Act I, Scene I, Taming Of The Shrew Essay, Research Paper
Act I, scene I A messenger brings word to Leonato that Don
Pedro of Aragon is passing through Messina on his return from a victorious
battle. Then Beatrice asks if Benedick is part of the company, but then hides
her interest in the news. Shortly the company of Don Pedro, Claudio, and
Benedick arrives and Beatrice and Benedick trade clever remarks with one
another, both professing that love is only for fools. Meanwhile Claudio,
attracted by Hero’s beauty, thinks he is in love. He asks Benedick what he thinks
of the lady, but Benedick only rails against marriage and womankind. Don Pedro,
however, supports Claudio’s interest in Hero, and tells him that he will speak
to Hero and her father during the masked revels that evening. Act I, scene II A complication arises immediately when
Antonio reports to Leonato that he overheard the Prince telling Claudio that he
is in love with Hero. Leonato says that he’ll wait to see what will happen. Act I, scene III Meanwhile Don John, Don Pedro’s bastard
brother, hides his hateful nature, waiting for the right moment to cause
problems for his brother and Claudio, who he thinks has taken his place in his
brother’s affections. He hopes Claudio’s desire to wed Hero will give him an
occasion to cause some mischief. Act II, scene I Leonato and his daughter and niece are ready
for the party to begin. While Beatrice complains that there is no man who can
match her spirit, Hero obediently consents to her father’s counsel to accept
the Prince when he woos. All wear masks for the dance which leads to confusion
and fun. Don Pedro talks to Hero privately while Benedick and Beatrice exchange
insults. Meanwhile, Don John tries to cause trouble by telling Claudio that
Pedro plans to wed Hero himself. Claudio thinks he has lost Hero and becomes very
angry with Pedro. However, Pedro comes in to announce that he has completed the
match between Hero and Claudio, and instantly Claudio’s jealousy turns to joy.
Now that the wedding is arranged, the Duke proposes a plan to get Beatrice and
Benedick fall in love with one another. Act II, scene II Don John and Borachio hatch a scheme to
thwart Claudio’s marriage plans by making Hero seem unchaste. Borachio will
arrange to meet with Margaret at Hero’s window in the middle of the night.
Thereby, he will fool the Duke and Claudio into believing that Hero is having
an affair. Act II, scene III Benedick is in the garden lamenting how love
has changed Claudio. He is no longer a simple, frank, natural soldier but a
lover, concerned about fashion, manners, and poetry. Benedick reconfirms his
resolve to have nothing to do with marriage. The woman he would surrender
himself to must be fair, wise, and virtuous, and he hasn’t met any woman like
this. He hides in an arbor when Don Pedro, Claudio,
and Leonato approach. Having seen him, they begin their scheme to get Benedick
and Beatrice romantically involved. They announce that Beatrice loves Benedick,
but they express fear that Benedick will just make fun of the lady. Benedick is completely fooled by their trick,
and when he sees Beatrice coming to call him in to dinner, he is charmed of
her. Although Beatrice is sharp in her speech, Benedick now hears words of love
where before he heard only her insults. Act III, scene I Hero arranges for Beatrice to overhear a
conversation about Benedick’s love sickness and desire for Beatrice. Beatrice
listens while Hero and her waiting lady pity about how Beatrice would only make
fun of Benedick if she knew. Beatrice is taken in and has a complete change of
heart; she vows to love Benedick if he will have her. Act III, scene II Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato tease
Benedick saying he doesn’t look like himself; he is pale and melancholy as well
as clean and newly shaven. Finally when he can’t stand their teasing anymore,
Benedick asks to talk privately with Leonato. Don John joins Don Pedro and Claudio and
accuses Hero of being unfaithful. He says he wants to save Claudio from a
dishonorable marriage, and he will take them that night to Hero’s bedroom
window where they will see
Claudio swears that if she is with a man, he will shame her at their wedding
before the whole congregation. Act III, scene III The night watch assembles and gets muddled
instructions from Dogberry and Verges to be alert for enemies of the prince.
They overhear Borachio brag to Conrade about just earning a thousand ducats
from Don John by fooling Claudio and Don Pedro into believing that Hero met
with him at her window. He had met with Hero’s maid Margaret. The watch officers
step forward and arrest Borachio and Conrade for this treachery. Act III, scene IV Hero is nervously preparing for the wedding
while Beatrice acts lovesick and melancholy. Margaret teases Beatrice, saying
she may be in love, just like Benedick. Act III, scene V The Constable Dogberry meets with Leonato to
tell him the Watch has taken two prisoners during the night, and they need to
be examined. However, Leonato is in a hurry to leave for the church with Hero
and can’t make sense out of Dogberry’s and Verges’ foolish speech. He orders
them to conduct the examination. Act IV, scene I Everyone convenes at the church for the
wedding of Hero and Claudio. When the friar asks if Claudio is here to marry
this lady, he says no. He tells Leonato to take Hero back; she’s a "rotten
orange," "the sign and semblance of her honor." Claudio says
that he knows Hero is unchaste and rejects her. Hero faints while her father
staggers beneath these accusations. Beatrice, Benedick, Leonato, and the friar
try to understand what has happened. They begin to suspect that Don John is
behind the accusations. The Friar suggests a strategy: let people think Hero
has died. Remorse will begin to work on Claudio, and they will have time to
find out what has happened. Left alone together Benedick confesses his
love to Beatrice, who finally admits that she loves him also. As a sign of his
love, Beatrice asks Benedick to take revenge for the wrong done to Hero. He
pledges to challenge Claudio. Act IV, scene II The Constables convene the assembly to
interrogate the prisoners, and after much confusion caused by Dogberry’s
fractured vocabulary, the Sexton accuses Borachio and Conrade of plotting
against Hero. Act V, scene I Leonato is full of anger at the slander
against Hero and refuses to be comforted by his brother. When Don Pedro and
Claudio appear, Leonato challenges him to a duel to regain the honor of his
daughter. Antonio, Leonato’s brother, joins in the challenge, but Claudio and
Pedro refuse to fight. Benedick meets with Claudio and Pedro and
challenges Claudio to a duel for the honor of Hero. He also tells Don Pedro
that his brother has fled Messina and that they have falsely accused and killed
an innocent lady. The constables find Don Pedro and Claudio and
reveal the scheme of the villain Don John. Pedro and Claudio are shocked, and
Claudio thinks of his first love of Hero. Leonato hears of the revelation, but
when he comes before the company, he proclaims Pedro and Claudio the true
villains. They are the ones who really caused the death of Hero by believing
the accusations against her. When they beg for penance, Leonato charges them to
announce Hero’s innocence to the people. Also, Claudio must marry his niece the
next day. Act V, scene II Benedick meets with Beatrice to declare his
love again and to tell her that he has challenged Claudio. Ursula, the lady’s
gentlewoman, comes in to tell them the news about Don John’s scheme. Act V, scene III At the family monument of Leonato, Claudio
recites an epitaph to Hero and keeps vigil throughout the night. Act V, scene IV Leonato awaits Claudio whom he plans to wed
to his daughter, Hero. Benedick asks the friar also to marry him and Beatrice.
The women come forward masked. Claudio declares himself husband to the woman he
stands beside, and Hero reveals herself. Beatrice and Benedick begin to argue about
whether they really love one another, but their friends have proof, poems
they have written declaring their love. They kiss and all are joined together
in a dance to celebrate the marriages about to take place.