act 3, Scene 1

In a scene with many parallels to the tricking of Benedick, Beatrice is also deceived into falling in love with Benedick.

Deception

As in Act 2, Scene 3, the deception here involves three characters: Hero, Ursula and Margaret.
Margaret’s role is relatively minor, mirroring her unknowing participation in Don John’s villainous deception later in this act.

"Slander"

Hero takes the role of Don Pedro as the lead participant in the trick.
She shows a much more confident and assertive side to her character who will “devise some honest slander (lies)” about Beatrice to help Benedick cope with his ‘love’ for Beatrice.
There is an sad irony in her use of “slander” as she herself will soon fall victim to the lies of Borachio and Don John.

Fishing metaphors

The language used in this scene mirrors that of Act 2, Scene 3.
Claudio, when tricking Benedick tells the other to “bait the hook well”.
In Act 3, Scene 1, a similar fishing metaphor is used as Ursula confidently tells Hero that their words have worked and they have “caught” Beatrice.

Closing soliloquy

Ursula is proven correct as once they exit the scene, Beatrice (in a similar structure to Benedick in the previous scene) delivers a soliloquy of her own.
She bids farewell to her maiden pride and tells Benedick to “love on: I will requite thee.”

Well matched

Beatrice's language also mirrors Benedick - another indication by Shakespeare of how well suited these characters are for one another.

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

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