Much Ado About Nothing Key Scenes Essay Example

Much Ado About Nothing Key Scenes Paper Potential passages for my exam * Act 1 Scene 1 Lines 1-70 (opening of the play) * Act 2 Scene 1 Lines 1-60 (Beatrice views on love) * Act 2 Scene 1 Lines 160-257 (Love Benedick and Beatrice) * Act 2 Scene 3 Lines 6-27 and 181-200 (Benedicks speeches on love) * Act 3 Scene 1 Lines 37-end (Gulling of Beatrice) * Act 3 Scene 3 Lines 1-77 (Dogberry+Comedy) * Act 3 Scene 4 Lines 29- end (Beatrice in love) * Act 3 Scene 5 (Dogberry) * Act 4 Scene 1 Lines 1-104 (Shaming of Hero), Lines 105-247 (Plan by Friar Francis) and rest of the scene (Beatrice and Benedick) * Act 5 Scene 1 lines 108-173 Act 5 Scene 1 lines 269-292 * Act 5 Scene 2 Lines 32-end Act 1 Scene 1 Lines 1-70 (opening of the play) What happens during the passage? A messenger brings a letter informing Governor Leonato that Don Pedro and his victorious army will shortly arrive in Messina. The Messenger reports that young Count Claudio has performed great deeds of bravery in the war. Beatrice questions the messenger about Benedick , sarcastically calling him Signor Mountanto. Forced with a barrage of mocking comments about a fellow soldier, the Messenger politely attempts to defend Benedick’s reputation. As Beatrice continues to speak mockingly of Benedick to the Messenger, the prince Don Pedro, and his followers arrive. Quotes from the Passage: â€Å"He hath borne himself beyond the promise if his age, doing in the figure of a lamb, the feats of a lion. † *Means: Claudio did better than you’d expect for someone his age. Looks like a lam but behaved like a lion. â€Å"Signor Mountanto† *Means : Mr cut and thurst (a fencing move) â€Å"As pleasant as he ever was† â€Å"Stuffed with all honorable vitrues† He will hang upon him like a disease†- he is sooner caught than the pestilence† –Benedick will cling to Claudio like a disease, easier to catch then the plague. What happens after this passage? Leonato eloquently welcomes his royal quest and Beatrice begins her taunting with Benedick . Their â€Å"merry war† is renewed and Leonato invites Don Pedro and his followers to stay as quests at his house. Act 2 Scene 1 Lines 1-60 (B eatrice views on love) What happens before this passage? Beatrice describes her ideal man, remarking how poorly Don John and Benedick match up to her requirements. We will write a custom essay sample on Much Ado About Nothing Key Scenes specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Much Ado About Nothing Key Scenes specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Much Ado About Nothing Key Scenes specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Leonato warns her that such talk will not get her a husband, but Beatrice says she is happy to stay single. Beatrice mockingly advises Hero on when and when not to obey her father in the matter of marriage. She then gives her own views of courtship, weddings and the regrets of life after a hasty marriage. Quotes from this passage: â€Å"He is of a very melancholy disposition† *Means: about Don John, always miserable â€Å"The one is too like a image and says nothing and the other is too like my lady’s eldest son, evermore tattling† *Means: Beatrice comparing Don John and Benedick By my troth, neice, thou wilt never get thee a husband, if thou be so shrewd if thy tongue† *Means: Leonato said that if Beatrice doesn’t stop making such cutting comments she wont get a husband. â€Å"Lord, I could not endure a husband with a beard on his face. † â€Å"He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man and he tha t is more than a youth is not for me and he that is less than a man, I am not for him† *Means: Noone is right for Beatrice â€Å"Not till God make men of some other metal than earth† *Means: Never basically. What happens after this passage? Don Pedro, his friends enter wearing masks. The room fills with people and the masked dancing begins. As they dance each woman uses the opportunity to mock her masked partner. Act 2 Scene 3 Lines 6-27 and 181-200 (Benedicks speeches on love) What happens prior to the passage? Borachio’s plan is that he and Margaret will appear on the night before the wedding at Hero’s bedroom window. They will call one another Hero and Claudio, so deceiving the watching Don Pedro and Claudio. What happens on the page of passage? Bendick muses on men like Claudio who say they will not fall in love and then do so. He lists the many virtues he would require in a future wife. When the prince, Claudio and Leonato approach Benedick Hides. Quotes from the speech: 8-12 â€Å"I do much wonder, that one man seeing how much another man is a fool, when he dedicates his behaviors to love, will after he hath laughed at such shallow follies in others, become the argument of his own scorn, by falling in love: and such a man is Claudio† *Means: â€Å"I think it’s amazing how a man- who has seen how foolish another man makes himself when he gets obsessed about love- will become the exact thing he once criticized and fall in love himself- and that’s the kind of man Claudio is. 13-15 â€Å"I have known when there was no much with him but the drum and the fife and now he had rather hear the talor and the pipe† *Means: â€Å"I remember when he only had ears for military music now its all namby pamby ceremonial music. â€Å" 15-21 â€Å"He was wont to speak plain and to the purpose like an honest man a soldier; and now is he turned orthograph y- his words are a very fantastical banquet just so many strange dishes. May I be so converted and see with these eyes? I cannot tell- I think not- I will not be sworn but love may transform me to an oyster; but I’ll take my oath on it, till he have made an oyster of me, he shall never make me such a fool† *Means: â€Å"He used to speak plainly and clearly like an honest man and solider- now he talks in a flowerly style. Could I be transformed and end up like him? I don’t know- I don’t think so – I couldn’t swear to it- but love could turn me into an oyster but I will make an oath that until love does turn me into an oyster he wont make such a fool out of me. 22-23 â€Å"Till all graces be in one woman, one woman shall not come in my grace† *Means: â€Å"Until one woman combines all good qualities, not one woman will come into my good looks† What happens after this speech and before the next one? Don Pedro, Claudio and Leonato pretend not to notice the hidden Benedick. They prepare to listen to Balthasar’s singing. Benedick is not impresse d by the romantic music. Balthasar is sent by Don Pedro to prepare the music that will be used to serenade Hero at her Chamber window the next night. Don Pedro and the others begin the deception of Benedick, they talk about how Beatrice is madly in love with Benedick, but is too frightened to tell him of her secret passion. They talk about Beatrice’s many fine qualities and express their fear that Benedick will mock her if he learns of her great love for him. The three leave hoping they have completed their deception of Benedick. Don Pedro orders a similar trick to be played on Beatrice by Hero and her maid Ursula. What happens on the page of the passage? Benedick is convinced that Beatrice loves him and resolves to return her affection. When she reluctantly appears to call him to dinner, he looks for some signs of love in her and amazingly finds one. Quotes from the speech: 181 â€Å"This can be no trick the conference was sadly borne† *Means: â€Å"They aren’t kidding, the conversation was too serious. † 183-185 â€Å"Why, it must be requited, I hear how I am censured. They say I will bear myself proudly, if I perceive the love come from her. † *Means: â€Å"She must have my love in return. I heard their criticisms. They say ill be all proud if I see that she loves me. † 92-194 â€Å"I may chance have some odd quirks and remnants of wit broken on me, because I have railed for so long against marriage, but doth not the appetite alter. † *Means: â€Å"People will tease me and make jokes about me because I have criticized marriage for so long, but don’t tastes change? † 195-196 â€Å"Shall quips and sentences and these paper bullets of the brain awe a man from t he career of his humour† *Means: â€Å"Should gags ands wisecracks be allowed to scare a man away from what he really wants to do? † What happens after this passage? Hero begins her plan to trick Beatrice. Margaret is sent to tell Beatrice that Hero and Ursula are in the orchard talking about her. Beatrice steals in to eavesdrop on their conversation. Act 3 Scene 1 Lines 37-end (Gulling of Beatrice) What happens before and on the page of this passage? Scene before Claudio Leonato and Don Pedro tricked Benedick. Hero begins her plan to trick Beatrice. Margaret is sent to tell Beatrice that Hero and Ursula are in the orchard talking about her. Beatrice steals in to eavesdrop on their conversation. Beatrice thinking of herself unobserved listens in on Hero and Ursula’s conversation. They talk of Benedick’s ‘love’ for Beatrice and Hero expresses concern about Beatrice’s proud and scornful nature. Quotes from this passage: 40 â€Å"They did entreat me to acquaint her of it† -HERO *Means: â€Å"they begged me to tell her about it† 53-57 â€Å"Her wit values itself so highly that to her all matter else seems weak† She cannot love nor take no shape nor project of affection she is so self-endeared† -HERO *Means: â€Å"She is so arrogant about her own brains that she thinks everyone else is stupid. She can’t love, or give or receive affection, because she is so full of herself. † 0-70 â€Å" I never yet saw man, how wise, how noble, young, how rarely featured, but she would spell him backward. If fair-faced, she would swear the gentleman should be her sister; if black, why nature, drawing of an antic, made a foul blot; if tall, a lance ill headed; if low, an agate very vilely cut; if speaking, why, a vane blown with all winds; if silent, why, a block moved with none. So turns she every man the wrong side out and never gives to truth and virtue that which simpleness and merit purchaseth. † -HERO *Means: â€Å" I’ve never yet seen a man, not matter how wise, noble young or handsome, who Beatrice hasn’t found fault with. If he’s fair-skinned, she’ll swear the man should be her sister; if he’s tall, he’s an ugly-headed spear; if he’s short, a badly cut gemstone; if he’s talkative shell say he’s like a weather vane, blown by all the winds, and if he’s quiet she’ll say he’s a block. She turns every man inside out and never gives credit where credit’s due. 84-86 â€Å"I’ll devise some honest slanders, to stain my cousin with, one doth not know how much an ill work may empoison liking. † -HERO *Means: â€Å"I’ll think up some lies to make him think worse of Beatrice. You never know how much a word of criticism can change someone’s feelings. † 13-end â€Å"If thou dost love, my kindness shall incite thee to bind our loves up in a holy band; For others say thou dost deserve, and I believe it better than reportingly† –BEATRICE *Means: â€Å"If you love me, ill be nice to you and we c an get married- for others say you are worthy and I think they are right. † What happens after this passage? Don Pedro plans to return to Arragon as soon as Claudio and Hero are married. The prince, Claudio and Leonato feign amazement at Benedick’s lovelorn appearance and behavior. Act 4 Scene 1 Lines 1-104 (Shaming of Hero), Lines 105-247 (Plan by Friar Francis) and rest of the scene (Beatrice and Benedick) What happens before this Scene? Margaret Chatters teasingly to Beatrice about love and Benedick. Ursula returns with the news that the men have arrived to take Hero to the Church. Leonato is busy with the last minute preparations for the wedding. Dogberry and Verges come to inform him of the arrest of Borachio and Conrade, but their ramblings exasperate the impatient Leonato. He cannot wait for Dogberry to get to the point and he instructs Dogberry to conduct the trail, not realizing the significance for himself and his daughter of the crime that has been uncovered. What happens in this passage? The guests assemble for the wedding of Hero and Claudio. As Friar Francis begins the marriage ceremony, Claudio refuses to accept Hero as his bride and hands her back to Leonato. Claudio declares that he will not marry Hero. Leonato assumes that Hero has lost her virginity to Claudio, but Claudio denies this. Don Pedro denounces Hero as a common prostitute. Claudio questions Hero about the man he saw at her window. Hero denies there was any man. Don Pedro and his brother confirm the truth of Claudio’s accusation. Hero faints, and Don John, Don Pedro and Claudio exit. Quotes from this passage: 26-37 â€Å" There, Leonato, take her back again: Give not this rotten orange to your friend- She’s but the sign and semblance of her honour. Behold how like a maid she blushes here! O, What authority and show of truth Can cunning sin cover itself withal! Comes not that blood as modest evidence to witness simple virtue? Would you not swear, all you that see her, that she were a maid, by these exterior shows? But she is none: she knows the heat of a luxurious bed, her blush is guiltiness, not modesty† -CLAUDIO *Means: â€Å" She only has the appearance of honour. Look, she’s blushing like a virgin! Cunning sin disguises itself so convincingly. Isn’t blushing supposed to be proof of chaste innocence? Wouldn’t all you who see her here swear that she’s a virgin, judging by her appearance? She certainly isn’t though- she’s felt the heat of a sinful bed, her blush is sign of guilt not chastity. † 43-48 â€Å"I know what you would say. If I have known her, you will say she did embrace me as a husband, and so extenuate the forehead sin, No Leonato. I never tempted her with word too large, but as a brother to this sister, showed bashful sincerity and comely love. -CLAUDIO *Means: â€Å"I know what your are going to say. If I have slept with her, you’ll say she only did it because I was going to be her husband, so it’s not really a sin. No, Leonato. I never tempted her to go too far, but treated her with sweetness and gentle love like a brother with his sister. † 50-55 â€Å"Out on thee, seeming! I will write against it. You seem to me as Dian in her orb, As chaste as is the bud ere to be blown; but you are more interperate in your blood than venus, or those pampered animals that rage in savage sensuality. † -CLAUDIO *Means: â€Å"Get lost, fake! Here is my argument. You act al sweet and innocent but you are really a right tart. † 58-60 â€Å"What should I speak? I stand dishonoured, that you have gone about to link my dear friend to a common stale. † –DON PEDRO *Means: â€Å"What should I say? I’ve been dishonoured by trying to put my friend together with a common slut. † 71-72 â€Å"Oh God defend me, how am I beset! What kind of catechising call you this? † –HERO 74-75 â€Å"Is it not Hero? Who can blot that name with any just reproach? *Means: â€Å"Everyone’s turned on me! Why are you interrogating me like this? Who can harm my reputation with any truthful accusation? 90-93 â€Å"There is not chastity enough in language without offence to utter them? Thus, pretty lady, I am sorry for thy much misgovernement† –DON JOHN *Means: â€Å"There isn’t pure enough language to describe it without causing offence. I’m sorry, pretty lady, that you have behaved so badly. † 98-101 â€Å"For thee I’ll lock up all the gates of love, and on my eyelids shall conjecture hang, to turn all beauty into thoughts of harm, and never shall it more be gracious. † *Means: â€Å"Because of you, I’ll close my heart and make myself suspicious of everything I see. † What happens after this passage and in the next one? Beatrice fears Hero is dead. Leonato wishes her dead and regrets he ever had a daughter. Benedick asks Beatrice if she had kept Hero company that night. When Beatrice says no, Leonato is immediately convinced of his daughters guilt and wishes her dead. Friar Francis believes Hero is innocent. Hero is prepared to suffer torture and death if proven guilty. Benedick begins to suspect his friends have been deceived. Leonato swears revenge if this is true. Friar Francis advises them to pretend that Hero has died. Friar Francis outlines what he hopes will be the healing effect on Claudio when he hears of Hero’s ‘death. ’ If his plan fails, Hero will have to enter a nunnery. Benedick advises Leonato to accept Friar Francis’s advice and promises secrecy. Quotes from this passage: 106-109 â€Å"O fate! Take not away thy heavy hand. Death is the fairest cover for her shame that may be wished away. † –LEONATO *Means: â€Å"Don’t take away this heavy blow fate! Death is the best way to hide her shame that we can hope for. † 114-122 â€Å" Could she here deny the story that is printed in her blood? Do not live, Hero, do not ope thine eyes, For did I think thou wouldst not quickly die, thought I thy spirts were stronger than thy shames myself would, on the rearward of reproaches strike at thy life. Grieved I, I had but one? Child I for that frugal nature’s frame? O, one too much by thee! †-Leonato *Means: â€Å"Can she deny the story that her blushes have already proved? Don’t live, Hero, don’t open your eyes, for if I thought you were not about to die, If I thought you will to live was stronger than your sense of shame, I would kill you myself, not caring what other people thought. Was I upset that I had only one child? Did I compain at nature for not being more generous? Oh, you are one child to many! † 157-163 â€Å"Call me a fool; trust not my reading nor my observations, which with experimental seal doth warrant the tenor of my book; trust not my age, my reverence, calling, nor divinity, if this sweet lady lie not guiltless here under some biting error† *Means: The Friar thinks Hero is innocent, and is willing to stake his reputation on it. 170-177 â€Å"They know that do accuse me; I know none. If I know more of any man alive than that which maiden modesty doth warrant, Let all my sins lack mercy! O my father, prove you that any man with me conversed at hours unmeet, or that I yesternight maintained the change of words with any creature, refuse me, hate me, torture me to death! † -HERO *Means: â€Å"If I know more of any man alive than a modest virgin should, than let me be damned! Prove that any man spoke with me at an unsuitable hour or that I exchanged words with anybody at all than you can disown me and kill me. † 95-201 â€Å" Your daughter here the princes left for dead, let her awhile be secretly kept in, and publish that she is dead indeed; maintain a mourning ostentation and on your family’s old monument hang mournful epitaphs and do all rites that appertain unto a burial. † –FRIAR *Means: Trick them into believing Hero is dead. 119-120 â€Å"And every lovely organ of her life shall come appareled in more precious habit. † à ¢â‚¬â€œ FRIAR *Means: â€Å"and everything that was lovely about her life will seem even more precious. † 224-224 â€Å"Then shall he mourn, if ever love had interest in his liver. *Means: â€Å"Then, if he has ever had true feelings of love, he will mourn. † 230-235 â€Å"But if all aim but this be leveled false, the supposition of the lady’s death, will quench the wonder of her infamy. And if it sort not well, you may conceal her, as best befits her wounded reputation, in some reclusive and religious life.. † *Means: But even if the whole plan comes to nothing, at least her supposed death will distract people from the scandal. If the plan doesn’t work you can hide her in a convent. † 242-243 â€Å"Being that I flow in grief, the smallest twine may lead me. *Means: â€Å"I’m so upset ill do whatever I am told. † What happens after this passage and in the next one? Alone with Beatrice, he asks how he can help to prove Heroâ₠¬â„¢s innocence and tells Beatrice that he loves her. Beatrice reluctantly admits that she loves Benedick. He swears he will do anything to prove his love for her, but refuses her order to Kill Claudio. Beatrice wishes she were a man so she could take revenge herself. Beatrice despairs of finding a man brave enough to take up her cause. Benedick is convinced by her belief that Hero has been wronged and determines to challenge Claudio. Quotes from this passage: 59 â€Å"I do love nothing in the world so well as you, is not that strange† –Benedick 260 â€Å"As strange as the thing I know not: it were as possible for me to say, I loved nothing so well as you.. † –Beatrice 291-295 â€Å"Is a’not approved in the height a villain, that hath slandered, scorned, dishonoured my kinswoman? O that I were a man! What, bear her in hand until they come to take hands, and then, with public accusation, uncovered slander, unmitigated rancour.. † -Beatrice *M eans: â€Å"Hasn’t he been proved to be a total villain, who has lied about and dishonoured my relative, Hero? Oh I wish I was a man! I mean, he led her on right until the last minute and then told awful lies about her. † 313-316 â€Å"Enough, I am engaged, I will challenge him, I will kiss your hand, and so I leave you: by this hand, Claudio shall render me a dear account : as you hear of me, so think of me : go comfort your cousin, I must say she is dead and so farewell. † *Means: Claudio will pay for what he has done and Benedick shows his loyalties now lie with Beatrice. What happens after this passage? Act 4 Scene 2 begins and Dogberry, Verges and the Sexton take evidence from Borachio and Conrade. Dogberry commences his blundering cross- examination. Sexton instructs Dogberry to summon the Watch, who confirm that they overhead Borachio confess his crime. The Sexton reveals that Hero has since died and Don John secretly fled. Act 5 Scene 1 lines 108-173 (Benedick challenges Claudio) What happens before this passage? Antonio attempts to console his brother, but the loss of his daughter’s reputation continues to hit Leonato hard. Only a man who has suffered as he has is entitled to offer him counsel. As Leonato’s mind turns to thoughts of revenge, the sight of Claudio and Don Pedro hurrying past, apparently unconcerned about the grief they have caused quickly arouses anger. Despite his age, Leonato challenges Claudio to single combat, but Claudio refuses to fight a duel with the old man. Then Antonio challenges Claudio so fiercely that even Leonato is surprised. What happens during the passage? Don Pedro maintains his belief that Claudio was correct in his accusation of Hero. As the two old men depart, still rumbling angrily, a grimly determined Benedick arrives on the scene. Don Pedro and Claudio welcome Benedick’s arrival as much needed light relief. The deadly serious Benedick, unmoved by their mockery, challenges Claudio for causing the death of Hero. Benedick resigns from Don Pedro’s service. He informs the prince that Don John has fled and accuses his former friends of bringing about the death of Hero. Don John’s men are brought in under guard. Quotes from this passage: 112 â€Å"We had like to have had our two noses snapped of with two old men without teeth. † –Claudio 137-140 â€Å"You are a villain. I jest not; I will make it good how you dare. Do me right, or I will protest your cowardice. You have killed a sweet lady and her death shall fall heavy on you. Let me hear from you. †-Benedick *Means: I’m not joking, I’ll fight you over this however you like, with whatever weapons you dare to use and whatever time you dare to fight. You’ll meet my challenge or I’ll call you are coward. You have killed a sweet lady and you will pay for it† 166-170 â€Å"Fare you well, boy, you know my mind, I will leave you now to your gossip-like humor: you break jests as bragg arts do their blades, which God be thanked hurt not :my lord for your many courtesies I thank you: I must discontinue your company.. † *Means: â€Å"So long, boy, you know what I think. I’ll leave you to your gossiply jokes. You make jokes like bragging fools who break their swordblade-neither of them hurts a bit, thank God. My Lord I thank you for your kind treatment. I can have nothing more to do with you. Act 5 Scene 1 lines 269-292 (Borachio/Dogberry) What happens after the passage and before the next one? (Act 5 Scene 1 lines 269-292) As Dogberry begins his repetitive ad garbled account of the trail, Don Pedro questions Borachio, who immediately and shamefacedly confesses the whole plot to disgrace Hero. Leonato returns. Claudio and the prince, full of remose, beg to be able to make amends. Leonato orders Claudio to mourn Hero’s death that night at her tomb and later marry his niece. What happens in the passage? Borachio assures Leonato of Margarets’s innocence in the whole affair. Dogberry leaves, still very much concerned that it should be recorded in writing that he has been called an ass. Quotes from the passage: Act 5 Scene 2 Lines 32-end (Love between Beatrice and Benedick ) What happens after this passage and before the next one? (Act 5 Scene 2 Lines 32-end ) Benedick seeks Margaret’s Help in arranging a meeting with Beatrice. As he awaits Beatrice’s arrival, he attempts a love song and laments his inability to express his love in rhyme. What happens in the passage? Benedick tells Beatrice that he has challenged Claudio and then asks her how she first fell in love with him. She in turn asks Benedick how he first fell in love with her. As Benedick and Beatrice talk, Ursula comes rushing in with news that Don John’s plot has been discovered and Hero’s good name is restored. All three leave in haste for Leonato’s house. Quotes from this passage: 57-60 â€Å"An old, an old instance, Beatrice, that live in the time of good neighbours. If a man do not erect in this age his own tom ere he dies, he shall live no longer in monument than the bell rings and the widow weeps. † –Benedick *Means: â€Å"That’s an example from the old days Beatrice, when people were kinder to eachother. Nowadays if a man doesn’t build his own tomb before he dies hell be forgotten as soon as his funeral is over. † 73-75 â€Å"Yonders old coil at home. It is proved my Lady Hero hath been falsely accused, the prince and Claudio mightily abused, and Don John is the author of all, who is fled and gone. Will you come presently? † -URSULA *Means: Theres a right old hoo ha going on in the house. It’s been proved that it was all lies about Hero, that Don Perdro and Claudio have fallen for a dirty trick done by Don John and he has done a runner. Come in now! † What happens after this passage? In a sombre ceremony, Claudio fulfills the first part of his promise. A tribute to Hero is read out, a solemn hym is sung and a vow made to commemorate the anniversary of her death. As dawn breaks, Don Pedro and Claudio leave to dress suitably for the marriage. Scene 4 opens with Leonato sending the women to mask themselves in readiness for the ceremony. The wedding scene concludes the play.