9.1.16
Don Pedro
Don Pedro
Don Pedro
DON PEDRO: If we can do this, Cupid is no longer an archer; his glory shall be ours, for we are the only love-gods.


Key line
Key line
- DON PEDRO: If we can do this, Cupid is no longer an archer; his glory shall be ours, for we are the only love-gods.


Don Pedro’s plan
Don Pedro’s plan
- Don Pedro’s use of the conditional tense (“if”) suggests that he knows that it will be no easy task to make Benedick and Beatrice fall in love.
- He talks of Cupid’s “glory”, implying he takes a great deal of pride and honour in successfully matching couples.


Hamartia
Hamartia
- His self-comparison to Cupid could be viewed as arrogant, especially by a more modern audience.
- Again, structurally this hint at Don Pedro’s over-confidence relates to the concept of fatal flaws (hamartia) in a classical tragedy.


Act 5, Scene 1
Act 5, Scene 1
- It also prepares the audience for his disrespectful attitude towards Leonato and Antonio in Act 5, Scene 1.
Don Pedro
Don Pedro
Don Pedro feels that his involvement in this arrangement has harmed his reputation.


Key line
Key line
- DON PEDRO: I stand dishonour’d that have gone to link my dear friend to a common stale


Male reputation
Male reputation
- The importance of male reputation is illustrated here through the anger Don Pedro feels towards Hero.
- He feels that in making such an ill suited match, that his own honour has been compromised.


Leonato reaction
Leonato reaction
- Don Pedro’s attitude, as well as his superior social standing to Leonato, may account for the treatment Hero receives from her father once Claudio, Don Pedro and Don John exit the scene.


Misogyny
Misogyny
- The juxtaposition of the noun phrases “dear friend” and “common stale” illustrate both the inherent misogyny in Messinian society within the play and the different standings of men and women with a patriarchal society.


Hypocrisy
Hypocrisy
- In Act 1, Scene 1, Benedick can proudly boast he is “loved of all ladies”, and he and Leonato can make light of the question of Hero’s parentage whereas a promiscuous female is labelled a “common stale” or prostitute.
- Perhaps Shakespeare’s intention was to illustrate the hypocrisy in such attitudes.
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
8Key Themes
9Recap: Main Quotes
9.1Characters Quotes
9.1.1Beatrice
9.1.2Beatrice 2
9.1.3Benedick 1
9.1.4Benedick 2
9.1.5Benedick 3
9.1.6Benedick 4
9.1.7Benedick 5
9.1.8Beatrice & Benedick
9.1.9Beatrice & Benedick 2
9.1.10Beatrice & Benedick 3
9.1.11Claudio
9.1.12Claudio 2
9.1.13Claudio & Benedick
9.1.14Don John
9.1.15Don John 2
9.1.16Don Pedro
9.1.17Hero
9.1.18Leonato
9.1.19Leonato & Messanger
9.2Text Structure - Quotes
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
8Key Themes
9Recap: Main Quotes
9.1Characters Quotes
9.1.1Beatrice
9.1.2Beatrice 2
9.1.3Benedick 1
9.1.4Benedick 2
9.1.5Benedick 3
9.1.6Benedick 4
9.1.7Benedick 5
9.1.8Beatrice & Benedick
9.1.9Beatrice & Benedick 2
9.1.10Beatrice & Benedick 3
9.1.11Claudio
9.1.12Claudio 2
9.1.13Claudio & Benedick
9.1.14Don John
9.1.15Don John 2
9.1.16Don Pedro
9.1.17Hero
9.1.18Leonato
9.1.19Leonato & Messanger
9.2Text Structure - Quotes
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