5.2.2
Key Lines
Benedick
Benedick
There is a clear sense of comedy at the beginning of this scene, created through the male characters mockery of Benedick's change of character in the face of his love for Beatrice.
Key line
Key line
- BENEDICK: Gallants, I am not as I have been.
Mockery
Mockery
- Despite Benedick’s attempt to justify his decision to love Beatrice through the fact he didn’t think he would live long enough to marry, the audience can sense that he is being (deservedly) mocked by his friends.
Comedy
Comedy
- There is a clear sense of comedy here, and this serves the dramatic function of contrasting with the sharp change in mood and atmosphere that follows Don John’s arrival.
Don John
Don John
Shakespeare illustrates Don John’s Machiavellian character through his tentative language.
Key line
Key line
- DON JOHN: You may think I love you not. Let that appear hereafter
Machiavellian actions
Machiavellian actions
- Shakespeare illustrates Don John’s Machiavellian character through his tentative language.
- The audience are fully aware of his true feelings towards Claudio having been privy to his conversations with Borachio and Conrade.
Appearances and deception
Appearances and deception
- Don John’s use of “appear” also seems deliberately manipulative in light of the lack of concrete proof he will present to Claudio and the key theme of appearances and deception.
Key line
Key line
- DON JOHN: Leonato’s Hero, your Hero, every man’s Hero.
Objectification of women
Objectification of women
- The possessive language again illustrates the concept the women were objectified in the Elizabethan era, belonging first to their fathers and later their husbands.
Syntax
Syntax
- The syntax (word order) is significant here as Don John ends with “every man’s Hero”, insinuating that Hero has had many sexual partners.
Claudio
Claudio
- Claudio is sandwiched between these other men and Leonato, highlighting the fact that he should be the one to take Hero’s virginity following their marriage but he is too late.
1Key Terminology
1.1Key Terminology
2Structure & Form
3Act 1: Plot Summary
3.2Act 1, Scene 2
3.3Act 1, Scene 3
4Act 2: Plot Summary
4.1Act 2, Scene 1
4.2Act 2, Scene 2
5Act 3: Plot Summary
5.1Act 3, Scene 1
5.2Act 3, Scene 2
5.3Act 3, Scene 3
5.4Act 3, Scene 4
5.5Act 3, Scene 5
6Act 4: Plot Summary
6.1Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 1)
6.2Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 2)
6.3Act 4, Scene 2
7Act 5: Plot Summary
7.1Act 5, Scene 1
7.2Act 5, Scene 2
7.3Act 5, Scene 3
7.4Act 5, Scene 4
Jump to other topics
1Key Terminology
1.1Key Terminology
2Structure & Form
3Act 1: Plot Summary
3.2Act 1, Scene 2
3.3Act 1, Scene 3
4Act 2: Plot Summary
4.1Act 2, Scene 1
4.2Act 2, Scene 2
5Act 3: Plot Summary
5.1Act 3, Scene 1
5.2Act 3, Scene 2
5.3Act 3, Scene 3
5.4Act 3, Scene 4
5.5Act 3, Scene 5
6Act 4: Plot Summary
6.1Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 1)
6.2Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 2)
6.3Act 4, Scene 2
7Act 5: Plot Summary
7.1Act 5, Scene 1
7.2Act 5, Scene 2
7.3Act 5, Scene 3
7.4Act 5, Scene 4
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