Status Updates From Much Ado About Nothing

Act 3 Scene 5 Dogberry is so unintelligible (or would he say intellibible) that Leonato has no idea what he is talking about so he tries to dismiss him. If Dogberry had been able to warn Leonato, the tragic part of the comedy would not have happened. Alas! He did not. Leonates says, in essence, “Ain’t nobody got time for that.” He tells Dogberry to do the examination and dismisses him.

Margaret suggests a distillation of thistles carduus benedictus and is clearly using that to bring up Benedick’s name. She tries to tease Beatrice who is not putting up with it. The men have arrived and they need to finish dressing.

Act 3 Scene 4 Hero and her ladies are getting ready for the wedding. Margaret helps her dress while Ursula fetches Beatrice. Margaret uses some crass humor about Hero’s wedding night. Hero protests but Margaret points out that it’s okay for married people. Beatrice comes in all out of tune and she says she is ill. She has a stuffed nose. Margaret tries to be funny but Beatrice does not like her sense of humor.

The guards did not fall for it and they overhear Borachio telling Conrade what he just finished doing. He “wooed” Margaret, leaning out of Hero’s window. She was wearing Hero’s dress and now Claudio and the prince think she is false, when it was Margaret all the time. Don John knows the truth and he is part of the plot. The plucky watchmen arrest the two scoundrels, Borachio and Conrade. Good for them!

Dogberry is unable to address the most simple questions and he gives the stupidest advice. He and his righthand man, Verges, even gives instructions about what to do if they see the prince. The only smart thing Dogberry does is to watch Leonates’s door because of the wedding the next day. Conrade and Borachio sends them off on a wild goose chase after a thief they did not see.

Act 3 Scene 3 Vote for Dogberry! He and his posse are comic relief to the tragedy that is about to end. I know people like Dogberry, God bless them. It is far more effective to speak simply and concisely. You would sound more intelligent. Dogberry’s vocabulary has outpaced his understanding. Hearing him speak is such a delight! He give instructions to his men, but one is smarter than he is and asks tough questions.

After claiming a toothache again, he asks to speak to Leonato. Don John shows up. He looks grave as always and wishes to tell the prince some news. He says to Claudio that he will not marry tomorrow if he learns what John knows. He accuses Hero of being disloyal because she is every man’s Hero. John offers to give him proof with his own eyes. Claudio is mad about mischief, but John says he is preventing a plague.

Act 3 Scene 2 The prince plans to stay until the wedding is over. He cracks a joke about Benedick having made Cupid terrified of him because he has cut his bowstring a couple of times. They tease him because he looks sad. Benedick claims to have a toothache. Claudio has noticed some distractions in Benedick and he thinks it is love. He has even shaved his beard! The prince says melancholy is the biggest symptom.

Then Ursula raves about how handsome and good-looking he is. He has an excellent reputation all over Italy. They walk toward the house and, in asides, congratulate one another about their catch. Beatrice is astonished but states she will requite his love. What a surprise!

They speak in quiet asides about how they are going to bait the hook and catch the fish. Speaking loudly, they state the Benedick is in love with Beatrice, but Hero has cautioned them to tell him to get over her because she is too proud to accept him. The fault is not Benedick but in Beatrice with her haughty nature who would turn down the best of men. Hero would reather warn Benedick than Beatrice.

Act 3 Scene 1 On the surface Hero tells Margaret to lure Beatrice into eavesdropping on a conversation between Hero and Ursula. She tells her to have Beatrice hide in the bower where honeysuckles, ripened by the sun, hide from the sun because of their pride. Is she saying that Beatrice is proud? The plan is for Ursuala to praise Benedick more than he deserves and Hero to say how lovesick he is over Beatrice.

After they leave, Benedick is stunned. He is disappointed that they have such a low opinion of him. He is sad to think that Beatrice is in such pain and she will not approach him because of his pride. Then she shows up "against her will" to let him know dinner is ready. He acts all goodness and light, which confuses her. After she leaves, he looks for double meanings in what she says that are not there.