Reputation

Closely linked to the patriarchal society of Messina is reputation and honour. Certain things were expected of men and women and the consequences of failing to live up to these standards are a key theme in the play.

Status and rank

For the male characters, reputation and status is hugely significant.
The importance of a title is highlighted early on in Act 1, Scene 1 when the messenger reports that in terms of casualties in the war between Don Pedro and Don John there have been “few of sort and none of name.”

Cuckold

A recurring idea or motif is that of a cuckold.
In Elizabethan times, it was expected that a man could both control and satisfy his wife.

Horns of a cuckold

Those who could not (leading to their wives being unfaithful) were considered to have been cuckolded, and were often depicted with horns on their heads.
This is what Benedick is alluding to when, discussing marriage; he tells Don Pedro in Act 1, Scene 1 “pluck off the bull’s horns and set them in my forehead.”

Bachelorhood

Benedick’s vow to remain a bachelor may be a reflection of his insecurity: he does not want to commit to a marriage and risk becoming a cuckold.

Don Pedro

Believing Don John’s lies about Hero, Don Pedro feels his own reputation and honour has been compromised as he was the one who brought Hero and Claudio together.
His labelling of Hero as a “contaminated stale” (prostitute) is equally as savage and misogynistic as Claudio’s “rotten orange”.

Leonato

Like Don Pedro, Leonato’s reputation is also affected by Hero’s tainted honour.
In Act 4, Scene 1, he asserts he would rather she were dead so that the shame he feels may die with her.

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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