Brandon’s Reviews > Much Ado About Nothing > Status Update

Beatrice persuades Benedict to kill his comrade Claudio. How interesting it must’ve been in Shakespeare’s day to listen to a young male say, “O that I had any friend would be a man for my sake! But manhood is melted into curtsies, vaulor into compliment, and men are only turned into tongue, and trim ones too” (VI.i). Did men in the audience become women’s friends?

What a tremendous line about plots intersecting! Beatrice says, “It were as possible for me to say I loved nothing so well as you, but believe me not: and yet I lie not. I confess nothing, nor I deny nothing. I am sorry for my cousin” (IV.i).

Borcachio and Margaret are attentive to the effects of “fashion” (III.iii and III.iv).

1st Viewing Suspense: listening to Dogberry and Verges describe hypothetical incidents, the audience feels the complexity of comic superiority to the clowning and yet anxiety that they will not detect Don John’s false accusations (III.iii). 2nd Viewing: the audience is charmed that justice can use asses like Dogberry and us.

Hero helps manipulate Beatrice at Leonato’s behest as directed by Don Pedro (54).

Don Leonato: “merry war betwixt….skirmish of wit between….” Euphony, and then….
Beatrice: “…four of his five wits went halting off….” appropriates Don Leonato’s metaphor, extending it as well as her critical portrayal of Benedict.

“Comedy is tragedy averted” (9).