Much Ado About Nothing
Important Quotations Explained
1. The
savage bull may, but if ever the sensible Benedick bear it, pluck
off the bull’s horns and set them in my forehead, and let me be
vilely painted, and in such great letters as they write ‘Here is
good horse to hire’ let them signify under my sign ‘Here you may
see Benedick, the married man.’
(I.i.215–219)
2. What
should I do with him—dress him in my apparel and make him my waiting
gentlewoman? He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that
hath no beard is less than a man; and he that is more than a youth
is not for me, and he that is less than a man, I am not for him.
(II.i.28–32)
3. They
say the lady is fair. ‘Tis a truth, I can bear them witness. And
virtuous—’tis so, I cannot reprove it. And wise, but for loving
me. By my troth, it is no addition to her wit—nor no great argument
of her folly, for I will be horribly in love with her.
(II.iii.204–208)
4. O
Hero! What a Hero hadst thou been
If half thy outward graces had been placed
About thy thoughts and counsels of thy heart!
But fare thee well, most foul, most fair, farewell
Thou pure impiety and impious purity.
For thee I’ll lock up all the gates of love,
And on my eyelids shall conjecture hang
To turn all beauty into thoughts of harm,
And never shall it more be gracious.
(IV.i.98–106)
5. Dost
thou not suspect my place? Dost thou not suspect my years? O that
he were here to write me down an ass! But masters, remember that
I am an ass. Though it be not written down, yet forget not that
I am an ass. No, thou villain, thou art full of piety, as shall
be proved upon thee by good witness. I am a wise fellow, and which
is more, an officer, and which is more, a householder, and which
is more, as pretty a piece of flesh as any is in Messina, and one that
knows the law, go to . . . and one that hath two gowns, and everything
handsome about him. Bring him away. O that I had been writ down
an ass!
(IV.ii.67–78)
Don Pedro's Romantic Feelings
by CDGirvin, December 06, 2012
In this SparkNote, it mentions that Don Pedro "seems to have no romantic interest of his own," although in Act 2, Scene 1 (beginning around line 275) Don Pedro is talking with Beatrice about her views on marriage after the masquerade. Beatrice makes a joke, saying, "I would rather have one of your father’s getting. / Hath your grace ne'er a brother like you? / Your father got excellent husbands, if a maid could come by them." Don Pedro responds, "Will you have me, lady?" which is potentially another joke, although it may also be quite a se... Read more→
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3Don Pedro-infatuated with Beatrice?
by GoblinMaiden, April 23, 2013
I think that at the end of the day, Don Pedro is more inclined to try be of any help and see his friends happy. Don Pedro offers himself to Beatrice lightly, but with the obvious intent of wanting to secure her own happiness, especially since she is so fickle about men in the first place. He doesn't seek her hand with his own interest so much as in the interest of her own well being. It illustrates just how selfless his character is.









