Much Ado About Nothing

Balthasar (2.3.56-71) “Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more. Men were deceivers ever, one foot in sea, and one on shore, to one thing constant never…Then sigh not so, but let them go, and be you blithe and bonny, converting all your sounds of woe into hey nonny, nonny.”-men are deceivers and full of fraud-mingled emotion-why are they talking about sadness and woe? (this is a comedy)-men should be taking care of women
Leonato (1.1.22-25) “A kind overflow of kindness, there are no faces truer than those that are so washed. How much better is it to weep at joy than to joy at weeping!”-face is truer because it’s weeping-Don John takes joy in others’ sadness/weeping
Benedick (1.1.215-219) “The savage bull may, but if ever the sensible Benedick bear it, pluck off the bull’s horns and set them in my forehead…’Here you may see Benedick, the married man’.”-if I get married, I’ll be cuckolded “I will be red” “I will have a sign upon me”
Benedick (1.1.202-207) “…hang me up at the door of a brothel house for the sign of blind Cupid.”-thinks that Cupid is stupid and blind to real love-all men become cuckolds because all women give their “rings” away
Don John (1.3.10-14) “I cannot hide what I am. I must be sad when I have cause, and smile at no man’s jests; eat when I have stomach…laugh when I am merry, and claw no man in his humour.”-he does what he wants, when he wants-he thinks that he has this predisposition, but people actually like him-no one finds him threatening-when people believe his plans of villainy, it legitimizes his plans
Claudio (1.1.243-251) “O my lord, when you went onward on this ended action I looked upon her with a soldier’s eye…all prompting me how fair young Hero is, saying I liked her ere I went to wars.”-makes the audience question his romance values-being forced to fall in love with Hero because he’s bored and because he’s not fighting in the war anymore-Claudio has a checklist: worthy, should he, will he become heir, will he inherit land
Claudio (2.1.152-160) “‘Tis certain so, the Prince woos for himself. Friendship is constant in all other things save in the office and affaris of love…This is an accident of hourly proof, which I mistrusted not. Farewell, therefore, Hero.”-Hero’s beauty is bewitching-Claudio doesn’t blame Don Pedro for falling in love with Hero because her beauty is a witching factor
Beatrice (2.1.293-295) “No, sure, my lord, my mother cried. But then there was a star danced, and under that was I born. [To Hero and Claudio] Cousins, God give you joy.”-glmipse of sadness/comprehension of melancholy beneath the merry layer-trapped in terms of waiting for Benedick so she does not fall for Don Pedro-tells Don Pedro that his grace is “too costly to wear every day”
Beatrice and Benedick (4.1.287-289) “Kill Claudio” “Ha! Not for the wide world.” “You kill me to deny it. Farewell.”-Beatrice wants Benedick to prove his love for her-it’s a spiritual conflict-Beatrice wants a hero that defends female honor, not male honor
Friar (4.1.221-229) “So will it fare with Claudio. When he shall hear she died upon his words, th’idea of her life shall sweetly creep into his study of imagination, and every lovely organ of her life shall come apparelled in more precious habit, more moving-delicate, and full of life, into the eye and prospect of his soul than when she lived indeed.”-we need to imagine Hero dead-she can start anew like someone who is brought back-her reputation will start fresh and not be tainted by the accusation that she cheated on Claudio-palpable relief for Don Pedro and Claudio-marriage was a temporary interruption in his life
Beatrice (3.1.108-117) “What fire is in mine ears? Can this be true? Stand I condemned for pride and scorn so much? Contempt, farewell; and maiden pride, adieu. No glory lives behind the back of such. And, Benedick, love on. I will requite thee, taming my wild heart to thy loving hand. 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.”-comedies are supposed to end in weddings-there is a wedding that doesn’t happen in the middle of the play then there are 2 weddings at the end-no man can make things right-Beatrice is insulted by the things that Benedick has said about her
Beatrice (4.1.299-304) “Is a not approved in the height a villain, that hath slandered, scorned, dishonoured my kinswoman? O that I were a man! …O God that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the market place.”-she is an inadequate substitute for a man-wants Benedick to stand up for her-Benedick won’t fight Claudio because they’re friends-Beatrice is angry that Benedick chooses Claudio over her
Beatrice (4.1.311-318) “Prince and counties! Surely a princely testimony, a goodly count, Count Comfit, a sweet gallant, surely. O that I were a man for his sake! …But manhood is melted into courtesies, valour into compliment…I cannot be a man with wishing, therefore I will die a woman with grieving.”-pointing out that the male codes don’t work-superficial men-gallant men in the court-men swear they’re going to fight fights but never do (they’re all talk)-pushes Benedick to act (she believes it will change the direction of the trial)