Much Ado: Lesson IV: Review Questions II, III, and IX

When Benedick challenged Claudio, he displayed a very uncharacteristic trait; dedication for Beatrice. His love for Beatrice had bound him, just as he originally feared. He became so dedicated that he turned against his friends for love. Claudio, the object of the challenge, seemed to side with his friends and against Hero when challenged, particularly in the first wedding scene. This illustrates an important difference between Benedick and Claudio, both as lovers, and as men.

 Claudio eventually repents when he realises Hero's innocence. He throws himself at the mercy of Leonato, and seems genuinely sorry for his little temper tantrum back at the wedding, even if he sees no wrong in humiliating an unfaithful woman so violently, a belief not shared by the other characters.

His repentance comes to a climax during the second wedding. There, he takes vows with a woman he thinks he has never met. This is important not only because it is a leap of faith, but also because it shows that he is truly sorry, and regrets humiliating Hero after all. In order to atone for his crime against the innocent bride, Claudio does whatever Leonato says in order to make his apologies. Even if it means marrying his Lenato's "niece".

Much Ado: Lesson III: Thought Question IX

Lady Macbeth and Beatrice. Similar, but also very different. Lady Macbeth is a ruthless killer through and through until she begins feeling guilty. Beatrice just gets caught up in the moment and finds an apt way to test Benedick and let off a little steam. Beatrice's grim request is emotional, based off a need for revenge. Lady Macbeth's is a tactical strike. She is more or less her husband's agent, advising and managing him for his political position. After the Murder of Duncan, she grew panicked, worried, and more than a little insane due to her guilt. Beatrice eventually cooled off because luckily, her plans didn't come to fruition. If Benedick would have hunted down and butchered Claudio then and there, the events of the play would be radically different...

Much Ado: Lesson III: Review Questions IV & V

At first glance, Claudio's outburst at Hero seemed like the mistake of a wounded lover. On closer inspection however, I've determined that he is just stubborn. He becomes convinced that it was Hero who betrayed him, and is obsessed with the idea of Heroes betrayal. He fixates upon her unfaithfulness and is converted to Benedick's view of marriage. He sees Hero as a war trophy, a prize at the end of the journey, and a fine status symbol, but not a real companion. When he realizes his "orange" is "rotten", he sides with his army buddies, and ruins the wedding.

Much Ado About Nothing: Lesson II: Review Question XI &

Benedick thinks, quite simply, that it is unmanly to be in love. He says Claudio's manner and intrests have changed greatly. From music to clothing, and even his speech patterns seem to have changed! Ever since he fell in love, he's never been the same. He promises no such woman will make a fool of him! Unless he meets the right one...

Ten minutes later Benedick is madly in love. How? The trickery of Claudio, Leonato, and
Don Pedro . The conversation (benedick is eavesdropping) Goes like this:

Claudio: "I did never think that lady would have loved any man."

Leonato: "No, nor I neither, but most wonderful that she should so dote on Signor Benedick, whom she hath in all outward behaviors seemed ever to abhor.  By my troth, my lord, I cannot tell what to think of it, but that she loves him with an enraged affection, it is past the infinite of thought."

And so they go on, stressing the passion of Beatrice's love, and her unwillingness to tell Benedick. Can you belive that Benedick buys it? He claims that:

 "I should think this a gull but that the white-bearded fellow speaks it. Knavery cannot, sure, hide himself in such reverence."

Perhaps he trust in Leonato is misplaced. In a mirror of this scene, Hero, Ursula and Margaret speak of Benedick's love for a spying Beatrice!

Hero: No, truly, Ursula, she is too disdainful. I know her spirits are as coy and wild As haggards of the rock.

Ursula: But are you sure that Benedick loves Beatrice so entirely?

Hero: So says the Prince and my new-trothèd lord.

It's like watching the same scene twice! And yet, just like that, They're in love with each other once more.

Much Ado About Nothing: Lesson I: Review Questions VII & IIX

Benedick and Beatrice want to fall in love, but are just too mistrusting. The play gives us reason to believe that they were once lovers, but were emotionally wounded by one another. For the most part, they just put it behind them and enjoy battles of wit and a "rivalry" relationship to keep them from getting to close again. Beneath the playful exterior, they are both very wary of members of the opposite sex, particularly each other. Beatrice fears the consequences of marriage, preferring not to fall into what she think of as a dull life, comparing wedding to a series of dances. She thinks of men, especially Benedick, as unfaithful. This is ironic, as Benedick holds these same beliefs about women, particularly Beatrice! Benedick simply preaches against marriage in the early stages of the play. He is afraid of becoming a cuckold if he weds, something he is sure will happen due to those untrustworthy women. Beatrice and Benedick will have nothing to do with each other in the play's beginning, but as the play progresses, a drastic change occurs in them both...

Macbeth: Lesson IV: Review Question IV

In the first scene of act five, we discover Lady Macbeth's peculiar habit- sleepwalking. This scene stars Lady Macbeth of course, but since she's asleep, the need arises for a couple of "commentators". Enter the Doctor and the Gentlewoman, a couple of relatively insignificant characters who, save for this scene, are absent from the play. Before Lady Macbeth even appears, the gentlewoman insists that

"I have seen her rise from her bed, throw her nightgown upon her, unlock her closet, take forth paper, fold it, write upon ’t, read it, afterwards seal it, and again return to bed; yet all this while in a most fast sleep."

Soon after, Lady Macbeth enters with a candle. The two others once again act as "commentators" by noticing and questioning everything about her. They wonder where she got the candle, notice that her eyes are open, and talk about her wringing her hands. At last, Lady Macbeth speaks what's on her mind.

"Out, damned spot! Out, I say!—One, two. Why, then, ’tis time to do ’t. Hell is murky!—Fie, my lord, fie! A soldier, and afeard? What need we fear who knows it, when none can call our power to account?—Yet who would have thought the old man to have had so much blood in him."

Creepy, huh? The Doctor and the Gentlewoman certainly thought so.  Lady Macbeth continues to feel guilty and wish the deed could be undone, while the others continue to talk about it. Eventually, she returns to bed, and the Doctor and gentle woman continue to worry about her health. The irony here is that in the beginning of the play she was the murderous and cruel one, while Macbeth continued to feel guilty. Now, in the last act, Macbeth is cold blooded and feels no remorse, while she is now feeling the guilt.


Sorry if it's a little too long! I get a bit carried away...

Macbeth: Lesson III: Review Questions I & II

When Macbeth talks about a "fruitless crown" and "barren scepter", he's obviously not talking about the actual inanimate objects bearing young! What he means to say by this is that his rule is meaningless if his hiers can't sit on the throne. And acording to a trio of witches, it's not gonna happen. Earlier in the play, the witches tell a small, trivial truth to win Macbeths trust. This makes him belive in the next prediction, and eventualy spurs him to violent action. In an echo of this, the witches make Macbeth see someone who was once a freind as a threat to the crown by telling his that Banquo's heirs will one day sit on the throne. And once again, this leads Macbeth to a terrible murder.