MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
E.8
Act 3 sc 2 lines 39 – 92
Act 4 sc 1 – lines 18 – 55
Homework
Read the essay carefully.
Try to decide which level you think it would contribute to.
Annotate the successful features by underlining key sentences and
explaining how they demonstrate the level – Use E.2 to help you.
These scenes show Claudio in different situations.
Comment on Claudio’s use of language in these sections and its impact
on those around him.
Claudio is one of the most crucial characters in the play and his language is
very important, not only in setting the trap for Benedick but also when he jilts
Hero at the altar.
In the earlier extract, Claudio is jovial and jokes with the other male characters
about love as he teases Benedick, “That’s as much to say, the sweet youth’s
in love”. Here, his playfulness is shown in describing Benedick as “a sweet
youth” which sounds quite patronising.
Claudio is also responsible for planting the seed in Benedick’s mind that
someone loves him. As this is a pivotal moment in the plot’s development, it
could be emphasised by Claudio speaking directly to the audience when he
says, “Nay but I know who loves him”. This would show how he is deliberately
attempting to mislead Benedick by saying someone loves him but not
revealing who. His language is deliberately vague and this increases the
tension for the audience and for Benedick who leaves in agitation.
Don John’s arrival causes a drastic change in Claudio’s mood. When Don
John makes his allegation about Hero, Claudio is full of confusion, “Who
hero?”, “disloyal?”. His short sentences and rhetorical questions show his
confusion and this could suggest that he is unwilling to believe the terrible lies
about his future wife. However, he seems to make up his mind very quickly
that Hero may be guilty as he goes on to say that if he sees any evidence he
will “Shame her” instead of marrying her. His use of the word “shame” shows
a crueller side to his character. The fact that he has decided this so quickly
makes the audience wonder if ever really loved her properly. If he did, surely
he wouldn’t believe the rumours so easily?
By Act 4 scene 1, Claudio seems to be a very different character from his
earlier, joking self. He is almost testing Leonato when he asks, “will you with
free and unconstrained soul give me this maid your daughter?”. The question
is quite challenging and would create tension for the audience as they know
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Claudio’s suspicions. The use of the word “maid” is important because we
know that he doubts whether she is a virgin. Perhaps he is being ironic, and
wanting to catch Leonato and Hero out?
Claudio gets more and more angry as the scene develops. He attacks
Leonato saying, “Give not this rotten orange to your friend!”. This shocking
image of decay is very derogatory and makes Hero sound like an object
instead of a person with feelings. It also gives the impression that she is a
possession that can be given away by her powerful father. Claudio is being
disrespectful and this would shock the audience.
By the end of the extract, Claudio uses contrasting images to show how
beautiful and pure Hero used to be “like Dian in her orb” and how
“intemperate” she is now. He compares her to animals with “savage
sensuality! which is another shocking and unflattering image.
Notes for this students:
Three areas of success:
One area for development:
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