Act 2, Scene 1: Beatrice, Hero, Antonio, and Leonato are discussing Don John, a man whom both Beatrice and Hero have a bad feeling about. Beatrice says that he is too quiet, and that Benedick (who was not being discussed until she brought him up, as per usual) is too talkative. If there was a man somewhere in the middle of the two, and handsome and wealthy and of a good family, any girl would go crazy for him. Leonato and Antonio think she's being too picky, and Beatrice insists she is thankful that God has not sent her a husband, then says she couldn't stand a husband with a beard - which, and we don't know this yet by the text, Benedick has. Is he on her mind a little bit? Is he ever not on her mind? She then jokes about the stereotype that unmarried women lead apes into hell, but she won't because the devil won't have her. Antonio then tells Hero that he hopes she will listen to her father, but Beatrice tells her that she shouldn't take a husband unless she likes him. The guests arrive for the masquerade, and Don Pedro asks Hero to walk with him. Balthasar dances with Margaret, whom he is interested in, and she flirts back. Ursula dances with Antonio, whom she knows immediately, but he pretends he is just pretending to be Antonio. Beatrice dances with Benedick (who is in a mask). It's not clear whether or not she knows who it is, but regardless, she brings up the topic of Benedick again, who has apparently told her she gets her wit out of a book, the Hundred Merry Tales. Benedick pretends not to know who Benedick is, and Beatrice throws out some more insults, saying he is the prince's jester and a dull fool. Meanwhile, Don John and Borachio go up to Claudio (knowing that it is Claudio, but pretending to think it's Benedick) and tell him that Don Pedro is going to ask Hero to marry him tonight. Claudio is hurt, and when Benedick (the real Benedick) comes up to chat, he is not in the mood. The whole mess is straightened out when Don Pedro tells Claudio and Benedick that he has talked to Hero and Leonato and that they have agreed that Hero and Claudio can be married. Benedick, meanwhile, complains to Don Pedro, going on and on about how awful she is, and right in the middle of this gargantuan monologue, throws in this little gem: "I would not marry her, though she were endowed with all that Adam had left him before he transgressed." Can we just note that no one at any point has even suggested that Benedick should marry Beatrice? I love it. He leaves when he sees Beatrice approach and she then reveals to Don Pedro that there was something between them in the past, and that she has "lost his heart". I'll discuss my theory on their previous relationship later. She also says this: "So I would he should not do me, my lord, lest I should prove the mother of fools." I thought that "mother of fools" was a metaphor. Like "queen of the idiots" or something. Nope. She's literally talking about being the mother of Benedick's children. You know, as she insists that she hates him. Okay, Beatrice. Sure. These two little chats with Don Pedro are pretty funny because they are insisting they hate each other by insisting that they would never marry/have children with each other, on no provocation. That's not exactly the best method of getting that point across. I think they doth protest too much, don't you? It is these little interactions that inspires Don Pedro to get them together. He gets Leonato, Claudio, and Hero and they decide to play a little trick on them to get them to admit their feelings.
Act 2, Scene 2
Don John and Borachio come up with their plan to split up Claudio and Hero. Borachio and Margaret, with whom he has been involved for a while now, will appear at Hero's window, and Don John will bring Claudio to see them and think that Hero is cheating on him.
Act 2, Scene 3
Benedick is out in Leonato's orchard and talks to himself about how he is surprised that Claudio has changed his opinion on love. He wonders if he will ever change his opinion, but figures he won't. And then begins his friends' plan to do exactly that. Don Pedro, Leonato, and Claudio arrive in the orchard joined by Balthasar, who sings a song about how men are unfaithful. Then, Don Pedro, Leonato, and Claudio begin their trick, saying that Beatrice is madly in love with Benedick but cannot tell him because she knows he would mock her, since she would mock him if he told her he loves her. Apparently, Hero thinks Beatrice will do something awful since she is so tormented by her love for Benedick. But they think Benedick shouldn't be told of her love, since they know he will mock her. They talk about what a shame it is, since Beatrice is so beautiful and smart, and such a good person. They say that Benedick, despite also being attractive and smart, is unworthy of her love. Happy with their trick, they leave Benedick alone in the orchard, where he begins a monologue all about how shocked he is, but he believes them. He has decided to return Beatrice's love, and reminds himself that it is true that she is beautiful and smart and good, which he already knew. Beatrice then comes to bring him into dinner, and despite being as sassy as always to him, Benedick now thinks that he can see her hidden affection.
Act 2, Scene 2
Don John and Borachio come up with their plan to split up Claudio and Hero. Borachio and Margaret, with whom he has been involved for a while now, will appear at Hero's window, and Don John will bring Claudio to see them and think that Hero is cheating on him.
Act 2, Scene 3
Benedick is out in Leonato's orchard and talks to himself about how he is surprised that Claudio has changed his opinion on love. He wonders if he will ever change his opinion, but figures he won't. And then begins his friends' plan to do exactly that. Don Pedro, Leonato, and Claudio arrive in the orchard joined by Balthasar, who sings a song about how men are unfaithful. Then, Don Pedro, Leonato, and Claudio begin their trick, saying that Beatrice is madly in love with Benedick but cannot tell him because she knows he would mock her, since she would mock him if he told her he loves her. Apparently, Hero thinks Beatrice will do something awful since she is so tormented by her love for Benedick. But they think Benedick shouldn't be told of her love, since they know he will mock her. They talk about what a shame it is, since Beatrice is so beautiful and smart, and such a good person. They say that Benedick, despite also being attractive and smart, is unworthy of her love. Happy with their trick, they leave Benedick alone in the orchard, where he begins a monologue all about how shocked he is, but he believes them. He has decided to return Beatrice's love, and reminds himself that it is true that she is beautiful and smart and good, which he already knew. Beatrice then comes to bring him into dinner, and despite being as sassy as always to him, Benedick now thinks that he can see her hidden affection.
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