Much Ado About Nothing — Quotes

15 quotes — Deception & Appearance vs Reality with full 6-part analysis

Deception & Appearance vs RealityShow all quotes →
3
STAGNATE

Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more, Men were deceivers ever

PROLEPTIC IRONYCHORIC FUNCTION

Balthasar's Song · Act 2, Scene 3

4
REGRESS

O, what men dare do! What men may do! What men daily do, not knowing what they d…

ANAPHORIC TRICOLONPUBLIC PERFORMATIVITY

Claudio · Act 4, Scene 1

7
PROGRESS

When I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I were ma…

PARAPROSDOKIAN / COMIC REVERSALDRAMATIC IRONY

Benedick · Act 2, Scene 3

9
PROGRESS

Man is a giddy thing, and this is my conclusion

EPIGRAMMATIC UNIVERSALISMTHEMATIC SUMMATION / CHORUS FUNCTION

Benedick · Act 5, Scene 4

10
PROGRESS

Contempt, farewell! and maiden pride, adieu! No glory lives behind the back of s…

APOSTROPHE & PERSONIFICATIONVERSE SHIFT — PROSE TO VERSE

Beatrice · Act 3, Scene 1

11
PROGRESS

Of this matter is little Cupid's crafty arrow made, that only wounds by hearsay

MYTHOLOGICAL ALLUSION / PERSONIFICATIONPROLEPTIC IRONY / FORESHADOWING

Hero · Act 3, Scene 1

12
REGRESS

Is my lord well, that he doth speak so wide?

INTERROGATIVE SYNTAX / DRAMATIC IRONYLINGUISTIC RESTRAINT / SILENCING

Hero · Act 4, Scene 1

13
PROGRESS

One Hero died defiled, but I do live, and surely as I live, I am a maid

SYMBOLIC DEATH & RESURRECTIONTHIRD-PERSON SELF-REFERENCE

Hero · Act 5, Scene 4

14
STAGNATE

And seemed I ever otherwise to you?

RHETORICAL QUESTION / MONOSYLLABIC POWERAPPEAL TO EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE

Hero · Act 4, Scene 1

15
STAGNATE

Silence is the perfectest herald of joy: I were but little happy, if I could say…

PARADOX / PETRARCHAN CONVENTIONDRAMATIC IRONY / PROLEPTIC CONTRAST

Claudio · Act 2, Scene 1

16
REGRESS

Give not this rotten orange to your friend

EXTENDED METAPHOR / OBJECTIFICATIONPUBLIC PERFORMANCE / RITUAL HUMILIATION

Claudio · Act 4, Scene 1

17
REGRESS

Beauty is a witch, against whose charms faith melteth into blood

DEMONIC IMAGERY / MISOGYNISTIC TROPESEMANTIC FIELD OF ENCHANTMENT

Claudio · Act 2, Scene 1

18
STAGNATE

I cannot be said to be a flattering honest man, it must not be denied but I am a…

PARADOX / ANTITHETICAL SELF-DEFINITIONMALCONTENT ARCHETYPE

Don John · Act 1, Scene 3

19
STAGNATE

I had rather be a canker in a hedge than a rose in his grace

NATURAL IMAGERY / ANTITHETICAL METAPHORCOMPRESSED SOLILOQUY / SELF-CHARACTERISATION

Don John · Act 1, Scene 3

21
STAGNATE

If I can cross him any way, I bless myself every way

INVERTED RELIGIOUS LANGUAGEVICE FIGURE / MORALITY PLAY TRADITION

Don John · Act 1, Scene 3