Reputation
English Lit: AQA GCSE Much Ado About Nothing, topic 9.2.3
Quotations About Reputation
Closely linked to the patriarchal society of Messina is reputation and honour. Certain things were expected of men and women and the consequences of failing to live up to these standards are a key theme in the play.
“Few of sort..."
- “Few of sort and none of name”
- For the male characters, reputation and status is hugely significant.
- The importance of a title is highlighted early on in Act 1, Scene 1 when the messenger reports this about the casualties in the war between Don Pedro and Don John.
"Bull's horns"
- “Pluck off the bull’s horns and set them in my forehead”
- In Elizabethan times, it was expected that a man could both control and satisfy his wife. Those who could not (leading to their wives being unfaithful) were considered to have been cuckolded and were often depicted with horns on their heads.
- Benedick says this to Don Pedro in Act 1, Scene 1.
"Contaminated stale"
- "Contaminated stale"
- Believing Don John’s lies about Hero, Don Pedro feels his own reputation and honour has been compromised as he was the one who brought Hero and Claudio together.
- This is what he labels Hero.
Test yourself on Reputation
What does the messenger say about the casualties from the war between Don John and Don Pedro?
What does Don Pedro call Hero?