5.5.1

Summary

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Act 3, Scene 5

Dogberry fails to inform Leonato that the Watch have arrested Borachio.

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Dogberry

  • As Don John’s plot builds to its climax, it falls to the incompetent Dogberry to try and save the situation.
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Malapropisms

  • Shakespeare has Dogberry speak in a long-winded style, using malapropisms (where he uses the wrong word in the wrong context).
  • As a result, Leonato does not understand what he is trying to tell him about Don John and Borachio’s plot.
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Deceptions

  • Shakespeare has already shown the impact words can have on an individual in the deceptions played on both Benedick and Beatrice and Claudio.
  • This short scene helps to further illustrate this key aspect of the play.

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