Beatrice

BEATRICE: Not until God make men of some other metal than earth. Would it not grieve a woman to be overmastered with a piece of valiant dust?

Key line

BEATRICE: Not until God make men of some other metal than earth. Would it not grieve a woman to be overmastered with a piece of valiant dust?

Biblical imagery

Here, Beatrice uses Biblical imagery and the idea that God created Adam from the earth to question the idea that men are viewed in society as superior to women.

“valiant”

The use of the adjective “valiant” is ironic - particularly in light of the way Claudio (a brave, courageous - “valiant” soldier) treats Hero in this scene when he wrongly believes Don John’s lies.

Equality of the sexes

The verb “overmastered” highlights Beatrice’s (and possibly Shakespeare’s) belief in equality between the sexes: one should not outrank the other.

Beatrice

Beatrice is quick to accept the ‘truth’ of Benedick's ‘love’ for her.

Key line

BEATRICE: Contempt, farewell! And maiden pride, adieu!

Length of scene

Due to being a shorter scene than Act 2, Scene 3, Beatrice is arguably even quicker than Benedick to accept the ‘truth’ of his ‘love’ for her.

Complexity

There is a double-complexity to this aspect of the trick as the audience know even more than Ursula and Hero and that, by this point, Benedick is indeed “horribly” in love with Beatrice.

Saving face

Beatrice is presented as far less concerned with saving face than Benedick was.
She simply bids “farewell” to her perceived spiteful character (“contempt”).

Interpretations

A modern feminist audience may struggle more to accept Beatrice’s dismissal of her pride.
However, a Shakespearean audience may associate this abstract noun with the Seven Deadly Sins (Pride, Greed, Gluttony, Wrath, Envy, Sloth and Lust) and view Beatrice’s instant conversion favourably.

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

9Recap: Main Quotes

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