Reading journal act 2

Scene 1

1. They are having a masked ball, throughout the scene they each steal each others identity - Claudio becomes Benedick and Don Pedro becomes Claudio.
2. Beatrice does try and encourage Hero to not bow down to her fathers whim.
3. Don John tells Claudio that Don Pedro is stealing Hero for himself.
4. Both Claudio and Benedick go to Don Pedro for help.

• Does the flippant nature of Claudio have a more serious subtext then just for a comedic purpose?
• The fact that both Claudio and Benedick go to the prince for help could show their bond, friendship, the hierarchy the group.
• Masks are a hidden identity. Could this have a more sinister or foreshadowing side to the story?
• Don John does not wear a mask - Is this significant? could this be to show that he is who he is and does not feel the need to hide it? Or could it mean that he was simply not invited to this party?
• the fact that Beatrice tries to encourage her cousin not to obey her father could be Beatrice showing her hatred of the male dominance and how she thinks women have just the same rights as men? 
• Why does Beatrice have more power over Hero and why does her father and uncle let her say the things that she does?

Many of Benedick's and Beatrice's are in jest however Don Johns are evil.
Don Johns scenes are quite slow paced (like a tragedy) but the rest are read quite quickly
Benedick and Beatrice were a couple beforehand (DRAMATIC SIGNIFICANCE)
the piece begins with Beatrice saying that Don John gives her heart burn this shows the groups feelings on Don John and I do not believe that they are good.

Scene 2

1. in this scene Don John and Borachio hatch the plan that Borachio should woe Margret outside Hero's window.

• Why does Borachio feel the need to help Don John in this plan?
• If Marget knew of this plan would she take part in it? Would she still love Borachio?

this scene again shows the evilness of Don John and again this scene to is quite slow paced.

Scene 3

1. In this scene Benedick wonders how love can have such a strange effect on a man.
2. Don Pedro, Claudio and Leonato place the bait that Beatrice loves Benedick
3. Benedick falls in love with these words and the fact the Beatrice loves him.

• Is their significance in the fact that straight after Benedick questions love he falls in love with Beatrice?
• Benedick falls in love with Beatrice very quickly after he hears what Don Pedro and co say. Could this show that Benedick already had feelings for Beatrice?
• Why do the three men feel the need to make Beatrice and Benedick a couple.

This scene is very fast and very funny however their is seriousness there to, the group is munipulating Benedicks mind just like Don John is about to do.