Blog #2- Much Ado About Nothing, Act II
Act II- Choose
one of the following options for your blog comment. When you post, title your comment with the
option you chose. Remember to sign your
post with your first initial, last name, and class period.
Option 1- Beatrice and Benedick:
- How does Beatrice describe the ideal man?
- While in disguise, how does Benedick insult Beatrice? Then how does she insult him? Do you think they know each other when they speak behind the masks? Why?
- How does Benedick react to Beatrice’s insults?
- What kind of woman appeals to Benedick?
- Give an example of Beatrice’s cleverness or wordplay in this scene.
Option 2- Paraphrase one of
Benedick’s soliloquies into modern English. Use a dictionary as necessary.
Option 2
ReplyDeleteIn Act 2 Scene 1 Page 10 Benedick talks about how the poor bird is sad and hiding in the bushes because of the things Beatrice says about him. She calls him the Princes fool and how that he his nothing but a slightly pretty face and unintelligent. He also says he will get his revenge and that he thinks that because she thinks that, that the whole world thinks that. (C.Vincent 5th)
Beatrice describes her ideal man as being a mix between Don John and Benedict. She states that she wants a man "With a good leg and a good foot, uncle, and money enough in his purse" (2.2.14-15), which means that she was looking for someone handsome, agile, and extremely wealthy. While in disguise at the party, they both said some hurtful things in order to spite the other person. Benedict called her disdainful and dull, then Beatrice referred to him as the Prince's fool. After he was insulted, he continued to keep his identity a "secret" and he acted as if he had no idea who she was talking about. Benedict describes his idea woman as being rich, intelligent, virtuous, beautiful, well-mannered, and noble. If a woman lacked one of those qualities, then he would want nothing to do with her. One line that exemplifies Beatrice's clever mind was when she said "Adam's sons are my brethren, and truly I hold a sin to match in my kindred" (2.1.55-57). This quote stood out to me because I thought it was a very clever response to people asking her why she hated marriage.
ReplyDeleteE. Crawford (5th Period)
Option 2
ReplyDeleteAct 2 Scene 3 Page 25
I wonder about that guy, seeing how much a man can turn into a fool when he dedicates his actions to love, after laughing at men who have done the same. He turned into what he makes fun of, that Claudio. I remember when he was all serious, a full on soldier. He's speaking like a different person. Will I turn into that when I find someone to love? I hope not. I can't swear that love won't turn me into a fool, but I can swear that until I do fall in love, I won't act such a way. A woman must have three qualities: Beauty, intelligence, and virtue, before I marry a woman.
Benedick is sad and lonely but chooses to cover his emotions with carelessness and self-admiration. Very nice translation! (Z. Simmons 1st)
DeleteOption 2
ReplyDeleteG. Cime 2nd
Act 2 Scene 3 Page 1 Lines 8-23
I am amazed that after seeing romance turn a man into a fool that it can then become the thing he looked down upon. That is what happened to Claudio. He used to be all manly and listen to military drums and fife but now he wants to hear sweet and refined music. He has changed, he now plans his outfit for the new day and his way of talking has changed. I question myself will I change like that when I am in love? I am not too sure yet.
I like this soliloquy because it tells how Benedick is actually wondering about love and how it can affect him. In the beginning he did not like love, but as the play progressed he became more open to love. I also like this because he shows how love changes Claudio. It caused Claudio to become less manly. This shows that Benedick is not totally against love.
DeleteI like this soliloquy because it shows how Benedick actually is considering love. This shows how Benedick is not totally against loving someone else and how it could change him. I like how he shows how Claudio had changed because of love in which Claudio became less manly. Benedick begins to become curious about love in this. B.Massengale 7th
DeleteOption Notes:
ReplyDeleteAct 1 Scene 1 Page 6
I can get sick with hunger, with fever, or anger, but never with love. You will never catch me in love even when I am drinking. If so, you can beat me and leave me for dead. (S.Bates7)
Act 2 Scene 3 Page 26
ReplyDeleteIf a dog howled like that, I would have shot it. I wish that his terrible singing does not cause any problems. I would rather hear hawks screech even if the noise gives me an awful headache. (Sbates7)
Option 2
ReplyDeleteAct 2 Scene 1 Page 19
Sir, do you have any errands for me to run? I will go from the sea and back to collect anything you need me to. Are you sure there is nothing I can do for you? I can bring you back items from far Asia, or find out Prester John's shoe size. Don't you want anything from me? (C. Le 7)
Option 1- Beatrice describes the ideal man as a person that is halfway between Don John and Benedick. A mixture of a painting man who never speaks and a spoiled boy who is always talking describes the ideal man to her. Benedick insults Beatrice by getting her to describe to him who Benedick is and to see what she would say about him. She insults him by saying all of these bad things about him and how she does not like him. I think they do not know each other behind the masks because she acted as if it wasn't really him and said that she saw him dancing. She also would not have described him if she knew it was him already. Benedick reacts to Beatrice's insults by not getting angry or mad, but simply just acting calm as if he didn't know that person. A women that has the characteristics of beauty, wise, has virtuous, rich, and smart are the type of women who appeal to Benedick. An example of Beatrice's cleverness in this scene is when she says, "And then what would i do with him? Dress him up in my clothes and pretend hes my lady servant?" (2.1.30) This shows her cleverness by having a smart comment about men. 7th-B. Massengale
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on the part about Beatrice not knowing that she was talking to Benedick. To me you really read between the lines about described what they both wanted perfectly. ( A.Davis 1st)
DeleteHow does Beatrice describe the ideal man?
ReplyDeleteBeatrice describes a good man as one who has "a good leg and a good foot... and money enough in his purse" (II.i.p13). She is saying that a handsome and rich man could win over the heart of any woman. She also mentions the perfect man would be a cross between Don John and Benedick, describing them as "one is too much like an image and says nothing, and the other... evermore tattling" (II.i.p13). Beatrice believes that a perfect man has a balance between talking too much and not enough. She also adds that her ideal man could most definitely not have a beard. She says a beard makes a man more than a boy, and thus making him not ideal for her, but a man without a beard is less than a man, thus making her not ideal for him.
Z. Simmons 1st
I feel like these quotes were just Beatrice’s excuses for not wanting to be married. In my opinion, the way that she makes fun of men whether they have a beard or not is such an immature excuse. (E Crawford 5)
DeleteOption 2
ReplyDeleteAct 2 Scene 3 Page 25
It amazes me to see a man watch romance turn someone else to a fool and make fun of that person then become the same exact thing he has made fun of this whole time. As silly as this sounds, that is the kind of man Claudio is. I was there when all he cared about was the military. Now he would much rather be romantic and relaxed. I was there when he would go through hell in a gasoline suit to fight; Now all Claudio spends his time doing is working on his appearance. He was once so direct and to the point like a true soldier; Now the way he talks has me dumbfounded. I wonder if I will change that much once I find love.
M.Thomason 6
I like your modern interpretation of this silioquy. It fits well and sums it up quite quickly. AK1st Donaldson
DeleteOption 1
ReplyDeleteHow does Benedick react to the insults?
When they encounter each other Beatrice does not seem to know that she is talking to Benedick so she then procedes to talk badly about him. Then by the end of the scene he is fed up with her insults and refers to her a Harpy( act 2 scene 1 line 27 page 19) and a Lady Tongue( act 2 scene 1 line 1-2 page 20). He then asks Don Pedro to send him on an errand so he does not have to talk to Beactrice. ( A.Davis 1st)
I disagree with this because Benedick does not get mad about Beatrice's insults, he simply acts as if he has no idea who Benedick is as she insults him. In act 2 scene 1 Beatrice starts to insult Benedick because she does not know the person she is talking to is Benedcik. After she insults him, he simply asks who Benedick is and he plays it off as if he had no idea who he was. After they dance however, Benedick begins talking to himself and maybe getting a little angry that she said those things, but he does not show anger while the two are talking because if he did she would have known it was him.
DeleteL. Miller 7th
S. Laguerre 2nd Option 2 Act 2 Scene 3 Lines 19-28
ReplyDelete"Could I be converted to love and see love through my eyes? I don't think so. I won't be converted but love could turn me into another animal but it should never make me stupid. A woman can be trustworthy, but I won't need her, a woman can be wise, but I won't need her, a woman can be pure, but I won't need her, but until all those qualities are found in one woman, I won't dare need one. She should be rich, wise, pure, trustworthy, smart, gentle, an fantastic musician, and her hair can be whatever color it is."
Beatrice describes the ideal man by combining Don John & Benedick together which to her is the perfect man for he is to like a image that doesn't say anything. She also says a man with a good foot and leg with a uncle as well as he is rich can take any women and her heart. Benedick insults Beatrice by saying she talks to much then at the party Beatrice says to Benedick(disguised) that he is the prince's jester as well as a fool. I believe they knew it was each other for its probably the only reason Benedick talked to Beatrice in the first place. Benedick after hearing this feels very upset and sad on the words he just herd about himself. Benedick describes his perfect women as being noble, has money, smart, and virtuous. The way Beatrice describes Benedick at first as being a trencherman which means he eats to much.
ReplyDeleteOption two:
ReplyDeleteI am baffled to see, that a man, after he watched romance turn another man into a idiot, com right back around to become the thing he scorned. That is the man i believe Claudio to be. I knew him when he listened to only drums and flute. Now he would rather listen to sweet and harmonization of the tabor and pipe. Ive known him since he would walk miles just to see a well-tailored suit of armor. Now he spends hours upon hours in his room, designing himself a new jacket. He used to speak honorably, with a sharp point; now his words are flowery and elaborate. His words are like a a banquet, full of new dishes. Will romance change me like that? And see the world through my lovers eyes? I am not positive.I dont think so. AK 1C Donaldson. Act 2 scene 3 lines 6-36
Option 2
ReplyDeleteAct 2, Scene 3:
I don't understand that a man, after seeing what romance can do to another man, can turn around and do the very thing that he made fun of.That is the kind of person Claudio is.I knew his when he listened to nothing but military music. Now, he'd rather listen to sappy music of the tabor and pipe.I knew him when he would walk ten miles for a suit of armor, now he'd stay awake for ten nights in a row to tailor a snazzy new jacket. He used to speak like a regular man, without beating round the bush. Now he speaks elaborately with all the tact of a flower.His words are like a huge feast, full of strange dishes. Will I be changed like that? Will I see the world like a lover does? I’m not sure, but I don’t think so.
(LDodson1)