Summary
English Lit: AQA GCSE Much Ado About Nothing, topic 7.1.1
Act 5, Scene 1
A grieving Leonato is consoled by his brother, Antonio and they have a tense encounter with Claudio and Don Pedro. Benedick arrives to deliver his challenge to Claudio who then learns the truth when Borachio confesses all.
Leonato
- Whilst he accepted the Friar’s plan in Act 4, Scene 1, Leonato’s language in his opening speeches contains lots of first person pronouns (“Bring me a father that so lov’d his child [...] Measure his woe the length and breadth of mine") perhaps implying he still feels it is his reputation that has suffered.
- He does, however, defend Hero’s honour when Don Pedro and Claudio arrive.
Claudio's youth
- Claudio and Don Pedro are less than respectful towards Leonato and Antonio.
- There is a clear sense of conflict between the generations as Shakespeare, preparing the audience for Claudio’s forgiveness and redemption, begins to re-emphasise Claudio’s youth.
Claudio and Don Pedro
- There is a certain arrogance to Claudio and Don Pedro’s actions and behaviour when Benedick arrives.
- They tell him how “we had lik’d to have had our two noses snapp’d off by two old men without teeth” and expect Benedick to join in with their humour.
Benedick
- Reiterating his change in character, Benedick’s love for Beatrice outweighs his loyalty to Don Pedro and his friendship with Claudio and he issues Claudio with a challenge, informing him and Don Pedro that they have killed “a sweet an innocent lady”.
- It is not only Beatrice for whom Benedick has newfound sympathy.
Act 5, Scene 1
A grieving Leonato is consoled by his brother, Antonio and they have a tense encounter with Claudio and Don Pedro. Benedick arrives to deliver his challenge to Claudio who then learns the truth when Borachio confesses all.
Borachio's confession
- Dogberry enters with the Watch and Borachio.
- Unlike earlier in the play, his use of malapropism are less pronounced and he successfully explains why Borachio has been arrested.
- Borachio then gives a full confession.
Claudio's atonement
- Realising he has been betrayed by Don John, Don Pedro asks Claudio “Runs not this speech like iron through your blood?”
- Appalled by the belief that his accusations have led to Hero’s ‘death’, Claudio lays himself at the mercy of Leonato, telling him he will do anything to atone (make amends).
New deceptions
- Yet another benign (unharmful) deception is introduced as Leonato tells Claudio he can marry Antonio’s ‘daughter’ - “the copy” of Hero - once he has told everyone in Messina of Hero’s innocence and hung an epitaph (memorial) on her family tomb.
Test yourself on Summary
Events of Act 5, Scene 1
Who's daughter is Claudio told he can marry instead of Hero?
What must Claudio do before he can marry Antonio's 'daughter'?
Who does Dogberry enter with in Act 5, Scene 1?