Reading journal act 5

Scene 1 

1. Antonio is trying too comfort Leonato about his daughter's 'death.'
2. Leonato quarrels with Claudio and Don Pedro and they almost duel.
3. Claudio is convinced he killed her and when Benedick turns up his fears are confirmed.
4. Benedick tells them that Don Pedro has fled.
5. Claudio and Don Pedro try to steer the conversation onto to Beatrice but Benedick walks away.
6.  Dogberry and Verges enter leading Borachio and Conrade bound together.
7. The men tell Claudio and Don Pedro all that has happened and they are sad, when they ask Leonato for forgiveness he tells them to spread the word that Hero died honourably, for Claudio to write a poem for her grave and for him to marry his brothers daughter tomorrow.
8. The men agree.

• Why does Claudio so readily agree to marry a women straight after he finds out the women he 'loves' is dead by his hand?
• Why do Claudio and Don Pedro not find it weird that they have such light punishments even though they have killed Hero?
• Why do they not punish Borachio and Conrade further but instead pin all the blame on Don John?
• Why does Benedick so readily slander his best friends name for Beatrice who is just using her power over him?
• Why does Dogberry suddenly uncover his wit in this scene but in act 3 scene 3 he is a rambling idiot?

Their is great importance in this scene mainly being the fact that the plot is uncovered and there looks like their will be a happy ending after all but also because again we see the flippant nature of Claudio and Benedick succumbing to the will of love.

Scene 2

1. The scene begins with Benedick and Margret sharing a crude joke.
2. Beatrice then confronts Benedick about not killing Claudio, they then share another moment when Benedick confesses his love for Beatrice and she does encourage him this time.
3. Ursula then enters and tells them all that the plot has been uncovered.

• What is the significance of the joke between Benedick and Margret at the beginning?

Scene 3

1. The scene is the reading out of Claudio's poem and Hero's 'funeral'

Scene 4

1. The wedding is about to begin, all the women are masked.
2. Leonato brings Hero forward and Claudio is relieved to be marrying the same women.
3. Benedick and Beatrice then find out that they have been played, however when poems and letters are brought forward by their friends it becomes obvious that they do love each other.
4. They decide to get married as well, however they pretend they are doing it on the others behalf.
5. At the end of the scene we learn that Don John is on his way back to Messina with armed guards, however Benedick waves it off.

• Why does Claudio not raise more questions when Hero is brought forth?
• Why is Benedick not more concerned about Don John and his army?

The scene begins with the friar saying "Did i not tell you she was innocent?" this shows that the friar knew her better then her father or just has faith in god and that women cannot lie.
This scene is both serious and comedic.
Their is comedic value to this scene especially when Beatrice and Benedick decide to get married.