9.1.5

Benedick 3

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“May I be so..."

Act 2, Scene 3 key lines spoken by Benedick.

Key line

Key line

  • “May I be so converted and see with these eyes?”
Tentative language

Tentative language

  • Benedick’s language here is much more tentative, unlike in Act 1, Scene 1, where he boasted “truly I love none.”
Modal verb

Modal verb

  • The use of the modal verb of possibility (“may I be…”) is used by Shakespeare to foreshadow the change in Benedick by the end of the scene.
  • The modal verb also adds to the prominent use of dramatic irony throughout the scene, almost as if the audience are a part of Don Pedro’s plot to trick Benedick into falling in love with Beatrice.
Religious connotations

Religious connotations

  • “Converted” may hold religious connotations, alluding to the gradual conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity.
  • The idea that love is a Christian virtue is also referenced at the end of the scene when Benedick states that if he does not return Beatrice’s ‘love’ for him then he is a “Jew”.
Replacement

Replacement

  • A highly controversial idea to a modern audience, the line is often replaced with “dog” - a contemporary insult for Jews in the Elizabethan era - in modern productions.

Humour, Status and Innocence

Act 2, Scene 3 key lines spoken by Benedick.

Key line

Key line

  • “I should think this a gull but that the white-bearded fellow speaks it.”
Humour

Humour

  • Shakespeare creates humour in the first deception scene through Benedick’s conviction that what he is hearing must be true, when the audience know otherwise.
Status

Status

  • The importance of status is again reflected through the fact that it is Leonato’s word that helps convince Benedick.
Innocence

Innocence

  • “White” has connotations of innocence and purity.
  • Just as he believes Hero’s innocence in Act 4, Scene 1, Benedick cannot believe that Leonato would be lying.
Key line

Key line

  • “This can be no trick. The conference was sadly borne; they have the truth of this from Hero.”
Humour

Humour

  • Again, this prepares the audience for Benedick’s defence of Hero later in the play.
  • The humour is continued as Benedick states that the conversation between Don Pedro, Claudio and Leonato was “sadly borne”.
  • The whole scene has been orchestrated by Don Pedro to fool Benedick.
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

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Benedick 2

Benedick 4