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Claudio and Hero to speak to one
another for the first time. While
they whisper together, Beatrice
fends off a throwaway marriage
proposal from Don Pedro.
Until the wedding, Don Pedro
takes up matchmaking. Detecting
compatibility in opposites, he
decides to trick Beatrice and
Benedick into admitting they love
each other. Two scenes are set:
Benedick eavesdrops as Don Pedro,
Claudio, and Leonato discuss
Beatrice’s feelings. Meanwhile,
she overhears Hero and Ursula
revealing Benedick’s love.
Borachio feeds Don John’s
malevolence with a plot to
thwart the marriage. He’ll
speak to Margaret, dressed as
Hero, at her window the night
before the wedding, while Don
John ensures that Claudio and
Don Pedro witness the encounter.
At the altar, Claudio cruelly rejects
Hero, claiming that she’s no longer
pure. Hero faints. Claudio and
Don Pedro leave. Unlike Leonato,
the Priest believes in Hero’s
innocence and proposes a rescue
plan. Benedick stays behind,
concerned for Hero and Beatrice.THE LORD CHAMBERLAIN’S MAN
Act 3 Act 4 Act 5
Overwhelmed by emotion, he and
Beatrice confess their love. She
then asks him to kill Claudio.
The duel does not take place
because by chance the bumbling
watchmen have overheard Borachio
bragging about the plot. They bring
the truth to light and clear Hero’s
name. Believing her to be dead as
the Priest suggests, Claudio agrees
to mourn at her “tomb” and to
marry her “cousin,” sight unseen.
When this lady unveils, she is, in
fact, Hero. The play ends with news
of Don John’s arrest, and a dance
before the double wedding. ❯❯3.1
3.2 3.5 5.1
3.3 4.1 5.3
Hero and her women
let Beatrice
overhear their
discussion of
Benedick’s secret
love for her.Don John’s second
plot offers to show
Claudio and Don
Pedro that Hero
is unchaste.On the wedding morning,
Dogberry tries to
inform Leonato of the
plot, but fails.Benedick challenges Claudio,
and Borachio confesses
the plot. Claudio promises
to make amends.The Watch overhear
Borachio bragging
about the plot.At the altar, Claudio
rejects Hero, her father
disowns her, and the
Priest proposes a means
of restoring her good
name. Benedick and
Beatrice privately
declare their love.Claudio mourns
Hero’s “death.”5.4
Claudio’s bride is
revealed to be Hero,
and Benedick and
Beatrice’s love is
made public. Now
the weddings can
take place.