Act 3 Scene 2

According to Claudio and Don Pedro Benedick has shaven his beard and “he looks younger than he did by the loss of a beard” and this shoes how Benedick is trying to fit in to the ideal look of a pubescent boy, with at that time was viewed as being attractive. His clothes have also changed they describe him to be wearing “slops” and “no doublet”, they imply these are his best clothes and he looks like a fool. By the way they treat him you can see that he has changed from the bragging soldier to the person being mocked. He is the type person of person that Benedick at the beginning of the play would have mocked (much like he did with Claudio). He says that he has a “toothache” to avoid admitting that he is in love.

Don John’s choice of language makes the impact of his revelation more devastating because he appears to be courteous when he is talking to them, like he is trying to get on their good side.  He appears to be apologetic and deferential. Don John is almost trying too hard to get them to listen and he is making them seem more powerful even though it is his power and control of language that influences the conversation. He apologised for talking about Hero as he appears to believe that talking to her will bring shame, and by identifying this belief their very conversation is bringing more shame to her name, this creates the impression he is morally superior. He leaves them an out and doesn’t push too hard with his revelation by trying to convince them.