This play is sometimes
categorized not as a comedy, but as something called “problem
play.” The play involves two main threads of story, namely
Benedick/Beatrice match and Claudio/Hero love tale.
It all started when
Leonato and his family heard about the coming of Don Pedro, who had
just come back from war against his half-brother Don John. Don Pedro
forgave his brother and brought him also to Leonato, who received
them very well. In his war, Don Pedro was accompanied by his
courtiers and friends, Benedick and Claudio. Claudio, although young
and inexperienced, had don “in the likeness of a lamb, the feats of
a lion” and was given so much honour.
It turned out that
Claudio and Hero, Leonato's daughter shared a mutual love while there
was a “merry war” between Benedick and the disdainful Beatrice
(Leonato's niece). Both Benedick and Beatrice swore never to marry
and it seemed that they were serious about it. However, after quite a
major though funny argument between them, Don Pedro swore to be their
matchmaker, and asked Leonato, Hero and Claudio for assistance in
accomplishing his plans.
Don John had another
plan. He was determined to take his revenge upon Don Pedro and
Claudio. So after Borachio's advice, Don John and his men set a plan
to slander the young lady Hero and made as if she had an affair with
Borachio and thus unfit for marriage.
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| David Tennant as Benedick |
After several awkward
moments in Benedick/Beatirce relationship, the cancellation of
Claudio/Hero's marriage finally urged those two to confess their love
to each other – still in an awkward way. Beatrice forced Benedick
into breaking his friendship both with the Prince and Claudio and
even challenged “Mr. Lackbeard” to a duel.
But even though the
play is a problem play, well, it's still a comedy, so everything
ended up fine. How? I guess it's our privilege to check it ourselves.
This play is so much
more interesting on stage than on pages. Really. If Claudio and Hero
along with all the Don John I-am-bad drama give a little bit of
darkness to the play, once you see Benedick/Beatrice on stage,
everything becomes light and fun again. And who can miss the
watchmen's innocent folly? It's just so interesting.
There are so many
interesting things in the play that I love. The lines and phrases are
truly witty and smart. Some phrases like “better better'd
expectations” and “he's all mirth” and the menacing “eat his
heart in the market-place” just stick in my mind. (I actually told
some of my friends about the heart-eating in the market-place part
and now they remember Shakespeare by that phrase. My bad.) Overall,
this comedy is so good that it has become maybe my favourite
Shakespeare comedy of fun.
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