CHARACTERS

CHARACTERS

1. Beatrice

   • Contrast to Hero
   • Witty, sarcastic and clever (like Benedict)
   • Takes charge of every conversation, not reluctant to state her own views on a subject regardless of whom she addresses
   • Likely to touch a responsive chord with many readers today in light of current social ideas that encourage greater equality and self-assertiveness for women
   • Often speaks mind without concern about traditional woman of the Elizabethan period

2. Don John the Bastard

   • Don John is a Shadowy, inconsequential figure as a character, his type is of more significance, without him there would be no story
   • Villains were often depicted as bastards in Shakespeare’s day, to be born of out of wedlock meant, in the time, they were tainted with evil
   • Shakespeare needed a villain who would take the place of the jealous rival and he found one ready made in popular theories about psychological types (belief that Bastards are envious)
   • Presence of such a character stands as a constant threat to the stability of a society which is grounded in marriage and family values
   • His narrative function is to cause upset and create an obstacle between the lovers.
   • Doesn’t care what people think, but it can be said that he still conforms to society
   • CONRAD
     • One of Don John's more intimate associates
     • Entirely devoted to DJ
     • Several recent productions have staged Conrad as Don John’s potential male lover, possibly to intensify Don John’s feelings of being a social outcast and therefore motivate his desire for revenge.
   • Borachio
     • Follower of DJ
     • Drunkard
     • Crafty mind
       • He uses his fling with Margaret for the cheating plot without her knowledge
     • Has a big mouth
       • When he's drunk he reveals the whole scheme of DJ, so he get's arrested
       • He knows to bring any news that might serve as basis for mischief to J
     • Honest enough to clear Margaret of all blame when she's being dragged into the mess

3. Hero

   • No indépendance, no autonomy within society
   • Dutiful daughter of Leonato
   • Conventional romantic heroine- meek and mild
   • Passive, traditional representation upperclass daughter of time, especially with men
   • Foils Beatrice- a character whose presence serves to show off or enhance the qualities of another character
   • Friar
     • Becomes voice of reason to emotionally-agitated characters
       • Tries to get happy ending with as little confrontation as possible
   • Margaret
     • Flirty, exchanges innuendos with the men
     • Pretends to be Hero, unknowingly while she makes out with Borachio

4. Claudio

   • Romantic hero of play
   • In manner of Shakespearean comedy: it is necessary for the romantic hero to undergo challenges, which teach him lessons about himself and life, and from which he can emerge as a man of maturity, worthy of the love of the romantic heroine.
   • Position of man is strengthened and worthy of respect because he has won regard and admiration of Don Pedro
   • Immature, compliant behaviour, readers lose their patience with Claudio and glad to find a stronger, seemingly less pliant figure in Benedick

5. Benedick

   • Far from romantic lover, reputation of player
   • Source of comedy in play
   • Misogyny and unwillingness to make a commitment to a woman are almost stereotypes early in the play
   • Benedick is one of the most histrionic characters in the play, as he constantly performs for the benefit of others. He is the entertainer, indulging in witty hyperbole to express his feelings.
     • Of course, since Benedick is so invested in performing for the others, it is not easy for us to tell whether he has been in love with Beatrice all along or falls in love with her suddenly during the play

6. Leonato

   • Father of Hero
     • When Hero is denounced, he’d rather she be dead, than be alive and bring shame to the family
     • Although he loves her, there is a strong sense of duty he puts upon Hero, not put upon Beatrice
   • Cares about money because he wants Claudio to marry Hero’s cousin after her death
   • He is the governor of Messina, but we focus on the idea of him being a father
     • Does Shakespeare show the governing aspects of him that influence his parenting? Or is that just the way fathers were at the time?
       • Perhaps this is why leonato is like that because he is a man in charge, so he thinks he can control his daughter's life
         • Lack of mother could be why he lacks respect for women and his daughter
         • Love is political and about leadership to him
   • Brother is Antonio

7. Dog Berry

   • Less reliable and good at his job, he is a source of hilarity
     • Role as comic relief, leaving audience wondering whether he is truly as confused/ simple minded
   • Inability to communicate clearly embodies theme of language masking understanding- misunderstanding
   • Expresses unique philosophy of maintaining security
   • Dogberry would have been paid for this job, it was volunteering role and not very respected. This is why he doesn’t have very good answers to the watchmen’s questions.
   • His name refers to the fruit of the Dogwood tree, and they were considered cheap.
   • Verges
     • Double act combo
       • Character contributes significantly to main plot
       • Wasn't for their misunderstandings/ questions to reveal info about other characters
       • Allows audience to get to know the character and used to air their understanding of important characters
     • Voice energy deliver is funny good for comedy

8. Don Pedro

   • He is the noblest character in the social hierarchy of the play, and his friends Benedick and Claudio, though equals in wit, must always defer to him because their positions depend upon his favor.
   • Don Pedro has power, and he is well aware of it; whether or not he abuses this power is open to question.
     • Don Pedro most often uses his power and authority toward positive ends
   • Despite his cloudy motives, Don Pedro does work to bring about happiness. It is his idea, for instance, to convince Beatrice and Benedick that each is in love with the other and by doing so bring the two competitors together.
   • For instance, he insists on wooing Hero for Claudio himself, while masked, rather than allowing Claudio to profess his love to Hero first. Of course, everything turns out for the best—Don Pedro’s motives are purely in the interest of his friend. But we are left wondering why Don Pedro feels the need for such an elaborate dissimulation merely to inform Hero of Claudio’s romantic interest.
   • He orchestrates the whole plot and plays the role of director in this comedy of wit and manners.