Study Questions

Why do Claudio and Don Pedro decide upon public humiliation of Hero at the wedding?

One reason for the public humiliation is because Claudio wants everyone to know what she has done (or what he thinks she has done) he has to make sure everyone knows that this is her fault and having an audience ensures this, by humiliating her at the wedding he is saving himself the embarrassment of a broken engagement as people may think it was something he did. He also wants to hurt her like he has been hurt.

How does Leonato react to Claudio’s accusation at the wedding? Why?

Leonato immediately believes Claudio even though he hasn’t been presented with any other evidence except from his words. He doesn’t believe what Hero has to say and believes Claudio over her because he is a man, they are in a patriarchal society so a man’s opinion takes precedence over a women’s, even though you would assume he would take his daughters side no matter what.

How has Benedick’s allegiance shifted in this scene from what it had been before? Why?

In this scene Benedick sides with Hero, and doesn’t believe what Claudio and Don Pedro say about her even though they are supposed to be his closest friends. The reason for this is because he is in love with Beatrice and she believes Hero.

How does Leonato interpret Hero’s facial expression? How does Friar Francis?

Leonato, because he believes Claudio, thinks she is blushing because she is feeling guilty; whereas Friar Francis believes she is blushing because she is innocent and just the mention of what she has supposedly done embarrasses her.

Who is the first to name Don John as the villain behind the plot?

The first person to name Don John as the villain was Benedick who says his “spirits toil in frame of villainies.”

What is the purpose of Friar Francis’ deception about Hero’s supposed death?

The purpose in his deception was to make Claudio feel guilty about humiliating her in front of everyone, this way he may forgive her and her reputation could be saved allowing her to still marry someday.

What is the backup plan if Hero’s reputation cannot be salvaged?

If her reputation isn’t salvaged the Friar suggests that she takes up a solitary, religious life “out of all eyes”

How does the language change once Benedick and Beatrice are alone? Why?

When Benedick and Beatrice are alone the language changes to prose from the poetic, rhyming speech that the friar makes. The Friar speaks in this style to make sure that audience pays attention to what he is saying; it makes sure that it sticks in their minds as the information is essential to the plot. When they speak to each other the language is very passionate and dramatic, and it is bathetic in parts. This shows how passionate the love between them is, which is different to the mild, conventional love between Hero and Claudio.

Who declares love first for the other, Benedick or Beatrice? Why? What is the complicating factor in this romantic climax between Beatrice and Benedick?

Benedick declares his love for her first because he is trying to comfort her; the light heartedness of his confession is contrasting to the seriousness of what happened to Hero. He can see she is different from how she has been throughout the rest of the play, as before he was purely joking he didn’t see any chance for love. The complicating factor is that she asks him to kill Claudio, which he does not want to do, even though he thinks that he was in the wrong.

How does the lecture explain Beatrice’s rage at line 300-325?

She is mad because she is unable to do anything about Hero’s situation purely because she is a woman, Hero’s troubles have been caused by a man and no matter what she or her cousin has to say people will not believe her. Leonato didn’t even consider Hero’s innocence until the Friar spoke to him, and because he was a man Leonato listened and believed him. Beatrice can’t even take revenge for Hero, she is only able to “die a women with grieving.” She doesn’t believe that the men are even truly men, they are more likely complement each other than fight in real battles.

How does Benedick’s decision to challenge Claudio represent a major change for his character?

It shows that he is able to admit his love for Beatrice and he isn’t as cynical about love as he appears at first. He develops from just fitting the “bragging solider” character trope and mocking Claudio and his love, to having a love of his own. He is becoming more mature.