Summary

Act 5, Scene 1

A grieving Leonato is consoled by his brother, Antonio and they have a tense encounter with Claudio and Don Pedro. Benedick arrives to deliver his challenge to Claudio who then learns the truth when Borachio confesses all.

Leonato

Whilst he accepted the Friar’s plan in Act 4, Scene 1, Leonato’s language in his opening speeches contains lots of first person pronouns (“Bring me a father that so lov’d his child [...] Measure his woe the length and breadth of mine") perhaps implying he still feels it is his reputation that has suffered.
He does, however, defend Hero’s honour when Don Pedro and Claudio arrive.

Claudio's youth

Claudio and Don Pedro are less than respectful towards Leonato and Antonio.
There is a clear sense of conflict between the generations as Shakespeare, preparing the audience for Claudio’s forgiveness and redemption, begins to re-emphasise Claudio’s youth.

Claudio and Don Pedro

There is a certain arrogance to Claudio and Don Pedro’s actions and behaviour when Benedick arrives.
They tell him how “we had lik’d to have had our two noses snapp’d off by two old men without teeth” and expect Benedick to join in with their humour.

Benedick

Reiterating his change in character, Benedick’s love for Beatrice outweighs his loyalty to Don Pedro and his friendship with Claudio and he issues Claudio with a challenge, informing him and Don Pedro that they have killed “a sweet an innocent lady”.
It is not only Beatrice for whom Benedick has newfound sympathy.

Act 5, Scene 1

Borachio's confession

Dogberry enters with the Watch and Borachio.
Unlike earlier in the play, his use of malapropism are less pronounced and he successfully explains why Borachio has been arrested.
Borachio then gives a full confession.

Claudio's atonement

Realising he has been betrayed by Don John, Don Pedro asks Claudio “Runs not this speech like iron through your blood?”
Appalled by the belief that his accusations have led to Hero’s ‘death’, Claudio lays himself at the mercy of Leonato, telling him he will do anything to atone (make amends).

New deceptions

Yet another benign (unharmful) deception is introduced as Leonato tells Claudio he can marry Antonio’s ‘daughter’ - “the copy” of Hero - once he has told everyone in Messina of Hero’s innocence and hung an epitaph (memorial) on her family tomb.

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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