Much Ado About Nothing Act 4 Scene 1&2

Robby  Treadwell

9/17/12

Act 4 Scene 1&2

4th Period

Summary: In the first scene at the wedding Claudio does not marry Hero because he thinks she has been talking to other guys at night time. The Friar and Leonato create a plan to conclude that this isn't true and at the end Benedick and Beatrice confess their love for eachother. In the last scene Borachio and Conrad are taken to 'court.' There they are accused of talking to Hero by Dogberry but the watchmen say Don John is a villain.

Quotation: Sweet Prince, you learn me noble thankfulness.—

There, Leonato, take her back again.

Give not this rotten orange to your friend.

She’s but the sign and semblance of her honor.

Behold how like a maid she blushes here!

Oh, what authority and show of truth

Can cunning sin cover itself withal!

Comes not that blood as modest evidence

To witness simple virtue? Would you not swear,

All you that see her, that she were a maid

By these exterior shows? But she is none.

She knows the heat of a luxurious bed.

Her blush is guiltiness, not modesty.

Quotation Significance: In this quote Claudio is talking about what trash Hero is and how he thinks of her. It is significant because before he was in love with her so much now he calls her a whore because she is not a virgin.

Reflection: These two scenes take two big steps from the play. Claudio's whole thoughts of Hero are destroyed in this scene. Before this Claudio was so in love with Hero until he found out that someone was going to talk to her at her window every night. Poor Hero is accused of this and she has no say to whether or not this is true because it doesn't matter to Claudio. Also at the end it is nice that Beatrice and Benedick confess their love for eachother. Beatrice doesn't believe him fully yet and neither would I after all the things he said about never falling in love. These two scenes tell a lot about how the play can take a big turn with just a small action.

Discussion Question: What will happen to Claudio and his feelings while Hero is hiding? Will he find out the truth?