Group Work

Introduction set up the play in Messina, learning that "Don Pedro of Aragon comes this night to Messina"

A messenger has been used with the audience in mind, he delvers the information needed to illustrate the story. Leonato elevates Claudio's presence when exclaiming "Don Pedro hath bestowed much honour upon a young Florentine called Claudio." The messenger further illustrates the importance of the character when stating that [Claudio] "Hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age, doing in the figure of a lamb the feats of a lion". Meaning he is presented as being valiant and brave, but more importantly the "beyond his age" acknowledges that Claudio is young.

The character Beatrice is introduced with the ability of speech- with speech comes power- as her wit and quick speaking ability allows her to turn the words of the Messenger into more satirical statements- especially towards the character Benedick, referring him as "Signor Mountanto"(a sarcastic comment towards his feeble nature) "hath he killed? for indeed i promised to eat all of his killings" Beatrice obviously is mocking Benedick in that she does not think he has the ability to kill. The Messengers dry and formal responses to Beatrice's witty remarks show an example of comic pairing, almost as if he has been put in to provoke Beatrice's wit. (an example of stage intention). Beatrice's word play-
"
and a good soldier too lady.
and a good soldier to a lady; but what is he to a lord?
a lord to a lord. a man to a man, stuffed with all honourable virtues
it is so indeed,he is no less a stuffed man; but for the stuffing
"
She constantly managed to return the Messengers compliments to witty remarks of satire upon Benedick. She even refers to him "like a disease".

Benedick enters and the pair (comic pairing) engage in sparring of wit between the two.
"nobody marks you" Beatrice explains that Benedick talks without an audience and proposes no one listens to him. However, he explains that everyone loves him "i am loved of all ladies" Benedick is obviously in love with himself and does not lack in confidence.

Best example of their sparring pg 158. ends with the sentimental note of " i know you of old" upon which we realise the two have been together before, The two represents the "challenging of institutionalised love" rather they oppose the stereotypical fallinloveatfirstsight kind of love. (Claudio)
Claudio represents young love, marriage fixes all. " she is the sweetest lady i ever looked on" "if hero would be my wife"

Vulgar comedy is introduced when only in the company of men (perhaps a nod towards men being the culprits of vulgar humour) such as when Benedict explains "i noted her not. but i looked on her"
The two characters clearly juxtapose each other- through Benedicks wit and satire (vulgar jokes) with Claudios young and innocent compliments "can the world buy such a jewel?"
Too which Benedick clearly dismisses. " Yea, and a case to put it into "
Benedick dimisses Hero and speaks of Beatrice- first signs of feelings.



Opposes Both Beatrice and Benedick.

Act Two, Scene One

Leonato has noticed that Don John did not attend the dinner. Beatrice says that a combination between Don John andBenedick would create the perfect man. Leonato tells Beatrice she will never get a husband if she continues to make such "shrewd" remarks. Beatrice says that she is happy without a husband and plans to die unmarried. 

All the others arrive at the ball wearing masks. Don Pedro straight away goes over to Hero and asks her to dance a with him. She says yes, but tells him she hopes the face underneath the mask is better looking than the mask itself. 

Benedick meets up with Beatrice and tells her he won't reveal who he is. She starts to talk about Benedick, calling him, "the Prince's jester, a very dull fool". Benedick assures her he will tell Benedick what she has said about him. 

Don John and Borachio figure out who Claudio is by the way he is moving. Don John goes up to him and asks him if he is Benedick, and Claudio plays along, saying that he is. Don John tells Claudio that he should break up Don Pedro and Hero because she is not equal to his brother's birth. Borachio joins in as well, telling Claudio that he heard Don Pedro swear his affection for Hero and plan to marry her that evening. 

When Claudio is alone he comments that it must be true because friendship is constant in all things except for love. He says, "Farewell, therefore, Hero". Benedick arrives and invites Claudio to go with him, telling him the Prince "that got your Hero". Claudio, saddened by the thought that Don Pedro has stolen Hero from him leaves the ball. Don Pedro arrives and Benedick accuses him of betraying his friendship to Claudio by stealing Hero. He denies it and says that he was merely doing what he could for the couple. 

Benedick has been hurt by what Beatrice said about him while they danced, and the he tries to tell Don Pedro what she said that hurt him. He is mostly upset because she called him the "Prince's jester". Beatrice arrives with Hero, Claudio and Leonato. Benedick leaves as soon as he sees her, not able to put up with her comments. 


Beatrice says that everyone is getting married and leaving home except from herself. Don Pedro nicely offers to marry her but she refuses, telling him he is "too costly to wear every day". She leaves after Leonato reminds her of some work she needs to take care of. Claudio and Leonato agree to have the wedding in a week, and in the meantime Don Pedro tells them they will carry on trying to get Benedick and Beatrice to fall in love. Claudio and Hero join in. 

Act Two, Scene Two

Don John is angry over the fact that Claudio is marrying Hero. Borachio offers to prevent the marriage. He tells Don John that he is a good friend of Margaret and that he can get her to look out at Hero's chamber window. Borachio says that Don John should get Don Pedro and Claudio to watch the chamber window and he will then meet Margaret in the room, this making them think that Hero has another lover. Don John promises Borachio a thousand ducats if the plan works.




My quotes
" CLAUDIO
How know you he loves her?
DON JOHN
I heard him swear his affection.
BORACHIO
So did I too, and he swore he would marry her tonight.
DON JOHN
Come, let us to the banquet "
This is when Claudio is being gulled into thinking that Don Pedro loves Hero and that they are going to be wed that evening. Claudio pretends to be Benedick for a reason which is unknown to the reader. 
Also, the fact that it happened at a 'masked' banquet is a comedy technique because although all of the people that have attended the ball are masked, there is no way that they would not be able to recognise each other, so the way that Claudio is shown to think that they don't recognise him is ridiculous. 



LEONATO
" There's little of the melancholy element in her, my lord. She
is never sad but when she sleeps, and not ever sad then; for I
have heard my daughter say she hath often dreamt of unhappiness and wak'd herself with laughing "

This shows that Beatrice might be practicing her own self-deception. She knows there’s a lot to be sad about in the world, but it’s easier to laugh than to cry at things you have no control over. This sleeping self-deception casts shows Beatrice’s ability to be happy, even though she might be sad that she’s alone. 


DON PEDRO
" I will teach you how to humour
your cousin, that she shall fall in love with Benedick; and I,
with your two helps, will so practise on
Benedick that, in despite of his quick wit and his queasy
stomach, he shall fall in love with Beatrice. If we can do this,
Cupid is no longer an archer; his glory shall be ours, for we are
the only love-gods. Go in with me, and I will tell you my drift. "
This is the planning of the decieving of Beatrice, so that she will fall in love with Benedick. This is a great quote of deception because they are planning it before they are doing it, to make sure everything will go right. This is comical aswell because they think they are so good at decieving people that the world does not need 'Cupid' because they can make anyone fall in love. 


[2.3]
Gulling- To fool or deceive someone,
Gulling is used heavily throughout the play but starts primarily in act 2 scene 3.
Music is used on page 210 from line 60-75 as a song is sung by Balthasar. Whilst Balthasar and Don Pedro consider the song to be innocent and romantic W.H. Auden interpreted the song in a different way and said it could be considered about the irresponsible nature of men and how foolish it is for women to take them seriously. It could be considered that it is in the very nature of men to 'gull'.

Benedick 'I should think this a gull, but that the white bearded fellow speaks it. Knavery cannot, sure, hide himself in such reverence.' 

The language within this quote suggests that he is trusting of the 'white bearded fellow'(Leonato)
Presumably because he is Beatrice's uncle and also because he thinks that it is impossible
for a man of his age to consider 'tricking' him.- 'knavery cannot, sure, hide himself in such reverence'. 'I should think this a gull' suggests that Benedick cannot quite believe the
conversation he has just overheard and is in total disbelief. His disbelief would
most likely stem from the conversation revolving around Beatrices love for him and
he will not openly admit any feelings he has for her. This once again links back to the
idea of institutionalized love and how it is these two characters constructed by Shakespeare
are challenging it. On page 217 Benedick says 'This can be no trick'. This shows that the
gulling between Claudio/Leonato/Don intended to be heard by Benedick has been
successful in planting the thought that Beatrice is in love with him in his head. The trio talk of Beatrice being in love with Benedick and talk of ways of expressing her love.
 'She found 'Benedick' and 'Beatrice' between the sheet'. It seems out of character for
Beatrice to be expressing her feelings through 'romantic' poetry but Benedick believes this and the audience suspend their disbelief of Benedicks naivety for the benefit of the narrative.
On page 217 Benedick says 'They say this lady is fair- 'tis a truth, I can bear them witness. And virtuous- 'tis so, i cannot reprove it. And wise, but for loving me. 
The gulling has made Benedick question himself, this is also out of character for him as he is
normally so self assured. 'And wise, but for loving me.' may suggest that he feels she is too good for him.
When Leonato, Caludio and Don talk of Beatrice they highlight qualitites found also in Benedick and reflect his character in her making her seem more appealing.