Summary
English Lit: AQA GCSE Much Ado About Nothing, topic 5.1.1
Act 3, Scene 1
In a scene with many parallels to the tricking of Benedick, Beatrice is also deceived into falling in love with Benedick.
Deception
- As in Act 2, Scene 3, the deception here involves three characters: Hero, Ursula and Margaret.
- Margaret’s role is relatively minor, mirroring her unknowing participation in Don John’s villainous deception later in this act.
"Slander"
- Hero takes the role of Don Pedro as the lead participant in the trick.
- She shows a much more confident and assertive side to her character who will “devise some honest slander (lies)” about Beatrice to help Benedick cope with his ‘love’ for Beatrice.
- There is an sad irony in her use of “slander” as she herself will soon fall victim to the lies of Borachio and Don John.
Fishing metaphors
- The language used in this scene mirrors that of Act 2, Scene 3.
- Claudio, when tricking Benedick tells the other to “bait the hook well”.
- In Act 3, Scene 1, a similar fishing metaphor is used as Ursula confidently tells Hero that their words have worked and they have “caught” Beatrice.
Closing soliloquy
- Ursula is proven correct as once they exit the scene, Beatrice (in a similar structure to Benedick in the previous scene) delivers a soliloquy of her own.
- She bids farewell to her maiden pride and tells Benedick to “love on: I will requite thee.”
Well matched
- Beatrice's language also mirrors Benedick - another indication by Shakespeare of how well suited these characters are for one another.
Test yourself on Summary
Which character has the ending soliloquy in Act 3, Scene 1?