Act 3, Scene 1
Hero tells one of her servants, Margaret, to get Beatrice from the parlor and tell her that Hero and Ursula are in the orchard talking about her. Knowing that Beatrice is nosy, she'll come out to eavesdrop and Part 2 of the Plan to Get Beatrice and Benedick Together can begin. Hero reminds Ursula of their jobs - like Don Pedro, Leonato, and Claudio, the two will discuss how madly in love Benedick is with her and how great a guy he is. Hero and Ursula see Beatrice is sneakily running over to hear them. Hero starts off by saying (so Beatrice can hear) that Beatrice is too disdainful and then Ursula drops the bomb: "But are you sure that Benedick loves Beatrice so entirely?" Hero confirms that Don Pedro and Claudio have told her so, and asked her to tell Beatrice, but knowing Beatrice's personality, she knows that she will only mock him, and so to save his feelings, they should keep it secret and let him get over her himself. Just like the guys did about Beatrice, the girls go over all of Benedick's good qualities - he's young and handsome, smart, and noble. But Beatrice seems to find something wrong with any man, and it's not becoming of her. After repeating Benedick's good qualities a few times, Ursula asks Hero when she will be married. Hero tells her that she and Claudio will be married tomorrow, and then asks her to come inside and help her pick out what to wear. They leave, and Beatrice is shocked. She has a little monologue about how she can hardly believe it, but vows to return his love and also to marry him (which is her own idea). Like Benedick, she admits that she has always known his good qualities and that he does deserve her love.
Act 3, Scene 2
While with Benedick and Leonato, Don Pedro tells Claudio that he's planning to return home to Aragon after the wedding. Claudio offers to go with him (literally right after he's married, what the heck?) but Don Pedro tells him that Benedick will come with him since of course he has always managed to avoid love (can't you see the three of them shooting side glances at Benedick as he says this?). But Benedick says he isn't feeling himself. Claudio hopes (out loud) that he's in love. No denial from Benedick, who just says he has a toothache, which - fun fact - was thought to be a symptom of falling in love back in the day. They tease him, but Benedick just says "Well, every one can master a grief but he that has it." Now Claudio is sure he's in love. Claudio, Don Pedro, and Leonato note that he seems to be taking special care of his appearance nowadays. Yep, they conclude, he's definitely in love. And what's more, they tease, they know a certain someone who loves him. Don Pedro jokes that she must not know him very well, if she's in love with him. Not at all, insists Claudio, she knows everything about him, even his bad qualities, and is still madly in love with him. Benedick is annoyed and takes Leonato aside. Don Pedro and Claudio are shocked at how well their plan is working and figure that he's talking to him about Beatrice. With Benedick and Leonato gone, Don John appears. He has something very important to tell Don Pedro, which Claudio should hear, too, since it involves him. Don John begins by saying that he cares about Claudio, even if it seems he doesn't, and that it is because of his care for him that he must know that his fiancee, Hero, has been unfaithful. He says if the two come with him tonight, they will be able to see for themselves. Claudio and Don Pedro don't believe it, but Don John tells them they will when they see everything. Claudio says that if this is true, not only will he not marry Hero tomorrow, but he will publicly shame her. Don Pedro vows to work with Claudio to disgrace her as well, if this proves to be true. Dear lord.
Act 3, Scene 3
The head of the police force, Dogberry, and his assistant, Verges, give out the evening's assignments to the rest of their police force. Two of the men, Hugh Otecake and George Seacole, are apparently the best of the force because they can read and write. We've set a high bar, here, folks. Dogberry calls out Seacole to be in charge of "comprehending" (he means apprehending) vagrants. Words are a recurring problem with Dogberry, by the way. Seacole wonders what he should do if they don't comply. Just let them go, Dogberry says, and be thankful that you no longer have to deal with him. Dogberry reminds the watch not to talk, and one watchman says they will sleep instead, as the watch should. Good, says Dogberry, just make sure no one steals your stuff. Then Dogberry gives similar advice regarding drunks at the ale-houses - tell them to get to bed, and if they don't, leave them alone until they are sober. If they've found a thief, make him prove that he's a thief by letting him steal from them. Verges tells Dogberry that he is a merciful man. They go on in this way for a little while, and then the two leave. Borachio enters with Conrade, another of Don John's henchmen. One of the watchmen takes note of the two and tells the rest of the company to pay attention to them. Borachio tells Conrade that Don John has paid him in gold for the crime. Conrade is shocked he's paid so much, but Borachio tells him that when a rich criminal needs a poor criminal's services, the poor one is able to ask for a lot of money. They talk about apparel, and Borachio uses the word "deformed", which one of the watchmen believes is the name of a criminal that he is quite familiar with. Borachio asks Conrade if he is hearing a noise, but Conrade says no. Borachio then tells Conrade everything he did - he and Margaret appeared at the window as planned, and since Don John had already told them what to expect, Don Pedro and Claudio fell for it. The watchmen jump out of their hiding place and tell them to come with them, which Borachio and Conrade agree to do.
Act 3, Scene 4
Hero tells Ursula to wake up Beatrice and tell her to join them in Hero's room. Hero and Margaret disagree over what Hero should wear to her wedding. Margaret, who is prone to dirty jokes, teases Hero about her soon being married. Beatrice arrives and is sounding congested. Hero asks her if she is feeling sick, and she says she is. She also says this: "By my troth, I am exceeding ill: Heigh-ho!" which as we will remember she said she would say if she ever wanted a husband, which of course she would never. Margaret playfully teases Beatrice a little and Beatrice is a little defensive. Margaret suggests just the thing for her little cold is a bit of distilled Carduus Benedictus (which was a common remedy for ailments back in the day). Obviously, Beatrice gets even more defensive and accuses Margaret of having some particular reason for suggesting Benedictus. Nope, says Margaret. And Beatrice is not to be mistaken; Margaret certainly doesn't think Beatrice is in love. Although...Benedick had a similar attitude, and now appears to be showing signs of love. Ursula appears and tells the three that everyone is arriving for the wedding, and Hero asks them to help her get dressed.
Act 3, Scene 5
Dogberry and Verges approach Leonato about some concerns they have, but Leonato doesn't want to hear it - his daughter is getting married and he is very busy. He gives them a little time, though, and the two say that they have detained two suspicious characters, whom they would like Leonato to take a look at. But Leonato tells them to do it themselves. A messenger arrives to bring Leonato to the wedding, and Dogberry and Verges go to examine the men they have captured (being Borachio and Conrade).
Hero tells one of her servants, Margaret, to get Beatrice from the parlor and tell her that Hero and Ursula are in the orchard talking about her. Knowing that Beatrice is nosy, she'll come out to eavesdrop and Part 2 of the Plan to Get Beatrice and Benedick Together can begin. Hero reminds Ursula of their jobs - like Don Pedro, Leonato, and Claudio, the two will discuss how madly in love Benedick is with her and how great a guy he is. Hero and Ursula see Beatrice is sneakily running over to hear them. Hero starts off by saying (so Beatrice can hear) that Beatrice is too disdainful and then Ursula drops the bomb: "But are you sure that Benedick loves Beatrice so entirely?" Hero confirms that Don Pedro and Claudio have told her so, and asked her to tell Beatrice, but knowing Beatrice's personality, she knows that she will only mock him, and so to save his feelings, they should keep it secret and let him get over her himself. Just like the guys did about Beatrice, the girls go over all of Benedick's good qualities - he's young and handsome, smart, and noble. But Beatrice seems to find something wrong with any man, and it's not becoming of her. After repeating Benedick's good qualities a few times, Ursula asks Hero when she will be married. Hero tells her that she and Claudio will be married tomorrow, and then asks her to come inside and help her pick out what to wear. They leave, and Beatrice is shocked. She has a little monologue about how she can hardly believe it, but vows to return his love and also to marry him (which is her own idea). Like Benedick, she admits that she has always known his good qualities and that he does deserve her love.
Act 3, Scene 2
While with Benedick and Leonato, Don Pedro tells Claudio that he's planning to return home to Aragon after the wedding. Claudio offers to go with him (literally right after he's married, what the heck?) but Don Pedro tells him that Benedick will come with him since of course he has always managed to avoid love (can't you see the three of them shooting side glances at Benedick as he says this?). But Benedick says he isn't feeling himself. Claudio hopes (out loud) that he's in love. No denial from Benedick, who just says he has a toothache, which - fun fact - was thought to be a symptom of falling in love back in the day. They tease him, but Benedick just says "Well, every one can master a grief but he that has it." Now Claudio is sure he's in love. Claudio, Don Pedro, and Leonato note that he seems to be taking special care of his appearance nowadays. Yep, they conclude, he's definitely in love. And what's more, they tease, they know a certain someone who loves him. Don Pedro jokes that she must not know him very well, if she's in love with him. Not at all, insists Claudio, she knows everything about him, even his bad qualities, and is still madly in love with him. Benedick is annoyed and takes Leonato aside. Don Pedro and Claudio are shocked at how well their plan is working and figure that he's talking to him about Beatrice. With Benedick and Leonato gone, Don John appears. He has something very important to tell Don Pedro, which Claudio should hear, too, since it involves him. Don John begins by saying that he cares about Claudio, even if it seems he doesn't, and that it is because of his care for him that he must know that his fiancee, Hero, has been unfaithful. He says if the two come with him tonight, they will be able to see for themselves. Claudio and Don Pedro don't believe it, but Don John tells them they will when they see everything. Claudio says that if this is true, not only will he not marry Hero tomorrow, but he will publicly shame her. Don Pedro vows to work with Claudio to disgrace her as well, if this proves to be true. Dear lord.
Act 3, Scene 3
The head of the police force, Dogberry, and his assistant, Verges, give out the evening's assignments to the rest of their police force. Two of the men, Hugh Otecake and George Seacole, are apparently the best of the force because they can read and write. We've set a high bar, here, folks. Dogberry calls out Seacole to be in charge of "comprehending" (he means apprehending) vagrants. Words are a recurring problem with Dogberry, by the way. Seacole wonders what he should do if they don't comply. Just let them go, Dogberry says, and be thankful that you no longer have to deal with him. Dogberry reminds the watch not to talk, and one watchman says they will sleep instead, as the watch should. Good, says Dogberry, just make sure no one steals your stuff. Then Dogberry gives similar advice regarding drunks at the ale-houses - tell them to get to bed, and if they don't, leave them alone until they are sober. If they've found a thief, make him prove that he's a thief by letting him steal from them. Verges tells Dogberry that he is a merciful man. They go on in this way for a little while, and then the two leave. Borachio enters with Conrade, another of Don John's henchmen. One of the watchmen takes note of the two and tells the rest of the company to pay attention to them. Borachio tells Conrade that Don John has paid him in gold for the crime. Conrade is shocked he's paid so much, but Borachio tells him that when a rich criminal needs a poor criminal's services, the poor one is able to ask for a lot of money. They talk about apparel, and Borachio uses the word "deformed", which one of the watchmen believes is the name of a criminal that he is quite familiar with. Borachio asks Conrade if he is hearing a noise, but Conrade says no. Borachio then tells Conrade everything he did - he and Margaret appeared at the window as planned, and since Don John had already told them what to expect, Don Pedro and Claudio fell for it. The watchmen jump out of their hiding place and tell them to come with them, which Borachio and Conrade agree to do.
Act 3, Scene 4
Hero tells Ursula to wake up Beatrice and tell her to join them in Hero's room. Hero and Margaret disagree over what Hero should wear to her wedding. Margaret, who is prone to dirty jokes, teases Hero about her soon being married. Beatrice arrives and is sounding congested. Hero asks her if she is feeling sick, and she says she is. She also says this: "By my troth, I am exceeding ill: Heigh-ho!" which as we will remember she said she would say if she ever wanted a husband, which of course she would never. Margaret playfully teases Beatrice a little and Beatrice is a little defensive. Margaret suggests just the thing for her little cold is a bit of distilled Carduus Benedictus (which was a common remedy for ailments back in the day). Obviously, Beatrice gets even more defensive and accuses Margaret of having some particular reason for suggesting Benedictus. Nope, says Margaret. And Beatrice is not to be mistaken; Margaret certainly doesn't think Beatrice is in love. Although...Benedick had a similar attitude, and now appears to be showing signs of love. Ursula appears and tells the three that everyone is arriving for the wedding, and Hero asks them to help her get dressed.
Act 3, Scene 5
Dogberry and Verges approach Leonato about some concerns they have, but Leonato doesn't want to hear it - his daughter is getting married and he is very busy. He gives them a little time, though, and the two say that they have detained two suspicious characters, whom they would like Leonato to take a look at. But Leonato tells them to do it themselves. A messenger arrives to bring Leonato to the wedding, and Dogberry and Verges go to examine the men they have captured (being Borachio and Conrade).
No comments:
Post a Comment