6.1.1
Summary
Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 1)
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)
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.
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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