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Beatrice

Much Ado About Nothing

Beatrice’s Sonnet

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Beatrice closes Act 3 scene 1 of Much Ado About Nothing, speaking a sonnet.* Shakespeare occasionally used sonnets in his plays, for example, in Romeo and Juliet and Richard III, which were examined in previous essays. He didn’t insert these sonnets arbitrarily. He intended to achieve effects,
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Appearance and Deception

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A recurring theme in many of Shakespeare’s plays, and central to Much Ado About Nothing, explores how easily people are deceived not just by the false testimony of others but even by their own senses. Claudio, believing he was deceived by Don John, learned to place no trust in the words of others. With “Let every eye negotiate for itself,”
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Faith, niece, you tax Signior Benedick too much

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Leonato
Faith, niece, you tax Signior Benedick too
much, but he’ll be meet with you, I doubt it not.
Messenger
He hath done good service, lady, in these wars.
Beatrice
You had musty victual, and he hath holp to
eat it. He is a very valiant trencherman; he hath an
excellent stomach.
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Source:
Act 1
Scene 1
Line 47

Source Type:

Spoken by:
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By my troth, niece, thou wilt never get thee a husband

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Leonato
By my troth, niece, thou wilt never get thee a
husband if thou be so shrewd of thy tongue.
Leonato’s Brother
In faith, she’s too curst.
Beatrice
Too curst is more than curst. I shall lessen God’s sending
that way, for it is said “God sends a curst cow short horns,”
but to a cow too curst,
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Source:
Act 2
Scene 1
Line 18

Source Type:

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I have brought Count Claudio

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Beatrice
I have brought Count Claudio, whom you
sent me to seek.
Prince
Why, how now, count, wherefore are you sad?
Claudio
Not sad, my lord.
Prince
How then, sick?

No, sure, my lord, my mother cried, but then there
was a star danced, and under that was I born.
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Source:
Act 2
Scene 1
Line 281

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This can be no trick

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Benedick, coming forward
This can be no trick. The conference was sadly borne;
they have the truth of this from Hero; they seem to pity
the lady. It seems her affections have their full bent.
Love me? Why, it must be requited! I hear how I am
censured. Theysay I will bear myself proudly if
I perceive the love come from her.
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Source:
Act 2
Scene 3
Line 223

Source Type:

Spoken by:
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Now, Ursula, when Beatrice doth come

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Hero
Now, Ursula, when Beatrice doth come,
As we do trace this alley up and down,
Our talk must only be of Benedick.
When I do name him, let it be thy part
To praise him more than ever man did merit.

What fire is in mine ears?

My talk to thee must be how Benedick
Is sick in love with Beatrice.
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O, God defend me, how am I beset!

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Hero
O, God defend me, how am I beset!—
What kind of catechizing call you this?
Claudio
To make you answer truly to your name.
Hero
Is it not Hero? Who can blot that name
With any just reproach?
Claudio
Marry, that can Hero!
Hero itself can blot out Hero’s virtue.
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Source:
Act 4
Scene 1
Line 81

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O Fate, take not away thy heavy hand!

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Leonato
O Fate, take not away thy heavy hand!
Death is the fairest cover for her shame
That may be wished for.
Beatrice
How now, cousin Hero?
  Hero stirs.
Friar, to Hero
Have comfort, lady.

But mine, and mine I loved, and mine I praised,
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Source:
Act 4
Scene 1
Line 120

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Figures of Speech:
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Connected Notes:
Seasons, Elements and Humors

I do love nothing in the world so well as you

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Benedick
I do love nothing in the world so well as you.
Is not that strange?
Beatrice
As strange as the thing I know not. It were as
possible for me to say I loved nothing so well as you,
but believe me not, and yet I lie not; I confess
nothing, nor I deny nothing.
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Source:
Act 4
Scene 1
Line 281

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Figures of Speech:
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Connected Notes:
Appearance and Deception

Sweet Beatrice, wouldst thou come when I called thee?

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Benedick
Sweet Beatrice, wouldst thou come when I called thee?
Beatrice
Yea, signior, and depart when you bid me.
Benedick
O, stay but till then!
Beatrice
“Then” is spoken. Fare you well now. And yet, ere
I go, let me go with that I came, which is, with
knowing what hath passed between you and Claudio.
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Source:
Act 5
Scene 2
Line 42

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Madam, you must come to your uncle

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Ursula
Madam, you must come to your uncle. Yonder’s
old coil at home. It is proved my Lady Hero
hath been falsely accused, the Prince and Claudio
mightily abused, and Don John is the author of all,
who is fled and gone. Will you come presently?
  Ursula exits.

I will live in thy heart,
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Source:
Act 5
Scene 2
Line 95

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