Diction in Much Ado About Nothing
Diction Examples in Much Ado About Nothing:
Act I - Scene I
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10
"And in her bosom I'll unclasp my heart..."
See in text (Act I - Scene I)
In other words, I'll tell her what is in my heart privately.
Stephen Holliday
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"break with her and with her father,..."
See in text (Act I - Scene I)
That is, I will speak to Hero and her father on your behalf.
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"but had a rougher task in hand
Than to drive liking to the name of love;..."
See in text (Act I - Scene I)
In other words, I had other things on my mind than thinking abut love.
Stephen Holliday
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"
And thou shalt see how apt it is to learn
Any hard lesson that may do thee good..."
See in text (Act I - Scene I)
In other words, ask me to do anything you want and you'll see how quickly I can respond to help you.
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"if ever thou dost fall from this faith, thou
wilt prove a notable argument...."
See in text (Act I - Scene I)
That is, if you ever change your mind about women, you will be a perfect example that change is possible.
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"
You speak this to fetch me in, my lord..."
See in text (Act I - Scene I)
In other words, you are trying to trick me into disclosing more.
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"He is no less than a stuffed man..."
See in text (Act I - Scene I)
Another insult which states that Benedick is more like a doll than a real man.
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"too low for a high
praise, too brown for a fair praise, and too little for a great
praise..."
See in text (Act I - Scene I)
In other words, she is too short, too dark, and too small overall.
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" as being a professed tyrant to
their sex..."
See in text (Act I - Scene I)
In other words, I criticize women whenever I have the chance.
Stephen Holliday
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"you are a rare parrot-teacher..."
See in text (Act I - Scene I)
An insult meaning that someone keeps repeating him or herself, the way a parrot learns to talk.
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Act I - Scene III
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5
"Would the cook were of my(60)
mind!..."
See in text (Act I - Scene III)
In other words, I wish the cook thought like me and (presumably) poisoned the food.
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"What is he for a fool that betroths himself to
unquietness?..."
See in text (Act I - Scene III)
In other words, what kind of fool would marry when marriage causes such unhappiness?
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" I am trusted with a(25)
muzzle and enfranchised with a clog..."
See in text (Act I - Scene III)
In other words, I am trusted only as long as I am muzzled and hobbled so I can't do any damage.
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"it better fits my blood to be disdained of all than
to fashion a carriage to rob love from any..."
See in text (Act I - Scene III)
In other words, I would rather be hated for my true self than to be loved by pretending to be nice.
Stephen Holliday
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"to apply a moral medicine to a
mortifying mischief..."
See in text (Act I - Scene III)
In other words, using commonplace sayings to try to cure a serious problem; an ineffective remedy.
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Act II - Scene I
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5
"I cry you mercy, uncle..."
See in text (Act II - Scene I)
Beatrice is either saying, "Please, give me a break," or, "God have mercy on you, uncle,' as a way of saying farewell.
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"infect to the North Star..."
See in text (Act II - Scene I)
That is, if her "terminations" were her breath, the infection would reach all the way to the North Star.
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"my very visor began to assume life and
scold with her..."
See in text (Act II - Scene I)
In other words, Beatrice was so verbally abusive that Benedick's mask took on a life of its own and began arguing with her.
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"you apprehend passing shrewdly..."
See in text (Act II - Scene I)
In other words, your understanding is too clever (more likely, twisted by your view of men).
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"by being too curst, God will send you no horns..."
See in text (Act II - Scene I)
In other words, because your disposition is so nasty, God will not give you the ability (long horns) to do much damage to anyone.
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Act II - Scene II
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2
"Look you for any other
issue?..."
See in text (Act II - Scene II)
That is, what more could you ask for? Note how deception, which is an innocent pastime in the hands of Don Pedro, becomes deadly in Don John's hands—simply to amuse himself, he is willing to deceive his brother, torment Claudio, ruin an innocent girl's reputation, and perhaps kill her father with shame.
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"What life is in that to be the death of this
marriage?..."
See in text (Act II - Scene II)
In other words, what good will that do to kill this marriage?
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Act II - Scene III
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4
"There was never counterfeit of
passion came so near the life of passion as she discovers(100)
it...."
See in text (Act II - Scene III)
In other words, Beatrice's passion is so strong that it couldn't possibly be false.
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"It is the witness still of excellency
To put a strange face on his own perfection...."
See in text (Act II - Scene III)
That is, it is typical of someone skilled not to acknowledge that skill.
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"tax not so bad a voice(40)
To slander music any more than once...."
See in text (Act II - Scene III)
That is, don't ask my poor singing to ruin any more music than I already have.
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"May
I be so converted and see with these eyes?..."
See in text (Act II - Scene III)
In other words, is it possible for me to become like Claudio?
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Act III - Scene I
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2
"No glory lives behind the back of such...."
See in text (Act III - Scene I)
That is, a person who is prideful and contemptuous will be condemned behind his or her back.
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"What fire is in mine ears? ..."
See in text (Act III - Scene I)
This is Shakespeare's literary illustration of the adage that one's ears burn when one is being spoken about.
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Act III - Scene III
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6
"But seest
thou not what a deformed thief this fashion is?..."
See in text (Act III - Scene III)
That is, don't you realize how deceiving fashion is? It disguises the true form of a person.
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"Yes, it is apparel...."
See in text (Act III - Scene III)
That is, clothes are not fashionable to a man—they are just clothes.
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"for the ewe that will not hear her lamb
when it baes will never answer a calf when he bleats...."
See in text (Act III - Scene III)
In other words, the nurse is like an ewe who can't hear her own lamb bleating: if the nurse can't hear her child crying, don't bother with her—let the child's crying wake her up. This is just another way the night watch manages to do its job by doing nothing.
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"We know
what belongs to a watch...."
See in text (Act III - Scene III)
Another funny line—the watchman is saying, we know we're supposed to sleep while on watch.
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"if
they should have any allegiance in them..."
See in text (Act III - Scene III)
The word allegiance in this line is often thought to be some kind of *malapropism *(mis-speaking) due to Dogberry's constant mis-use of words, but if we change *if *to *except or unless, *the word *allegiance *makes sense.
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"for
your favour, my lord..."
See in text (Act III - Scene III)
Dogberry is saying sarcastically, "for favoring us with your presence."
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Act III - Scene IV
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5
"he eats his meat without
grudging..."
See in text (Act III - Scene IV)
That is, Benedick has changed his mind [about women] and is like other men.
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"Yet Benedick was such another..."
See in text (Act III - Scene IV)
That is, yet Benedick was just like you once—a confirmed hater of the opposite sex.
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"yours is worth ten on't...."
See in text (Act III - Scene IV)
That is, your gown is ten times better than the Duchess of Milan's.
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" round underborne
with a blush tinsel..."
See in text (Act III - Scene IV)
That is, trimmed at the bottom with bluish-tinted silver thread.
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"By my troth's but a nightgown in respect of yours..."
See in text (Act III - Scene IV)
That is, the Duchess of Milan's gown is like a nightgown compared to Hero's dress.
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Act IV - Scene I
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20
"He is now as valiant as Hercules
that only tells a lie, and swears it...."
See in text (Act IV - Scene I)
That is, a man now can be as brave as Hercules by bragging about his great deeds and then swearing an oath.
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"But manhood is melted into courtesies,
valour into compliment..."
See in text (Act IV - Scene I)
In other words, men are now concerned with politeness, and bravery is now turned into nothing but courtly behavior.
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"With no sauce that can be devised to it...."
See in text (Act IV - Scene I)
That is, there is nothing that can make me take back my oath.
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"It is a man's office, but not yours...."
See in text (Act IV - Scene I)
Beatrice implies that Benedick cannot carry out the task she is thinking of either because he cannot physically perform the task or because he would refuse to perform the task.
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"For to strange sores strangely they strain the cure...."
See in text (Act IV - Scene I)
That is, for unusual illnesses the physicians create unusual cures.
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"As secretly and justly as your soul
Should with your body...."
See in text (Act IV - Scene I)
In other words, Benedick will keep the plan as much of a secret as Leonato would in his heart of hearts.
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"The supposition of the lady's death
Will quench the wonder of her infamy...."
See in text (Act IV - Scene I)
That is, [even if Hero is guilty], the news of her death will overcome the memory of her moral weakness.
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"Let this be so, and doubt not but success..."
See in text (Act IV - Scene I)
The Friar means "If I am correct [that Hero is innocent], this plan will turn out even better than I describe it."
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"Shall come apparelled in more precious habit,..."
See in text (Act IV - Scene I)
That is, Hero will appear to be even more beautiful than she was while alive.
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"Into his study of imagination,..."
See in text (Act IV - Scene I)
That is, as Claudio thinks about Hero, he will have a revery, that is, a dream-like experience of her life.
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"To quit me of them thoroughly...."
See in text (Act IV - Scene I)
That is, to take revenge upon those who have falsely accused my daughter.
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"The practice of it lives in Don John the bastard,
Whose spirits toil in frame of villainies...."
See in text (Act IV - Scene I)
That is, Don John is responsible for this because he specializes in creating trouble.
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"trust not my age,
My reverence, calling, nor divinity,(175)
If this sweet lady lie not guiltless here
Under some biting error.
..."
See in text (Act IV - Scene I)
That is, if you believe in my priesthood and my holiness, believe that this lady has been unfairly charged.
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"For I have only been silent so long,
And given way unto this course of fortune,
By noting of the lady...."
See in text (Act IV - Scene I)
That is, I have been silent amongst all these accusations because I have been observing Hero.
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"And salt too little which may season give
To her foul tainted flesh!..."
See in text (Act IV - Scene I)
That is, there is not enough salt, which is a seasoning, to make Hero palatable.
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"Myself would on the rearward of reproaches
Strike at thy life. ..."
See in text (Act IV - Scene I)
After the evidence of these crimes, I would kill you myself.
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"Dost thou look up?..."
See in text (Act IV - Scene I)
That is, are you looking to God for help [considering Hero has committed such a crime]?
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"If half thy outward graces had been placed
About thy thoughts and counsels of thy heart!..."
See in text (Act IV - Scene I)
In other words, if you had been as inwardly faithful as you seemed to be outlwardly.
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"She knows the heat of a luxurious bed;..."
See in text (Act IV - Scene I)
In other words, she is unfaithful. The word luxury , in Shakespeare's language, had the connotation of sexual or lustful activity, so Claudio is accusing her of having an illicit affair before her marriage.
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"She's but the sign and semblance of her honour...."
See in text (Act IV - Scene I)
That is, Hero is only a shell of her honor (implying that her honor is gone).
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Act V - Scene I
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24
"How her acquaintance grew with this lewd fellow...."
See in text (Act V - Scene I)
That is, to understand how Margaret got involved with Borachio (and Conrade).
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"I discharge thee of thy prisoner..."
See in text (Act V - Scene I)
That is, I am taking over the responsibility for your prisoner.
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"Who I believe was packed in all this wrong,..."
See in text (Act V - Scene I)
That is, who was innocently caught up in all this wrongdoing.
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"and dispose(285)
For henceforth of poor Claudio...."
See in text (Act V - Scene I)
In other words, that will be my future (to be married to Hero's cousin).
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" if your love
Can labour aught in sad invention,..."
See in text (Act V - Scene I)
That is, if your love (for Hero) can require you to do something in Hero's honor.
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"I cannot bid you bid my daughter live;..."
See in text (Act V - Scene I)
That is, I cannot order you to order my daughter to live again.
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"Here stand a pair of honourable men..."
See in text (Act V - Scene I)
Leonato sarcastically refers to Don Pedro and Claudio. Leonato most likely uses honourable to mean self-righteous.
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"that I am an ass...."
See in text (Act V - Scene I)
What Dogberry means, of course, is that he has been called an ass (by the defendants).
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"now thy image doth appear
In the rare semblance that I loved it first...."
See in text (Act V - Scene I)
That is, I see you now, Hero, as you appeared to me when I first fell in love with you.
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"how you disgraced
her when you should marry her...."
See in text (Act V - Scene I)
That is, how you were convinced to condemn Hero just before you were to marry her.
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"This learned constable is too
cunning to be understood. ..."
See in text (Act V - Scene I)
Said sarcastically: this scholarly constable is too smart for me to understand.
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"that you are
thus bound to your answer?..."
See in text (Act V - Scene I)
That is, why are you now bound (in handcuffs) and required to answer the charges in court?
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"If justice cannot tame you, she shall
ne'er weigh more reasons in her balance...."
See in text (Act V - Scene I)
That is, if Justice cannot convict you (he is referring to Borachio), she will never again be trusted to weigh evidence in her scales.
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"He is then a giant to an ape; but then is an ape a doctor(195)
to such a man..."
See in text (Act V - Scene I)
That is, when a man leaves his intelligence behind, he is like a giant to an ape, and an ape is as smart as a doctor compared to a man without intelligence.
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"What a pretty thing man is when he goes in his
doublet and hose and leaves off his wit!..."
See in text (Act V - Scene I)
That is, how childish a man is who puts on his fine clothes but forgets his common sense.
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"though very many have been
beside their wit...."
See in text (Act V - Scene I)
That is, many men have lost their minds [when under stress].
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"In a false quarrel there is no true valour...."
See in text (Act V - Scene I)
That is, in a quarrel based on false information, neither side can win any honor.
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"I doubt we should have been too young for
them...."
See in text (Act V - Scene I)
That is, I think we would have proven old enough to fight them successfully.
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"Win me and wear me!..."
See in text (Act V - Scene I)
That is, fight me, kill me, and then you can brag about the fight.
Stephen Holliday
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"in a tomb where never scandal slept,..."
See in text (Act V - Scene I)
That is, a person accused of scandal has never been buried here.
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"However they have writ the style of gods
And made a push at chance and sufferance...."
See in text (Act V - Scene I)
That is, despite the fact that the [Greek] gods are described as not suffering, we humans shove aside bad luck and suffering.
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"But no man's virtue nor sufficiency(30)
To be so moral when he shall endure
The like himself...."
See in text (Act V - Scene I)
That is, no man's strength or morality will help him when he has to endure such grief.
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" but, tasting it,
Their counsel turns to passion..."
See in text (Act V - Scene I)
That is, if someone experiences real grief, words become meaningless as passion takes over.
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"hem..."
See in text (Act V - Scene I)
That is, say something like "ahem," a sound for clearing the throat, meaning nothing, instead of the sound of sorrow like a groan.
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