Summary
English Lit: AQA GCSE Much Ado About Nothing, topic 5.5.1
Act 3, Scene 5
Dogberry fails to inform Leonato that the Watch have arrested Borachio.
Dogberry
- As Don John’s plot builds to its climax, it falls to the incompetent Dogberry to try and save the situation.
Malapropisms
- Shakespeare has Dogberry speak in a long-winded style, using malapropisms (where he uses the wrong word in the wrong context).
- As a result, Leonato does not understand what he is trying to tell him about Don John and Borachio’s plot.
Deceptions
- Shakespeare has already shown the impact words can have on an individual in the deceptions played on both Benedick and Beatrice and Claudio.
- This short scene helps to further illustrate this key aspect of the play.
Test yourself on Summary
Which character speaks in a long-winded style, using malapropisms (where he uses the wrong word in the wrong context)?