Additionally the ferocious way in which both Claudio and Leonato reacted towards Hero would not be very shocking to Elizabethan audiences. The reason for this is if a girl behaved inappropriately and unacceptably or even accused of it, she would immediately lose all the respect. As well as the respect she would get disowned by her family. The Elizabethan audience would agree with the punishment that Hero received as she has earned it.
Following on to this, Don Pedro who throughout the play is a sensible and calm person also joins in accusing Hero of these late night meetings with another man, and says ‘I stand dishonoured, that have gone about, To link my dear friend to a common stale.’ This is very harsh language that is used by Don Pedro and contrasts with his earlier descriptions of Hero, who to him was nothing but virtuous and respectful. Shakespeare further illustrates Hero’s pain and suffering reputation when then her father, (guardian) begins believing these false accusations.
‘O fate, take not away thy heavy hand,
Death is the fairest cover for her shame
That may be wished for.’
Don John gives the impression to be the single character in the play who doesn’t divulge his other side. This because almost certainly throughout the whole play Don John has been an untrustworthy and deceiving character that is to be regarded with suspicion; “…I am not of many words.” Deception is another aspect of the play which seems to have contemporary relevance with today. This is because there are still people in this world, lying and deceiving, not only themselves but other people around them as well.
Don Pedro and his brother Don John have a feeling of resentment towards each other. This is because Don John’s illegitimacy has vetoed him from the tribute and deference that his lawful brother has been able to get pleasure from. Nonetheless, Claudio defends Don Pedro as he is on Don Pedro’s side, “that young start-up hath all the glory of my overthrow.” This then results in Don John wanted to make Claudio and Don Pedro endure.
Another contemporary relevance with modern days is the competition between siblings, as it is a very common issue. Elizabethan Audience had that aspect of sibling contention in their society and it still carries on, till today. Don John’s evil character is shown as he speaks in quick, short and succinct sentences, “...Show me briefly how...” and “...I remember…”
Another way in which Act 4, Scene1 was dramatically significant to the play as a whole was the succession of Don John’s plan to ruin Hero and Claudio’s wedding. The reason for this is being, in the previous scenes, all along, Don John was planning on how to ruin Hero and Claudia’s wedding and the result of his plotting and plan it succeeded and happened as expected out.
Furthermore, an explicit event that happened during Act 4, Scene 1 which is dramatically significant to the play as a whole was the wedding of Hero and Claudio. Leonato and Claudio’s expose the other side of their characters and it clearly stands out out. Leonato (hero’s father) transforms from being a caring loving father to his daughter, at the beginning of the play to a furious and uncontrolled father praying for his daughter not to live but to die,
“Do not live, Hero, do not ope thine eyes;
For did I think thou wouldst not quickly die…” which shows that he is so humiliated and mortified by what he thinks Hero did hence why he wants her doesn’t want her to live any longer.
Leonato initially misinterprets Claudio’s intent, which will amuse the audience as Leonato has no clue on what Claudio is going to say and this only sharpens expectation - ‘What do you mean, my lord?’ However, Leonato is soon shocked by what Claudio has to say:
‘Dear My Lord, if you in your own proof,
Have vanquished the resistance of her youth,
and made defeat of her virginity.’
Leonato act in responses with anger and humiliation to Hero, but then to his family name and reputation and how it has it appears that it has been ruined. Leonato depicts the disgrace and dishonor,
‘…Into a pit of ink, that the wide sea
Hath drops too few to wash her clean again,
And salt too little which may season give
To her foul, tainted flesh…” This last line refers to the Elizabethan audience who used salt to protect their rotten and decayed meat.
The second incident, centers on Leonato’s self-pitying condemnation of Hero, which is surprising because you would expect that he explore the accusations of which his daughter has been condemned of but he verses on his own feelings and actions.
‘Grieved I, I had but one?
Child I or that at frugal nature’s frame?
O, one too much by thee! Why had I one?’
Leonato also mentions in one of his speech’s his apprehension for himself, “…And mine that I was proud on; mine so much
That I myself was to myself not mine…” this statement means that he was too busy and occupied caring about his loving daughter, Hero that he forget to spend time caring for himself.
One last mention of another one of Leonato’s long speeches about how Hero has put shame and shame in his family name. Shakespeare constantly makes Leonato mention “…I…” This is because it shows that ranking and status in Leonato’s position is much more important than his daughter’s own blood. This again relates to modern days as you can get the analogous parents and children relationship. The reason for that being is that parents, even in modern day’s parents have extremely high potential for their children. In addition they trust their children with many things and except them not do anything unsuitable or inappropriate. Later on during the play Leonato starts to believes Hero and knows that she has been tricked, “…My soul doth tell me hero is belied..”
Benedick’s failure to leave with Don Pedro and Claudio is a sign that he wants to be with Beatrice - “Lady Beatrice have you wept all this while?’ Act 4 Scene 1 is the plays most intense moment where Shakespeare employs prose sentences of two or three words which shows the passion Beatrice and Benedick have for each other. This is a turning point in the play and the language shows that there is trust between them, where as in contrast, Claudio and Hero have lost that trust. The direct communications between Beatrice and Benedick shows how they are both capable of love but were afraid of expressing their emotions. Since this play is a romantic comedy, Shakespeare is demonstrating how there are ups and downs in relationships and Act 1 Scene 4 is the dramatic scene where Don John’s plot is successful and the lover’s companionship has been broken. However, Shakespeare uses Beatrice and Benedick’s character as a contrast to Claudio and Hero in the scene to make the audience optimistic about personal relationships. Their open admission to the love they share shows how they were hiding behind a mask of aloofness and with before.
When the finally claim their love for each other, “…I protest love thee,” and “…I was about to protest I love you…” This is another way in which Act 4, Scene 1 is to be said dramatically significant. This is because both Benedick and Beatrice were firmly against marriage. This thing between Benedick and Beatrice is a contrast to the wedding scene because it is not as boisterous as the drama in the Hero and Claudio’s wedding. Benedick comes in the instant with Beatrice and declares, “Come, bid me do anything for thee.” To which Beatrice replies, “Kill Claudio”. At first Benedick refuses, “…Ha! Not for the wide world..” as he doesn’t want to kill his friend because he Benedick is loyal. Beatrice responds by challenging retaliation against Claudio for misleadingly accusing her loved cousin Hero. This meticulous scene shows that the course of true love never runs smooth. This is because there are many complications like Beatrice and Benedick’s arguments and continuous condescending remarks throughout the whole play. Beatrice switches from talking in free verse to talking in prose. Shakespeare does this to show that Beatrice is unrestrained because she is disgusted with Claudio’s gullible character and how Hero has been accused of something she has not committed.
The Elizabethan audience would find Beatrice’s behaviour quite appalling and outrageous. This is because in Elizabethan times women were seen as reserved and quiet and on the other hand men would generally be the ones to stipulate vengeance and dispute men with a confrontational approach.
Beatrice mentions that men only talk and never actually do the action and that also if she were a man she would sort everything out,
“… O that I were a man for his sake! Or that I had any
Friend would be a man for m sake!’ ” After making sure that killing Claudio is what Beatrice definitely wants, Benedick then says, “… Enough I am engaged; Iwill challenge him,” and announces that he will confront Claudio in a duel.
Dueling is another thing that Elizabethan audiences wouldn’t find deplorable. This is because they were familiar to the Elizabethan audience as well being dangerous as there was a chance that one of the duelists would die during the duel challenge
Benedick’s change of character is a further way in which Shakespeare has made Act 4, Scene 1 dramatically significant to the play as a whole. This is because Benedick has chosen the ethical course of challenging Claudio and defending Hero. He could have instead, done the immoral course by not challenging Claudio. He chooses honour and forfeits his friendship with Claudio to support Hero which in his opinion is nothing but innocent. Benedick’s character change has changed as before he was disparaging women and how he is in favour of them.
One more way in which Shakespeare has made Act 4, Scene 1 dramatically significant to the whole play is the response of the Friar and the plan he summons. This is because it is remarkable for a priest to think about plans like. In additions priests are religious people who are connected with god and should never be associated with dishonesty and deception. However this shows that the deception is an extremely important part in this play as a whole. The priests plans is to presented hero is dead but to actualy hide her and act as if they are mourning, until they find out who fallaciously accused her. The priest considers that once Claudio hears of Hero’s death, that it will “… on her behalf change slander to remorse” and that he too would then mourn and in result he would wish that he had not accused her of his love. Shakespeare makes Friar Francis uses many metaphors, one of them being “In angel whiteness,” which gives her a interpretation of being pure and pleasant. This has been in effect put here and it gives the Elizabethan audience the feeling that Hero is not guilty and that Friar Francis believes in her.
If Act 4 Scene 1 was to be performed out, it would have been done in the evening and during the early afternoon. There were many reasons for this, firstly they, where the stage was still light because they did not have the technology of lighting or sound in those days. Also people could leave while it was safe and light on the streets because at night it would become violent, aggressive and dangerous. It would also be more modest to modern day theatre productions as actors would have to improvise props and scenery. Costumes would be designed to reflect the character’s social position and status.
Shakespeare performances were not only done on stages in theaters. They were done in other places such as halls in the houses of the rich and courtyards etc. The problem was that the cast of the play would have to improvise their acting and actions according to the scenery. However the cast did carry some props such as swords.
In conclusion, Act 4 scene 1 is extremely dramatically significant to the play as a whole as it is a turning point for the characters. Each character exposes and reveals a new unknown face except Don John. Shakespeare’s does that by using influential language and vivid images. Furthermore he associates Act 4 Scene 1 with the previous scenes and he uses strong words and image. This then results in a creation of a different atmosphere and making it a dramatically different and important scene in terms of the whole play.
