7.2.1
Summary
Act 5, Scene 2
Act 5, Scene 2
Privately, Benedick and Beatrice grow increasingly confident in their love for one another. Ursula brings news of the discovery of Don John’s villainy.
A sonnet
A sonnet
- Benedick is struggling with his new role as a romantic lover, expressing his frustration that he is unable to write a sonnet for Beatrice.
- The poem serves a dramatic function in that it will be revealed by Claudio in Act 5, Scene 4, just as it seems Benedick and Beatrice will not publicly declare their feelings for one another.
Public vs. private
Public vs. private
- Unlike their very public exchange of repartee in Act 1, Scene 1, Benedick and Beatrice are much more comfortable in this intimate scene, where - as the second part of Act 4, Scene 1 - they are left alone on stage.
- This intimacy also contrasts with the very public setting in which Claudio chooses to denounce Hero.
Convention
Convention
- Benedick and Beatrice accept the fact that theirs is not - and probably never will be - a conventional relationship for the time period.
- He tells his love “thou and are art too wise to woo peaceably”.
Protagonists
Protagonists
- In getting to know each other over a long period of time, there is something distinctly modern in their relationship.
- This may be why Benedick and Beatrice are often considered the main protagonists of the play, despite their deception forming its sub-plot.
A social comment
A social comment
- Benedick and Beatrice’s relationship serves as a foil (highlighting the contrasts) for Claudio and Hero’s - perhaps Shakespeare is making a social comment on the way marriage was traditionally arranged amongst the nobility?
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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