Summary
English Lit: AQA GCSE Much Ado About Nothing, topic 7.4.1
Act 5, Scene 4: A Comic Denouement?
Claudio prepares to meet his new bride. Benedick makes arrangements with the Friar for his marriage to Beatrice.
Comedic ending
- The Friar’s opening line “Did I not tell you she was innocent?” establishes that harmony is being restored and the play is on course for a traditional comedic ending.
- This continues as Leonato asserts “So are the Prince and Claudio.”
Hero's resurrections
- In a inverted mirroring of Don John’s deception, Claudio is not permitted to see his bride’s face until he agrees to marry her.
- The reveal of Hero has strong religious undertones of resurrection.
- From Claudio’s perspective she has literally returned from the dead, yet her reputation and - perhaps most significantly - her maiden purity (virginity) has also been restored.
Claudio’s redemption
- Just as when it seems Benedick and Beatrice will publicly deny their love for each other, Claudio’s redemption is complete as he reveals Benedick’s poem for Beatrice.
- In one final parallel, Hero does the same for Beatrice.
- Again, religious imagery is used by Shakespeare as Benedick describes their confessions of love as a “miracle”.
Irony
- There is great irony and humour in Benedick’s advice to Don Pedro: “Prince, thou art sad. Get thee a wife. Get thee a wife.”
- The use of repetition emphasising Benedick’s comfort in the choice he has made.
Feminist perspective
- From a feminist perspective, Benedick’s silencing of Beatrice with a kiss may be viewed negatively, as may Hero’s forgiveness of Claudio’s actions.
- Nevertheless, they do illustrate the restoration of harmony as even Beatrice is now conforming to society’s expectations at the time the play was set.
- The original intention behind her silence was likely to illustrate her contentment with her new husband.
Noble Benedick
- Fittingly, the last line of the play belongs to Benedick as tells Don Pedro he will devise a suitable punishment for Don John.
- Perhaps if Benedick had been present during the villain's initial accusations, none of the events preceding it would have occurred.
- The prospect of Don John receiving his comeuppance from arguably the play’s most noble character is intended to leave the audience fully satisfied at the play’s resolution.