|
Synopsis
In Messina, the governor Leonato, his daughter Hero, and her cousin Beatrice (Antonio's daughter) learn from a messenger
that Don Pedro has won victory in a battle and is returning home. He arrives with Claudio, Benedick, and Pedro's bastard brother,
Don John. Claudio falls in love with Hero at first sight. Benedick and Beatrice chide one another and trade witticisms. In
private, Claudio tells Benedick of his love, but Benedick only teases him. Don Pedro, however, vows to help Claudio by disguising
himself as Claudio and making advances to Hero. Leonato's brother Antonio overhears Don Pedro and Claudio's conversation,
but believes Don Pedro is in love with Hero, rather than Claudio. Informing Leonato of this, both rejoice at prince Don Pedro's
supposed intentions and plan to tell Hero. Don John's servant Conrade informs Don John of Claudio and Pedro's plans to woo
Hero for Claudio, but John, who enjoys being grouchy and spreading gloom, plans to attempt to foil the plans.
At dinner, while discussing husbands, Beatrice vows to never marry, echoing Benedick's earlier vow. The men arrive in
masks: Don Pedro and Hero dance; Benedick and Beatrice dance, and she makes fun of Benedick in general, possibly not knowing
she is in fact dancing with him. Don John appears to Claudio, who identifies himself as Benedick, even though Don John knows
he's Claudio. Don John tells him Don Pedro is actually in love with Hero, causing Claudio to become depressed. Benedick carries
the ruse further, depressing him more. To his relief, though, Don Pedro unites Hero and Claudio in future marriage. Further,
Don Pedro plans to convince Beatrice and Benedick to marry one another, even though both has vowed to never marry. Soon, Don
John learns of Claudio's engagement to Hero. Still hoping to foil their marriage, he and his servant Borachio plan to brand
Hero as a prostitute and thus compromise the marriage. In the orchard/garden, Don Pedro, Leonato, and Claudio discuss Beatrice's
"love" for Benedick. Although Benedick is hiding, they know he is there and lead him to believe she loves him; Benedick takes
the bait.
Similarly, Hero and her servant Ursula Discuss how Benedick is "in love" with Beatrice, while Beatrice herself hides
in the trees and listens; she too takes the bait. Separately, Don Pedro and Claudio tease Benedick for being quiet. Don John
appears and tells Pedro and Claudio that Hero is a whore/prostitute and will give proof of it the evening before the wedding.
At nightfall, Dogberry and Verges instruct the night watch to watch over the city. In hiding, they hear Borachio (drunk) tell
Conrade how he heath let Margaret woo him from Hero's bedroom, and thus deceive Don Pedro and Claudio into believing Hero
is a whore. The next day, at the wedding, Claudio plans to denounce Hero and will not marry her. The watch arrests Borachio
and Conrade, then Dogberry and Verges come to Leonato to tell him of the arrest, though he impatiently shrugs them off.
At the wedding, Claudio and Don Pedro accuse Hero of being a whore. Leonato vows to determine if the accusations are
true. Further, the Friar suggest they pretend that Hero has died from the accusation, so that if a lie is being propagated,
the source may admit the lie out of remorse. Privately, Benedick and Beatrice profess their love for one another. She asks
him to prove his love by killing Claudio for wronging Hero. In prison, Dogberry interrogates Borachio and Conrade; the Sexton
(recorder) plans to tell Leonato of their crimes.
In a courtyard, Benedick charges Claudio to a duel. Before this can
occur, Dogberry brings Borachio who admits of his wrongdoings to slander Hero. Leonato, still dissembling that Hero is dead,
instructs Claudio to come to his house in the morning, so that he can marry a "cousin" of Hero, who is nearly identical to
her (and actually is her). Beatrice and Benedick continue to fall in love. At the tomb, Claudio delivers and epitaph to Hero.
Then, in the morning, Benedick asks Leonato for Beatrice's hand in marriage. Further, Hero and Claudio are again engaged to
be married. Lastly, it is reported that Don John has been arrested for his deceit and will be punished.
Act 2, Scene 1
Beatrice:
"The fault will be in the music, cousin, if you be not wooed in good time: if the prince be too important, tell him there
is measure in every thing and so dance
out the answer. For, hear me, Hero: wooing, wedding, and repenting, is as a Scotch jig, a measure, and a cinque pace:
the first suit is hot and hasty, like a Scotch jig, and full as fantastical; the wedding, mannerly-modest, as a
measure,
full of state and ancientry; and then comes repentance and, with his bad legs, falls into the cinque pace faster and faster,
till he sink into his grave."
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
| . |
|
|
related internet links
|
|
a complete, searchable
e-text of the play.from
The Complete Works of
William Shakespeare online
extensive links to Medieval, Shakespeare
and other relevant sites of interest
An annotated guide to Shakespeare
resources on the Internet.
Also has a timelineof important
historical events that affected his writings.
The reconstructed Shakespeare's Globe on
London's Bankside, including Theatre,
Education
and Exhibition departments.
dedicated to the experience and
understanding of Shakespeare
in performance
who's Shakespeare?" you ask.
why, the greatest playwright of all time!
There are many people out there
in the world, some students
(especially the students), who couldn't
care less about Shakespeare.
this site believes this dislike towards
the Bard comes from the fact that
his writings are difficult to understand.
that's where shakespeareNet steps in!
they've broken down the plays into two
categories: the players and
the breakdowns begin learning,
and have fun
|
| . |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
![Sarah Badel [click for larger image]](/imagelib/sitebuilder/misc/show_image.html?linkedwidth=actual&linkpath=https://thecompleatdancing.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/sarahbadel.jpg&target=tlx_new)