Noting
“By noting the lady, I have marked a
thousand blushing apparitions”
By observing closely, the Friar has believed Hero, in
her few word of innocence. This takes place at 4
scene 1, slightly after the wedding and after Claudio
has shamed her.
This is an example of noting – by him observing
closely he has seen the truth behind all the lies, and
ironically all the miss-noting.
“I noted her not, but I looked on
her”
• This is an example of not trying to note, for
the reason because he may not want to. He
doesn’t want to note her because he doesn’t
think she’s worthy of his attention.
• He looks at her beauty not her personality,
whereas Claudio is noting her in all ways
possible which Benedick cannot comprehend.
• He has looked on her, but not wishing to
carefully take the time/bother, signifying how
he looks on all women in general.
“Where I should wed her, I should
shame her”
• This is a example of miss-noting, and the
outcomes of it. He has seen ‘someone’
committing adultery as assumes that it is Hero
on the basis of Don John confession. Claudio
never actually see’s Hero committing her
crime therefore this shows miss-noting. This is
the ripple effect of miss-noting and it leads to
many other effects, which all stem from missnoting, hence much ado about nothing
because nothing has really happened.
“the price discovered to Claudio that
he loves my niece, you daughter”
• This is also an example of mis-noting which
also has a ripple effect on events. As this
happened, it made Leonato make partial plans
as well as set him on the wrong path. This also
links to much ado about nothing because it
was all a miss-understanding and caused a big
commotion.
“what fire in my ears? Can this be
true”
• Beatrice is miss-noting, she overhears hero
and Ursula talking about Benedick but she
believes them which is miss-noting and not
understanding the situation. Although this did
lead to a misunderstanding, it was not a bad
one, it merely brought the two together, it
showed their hidden love deep inside.
“Tis certain so; the prince wooes for
himself”
• Another example of mis-noting is shown here,
when Don John and Borachio tell Claudio that
Don Pedro intends to ‘woo’ Hero for himself.
Claudio, believing the lie and therefore misnoting by not fully assessing the situation with
enough detail, bids Hero farewell. This scene
takes place in Act II Scene I.
“I came yonder from a great supper:
the prince your
brother is royally entertained by
Leonato: and I
can give you intelligence of an
intended marriage.”
• A clear example of noting is present at the
near beginning of the play in Act I Scene III;
after Borachio overhears a conversation
between Don Pedro and Don John. This
conversation is about Claudio’s wish/intention
to marry Hero. Borachio notes this and
reports back to Claudio.
“They have the truth of
this from Hero. They seem to pity the
lady: it
seems her affections have their full
bent. Love me!”
• Yet another example of mis-noting, here
conducted by Benedick in Act II Scene III.
Benedick overhears the staged conversation
between Leonato, Don Pedro and Claudio;
Benedick let’s his emotions get the better of
him, and instead of taking the time to
properly note the conversation, he believes it
to be true.
“Note this before my notes:
There's not a note of mine that's
worth the noting.”
• While referring to singing, instead of
observing, in this context notes are musical
notes. Balthasar tells to Don Pedro to note
(observe) only his music and only to pay
attention to that which is worth observing
closely.
“She were an excellent wife for
Benedick”
• An example of noting in Act II scene I, Don
Pedro sees something between Beatrice and
Benedick and decides to play Cupid one more
time. It demonstrates Don Pedro’s ability to
note closely for love.