6.1.1

Summary

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Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 1)

The falling action of the play’s main plot descends into tragedy as Claudio publicly rejects Hero at their wedding.

Claudio

Claudio

  • Claudio’s actions in this scene are deliberate and calculating.
  • He has planned what he is going to do and manipulates the beginning of the wedding ceremony to enable him to say to Leonato “Take her [Hero] back again / Give not this rotten orange to your friend.”
Virginity

Virginity

  • The metaphor emphasises the value Claudio (and Elizabethan society) placed on a woman’s purity through being a virgin before marriage.
  • In believing Don John’s lies over Hero being “everyman’s Hero”, she becomes tainted to Claudio, a “contaminated stale” and he no longer values her as the rich and precious "jewel" of Act 1.
Misogynistic language

Misogynistic language

  • The language used by Claudio and Don Pedro is extremely misogynistic (prejudiced against women) reflecting the ideas and attitudes of the period that men were superior in society.
  • This is, of course, despite the fact Queen Elizabeth had been on the English throne for almost 40 years when the play was believed to have been written.
Messina

Messina

  • The patriarchal (dominated by men) society of Messina is shown as Leonato turns on Hero, also believing the accusations against her.
  • After Hero faints, he viciously tells her “Do not live, Hero, do not ope thine eyes”.
Leonato

Leonato

  • Leonato shares the view of Claudio that his daughter is tainted, that “she is fall’n / Into a pit of ink”.
  • “Pit” may have connotations of hell and the image that her purity is now stained recalls Claudio’s earlier “rotten orange” insult.
  • Leonato is angry that his reputation, more so than Hero’s, has been ruined.

Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 1)

The falling action of the play’s main plot descends into tragedy as Claudio publicly rejects Hero at their wedding.

Hope for Hero

Hope for Hero

  • Hope for Hero lies with the Friar who through careful observation (noting) of Hero during Claudio’s defamation of her character is convinced of her innocence.
The Friar's plan

The Friar's plan

  • The Friar advises a conflicted Leonato to announce that Hero died as a result of the accusations made against her and that when he hears of this, Claudio’s loving feelings will return.
Deception

Deception

  • Significantly, in light of the patriarchal society, the audience do not learn of Hero’s own views regarding this plan.
  • She remains the dutiful daughter.
  • Once again, deception is used with a benevolent intention.
  • This time, it even has the support of a religious figure.
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

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  1. 1
    Who says __“Take her [Hero] back again / Give not this rotten orange to your friend.”__ ?Multiple choice
  2. 2
    Act 4, Scene 1:Fill in the list
  3. 3
    What does the Friar advise Leonato to announce in Act 4, Scene 1? Multiple choice
  4. 4
    Who advises Leonato to announce that Hero died as a result of the accusations made against her?Multiple choice
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End of Topic Test - Act 3

Key Lines