Much Ado About Nothing
Storyboard Text
- "Then down upon her knees she falls, weeps, sobs, beats her heart, tears her hair, prays, curses: ‘O sweet Benedick, God give me patience!’"(Act 2, scene 3, lines 154-156)
- Background InformationBenedick and Beatrice, formerly in love, now despise each other. The two mock each other each time they converse and swear they will never marry. Beatrice explains that she loved Benedick before he broke her heart. Despite the hatred among the two, Claudio, Don Pedro, and Leonato believe that Beatrice and Benedick are the perfect match. The only way to bring them together is through persuading Benedick that Beatrice is in love with him and persuading Beatrice that Benedick is in love with her. Claudio, Don Pedro, and Lenato devise a plan to trick Benedick, while Hero, Ursula, and Margaret devise their own plan to trick Beatrice.
- "What was it that you told me of today, that your niece Beatrice was in love with Signior Benedick?"(Act 2, scene 3, lines 95-97)
- Act 2, Scene 3
- Scene AnalysisIn this scene, Claudio, Don Pedro, and Leonato carry out their devious plan in the garden. In their plan, Claudio, Don Pedro, and Leonato purposely move close to Benedick and speak abnormally loud. They agree to only speak of Beatrice’s “love” for Benedick. They make up different rumors and lies about Beatrice that really attract the attention of Benedick. Meanwhile, Benedick is hiding behind one of the walls of the garden eavesdropping on the shocking news about Beatrice's new love.
- "This says she now when she is beginning to write to him, for she’ll be up twenty times a night, and there will she sit in her smock till she have writ a sheet of paper. My daughter tells us all."(Act 2, scene 3, lines 138-141)
- Deception/TrickeryIn Act 2, scene 3, a theme of deception and trickery arises because of the big scheme in which Claudio, Don Pedro, and Leonatoconspire in hopes of bringing Benedick and Beatrice together. The three gentlemen trick Benedick into believing that Beatrice is in love with him. Shakespeare incorporates this theme of deception and trickery into "Much Ado About Nothing" because it allows the plot to move forward. Without this scene of deception, the rest of the play would take a completely different turn. This scene creates a suspenseful and apprehensive mood because the men want Benedick to believe Beatrice's love for him, despite the lies being discussed. To keep the play alive and entertaining, Shakespeare includes this vital scene of romance and deceit.
- Background InformationBenedick is wandering in the garden when he suddenly hears footsteps and talk from Claudio, Don Pedro, and Leonato. He quickly hides behind one of the walls and eavedrops on their conversation, completely oblivious to the fact that the men are carrying out their plan to trick Benedick into falling in love with Beatrice.
- “This can be no trick. The conference was sadly borne; they have the truth of this from Hero; they seem to pity the lady. They say the 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; by my troth, it is no addition to her wit, nor no great argument of her folly, for I will be horribly in love with her! When I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I were married. Here comes Beatrice. By this day, she’s a fair lady. I do spy some marks of love in her.”(Act 2, scene 3 lines 223-248)
- Mood words: shocking, suspenseful, apprehensiveTone words: devious, bewildered, ambivalent
- Scene AnalysisFrom behind one of the walls of the garden, the news of Beatrice’s “love” surprises Benedick. He is taken aback by all of the overwhelming talk coming from Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato. Not only does Benedick hear of Beatrice’s feelings for him, he hears of his own faults from the men. These comments make Benedick realize that his past may have been influenced or absorbed by his own pride. Benedick lists the good qualities of Beatrice he heard from the men and finds some marks of love in her. He decides that Lady Beatrice is fair and that he will begin loving her.
- Power of PrideIn Act 2, scene 3, another theme is revealed through the point of view of Benedick. The theme of power of pride is unveiled when Claudio, Don Pedro, and Leonato discuss all of Benedick's flaws. After hearing of these unpleasant characteristics, Benedick realizes that his pride may have cost him his former love, Beatrice. "I love Benedick well, and I could wish he would modestly examine himself to see how much he is unworthy so good a lady,” Don Pedro comments to Leonato and Claudio. (Act 2, scene 3, lines 209-211) This wish of Don Pedro is the turning point for Benedick’s self-examination. He uses this realization to become a better person for Beatrice because he learned of her reoccurring “love” for him. If the three men did not mention Benedick’s prideful ego, Benedick would not understand the negative result of his pride combined with Beatrice’s pride. Even if Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato's plan did not succeed in bringing the two together in love, it did succeed in bringing Benedick aware to his self-absorbed actions. Shakespeare’s development of two themes in one scene demonstrates the importance of the scene for the rest of the plot.
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