Beatrice’s Monologue from Much Ado About Nothing, Act 4, Scene 1: "Kill Claudio!"

Synopsis

Beatrice confronts Benedick in the aftermath of Hero’s public disgrace, expressing her rage and heartbreak over the false accusations that have ruined Hero’s reputation. She demands that Benedick prove his love and loyalty by challenging Claudio, Hero’s accuser, to a duel. This monologue reveals Beatrice's fierce loyalty to Hero, her anger at societal hypocrisy, and her frustration with her own limitations as a woman in a male-dominated society.

What’s just happened before this moment that’s relevant to the scene?

At the wedding ceremony, Claudio publicly accuses Hero of infidelity, humiliating her and leaving her fainted. Beatrice stays by Hero’s side, furious at the injustice and slander. Benedick, confessing his love for Beatrice, offers to do anything to prove it. In response, Beatrice asks him to kill Claudio, and this monologue captures her fiery reaction to his hesitation.

Original Text

"Kill Claudio! You kill me to deny it. Farewell. I am gone, though I am here: there is no love in you: nay, I pray you, let me go. In faith, I will go. You dare easier be friends with me than fight with my enemy. Is Claudio not approved in the height a villain, that hath slandered, scorned, dishonoured my kinswoman? O that I were a man! What, bear her in hand until they come to take hands; and then, with public accusation, uncovered slander, unmitigated rancour, – O, God that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the market-place. Talk with a man out at window! A proper saying! Sweet Hero! She is wronged, she is slandered, she is undone. Princes and counties! Surely, a princely testimony, a goodly count, Count Comfect; a sweet gallant surely! O that I were a man for his sake! Or that I had any friend would be a man for my sake! But manhood is melted into courtesies, valour into compliment, and men are only turned into tongue, and trim ones too: he is now as valiant as Hercules that only tells a lie and swears it. I cannot be a man with wishing, therefore I will die a woman with grieving."

Translation of Text into Contemporary Language

"Kill Claudio! You’re killing me by refusing. Goodbye—I’m leaving, even though I’m still standing here. You clearly don’t love me. Please, let me go. I swear, I’m going. You’d rather stay friends with me than stand up to my enemy. Isn’t Claudio proven to be a complete villain? He slandered, insulted, and dishonoured my cousin! Oh, if only I were a man! He strung her along until it was time for marriage, and then publicly accused her, with cruel slander and unforgiving hatred. Oh God, if only I were a man! I’d rip his heart out in the middle of the market! Talking with a man through a window—what nonsense! Poor Hero! She’s been wronged, slandered, and ruined. Princes and noblemen! What fine testimony from these so-called honourable men. A ‘goodly count,’ Count Candy! A sweet gentleman, indeed! If only I were a man for Hero’s sake! Or if I had a friend who would be a man for my sake! But manliness has dissolved into politeness, courage has turned into empty compliments, and men are now just talkers—and smooth ones at that. Nowadays, a man is as brave as Hercules if all he does is lie and swear. I can’t become a man by wishing it, so instead, I’ll die grieving as a woman."

Meaning of Difficult or Unusual Words

  • Approved in the height a villain: Proven to be the worst kind of villain.

  • Bear her in hand: Deceive or mislead her.

  • Take hands: Get married.

  • Uncovered slander: Open accusations without disguise.

  • Unmitigated rancour: Pure, unrelenting hatred.

  • Count Comfect: A mocking nickname, suggesting Claudio is as insubstantial as a sugary confection.

  • Melted into courtesies: Reduced to superficial politeness.

  • Trim ones: Refined or polished talkers.

  • Valiant as Hercules: Sarcastically comparing men to the mythical hero, implying their bravery is fake.

Suggested New Thoughts Chunking / Paragraphing

  1. "Kill Claudio! You kill me to deny it. Farewell. I am gone, though I am here: there is no love in you: nay, I pray you, let me go."

  2. "In faith, I will go. You dare easier be friends with me than fight with my enemy."

  3. "Is Claudio not approved in the height a villain, that hath slandered, scorned, dishonoured my kinswoman?"

  4. "O that I were a man! What, bear her in hand until they come to take hands; and then, with public accusation, uncovered slander, unmitigated rancour, – O, God that I were a man!"

  5. "I would eat his heart in the market-place. Talk with a man out at window! A proper saying! Sweet Hero! She is wronged, she is slandered, she is undone."

  6. "Princes and counties! Surely, a princely testimony, a goodly count, Count Comfect; a sweet gallant surely!"

  7. "O that I were a man for his sake! Or that I had any friend would be a man for my sake!"

  8. "But manhood is melted into courtesies, valour into compliment, and men are only turned into tongue, and trim ones too."

  9. "I cannot be a man with wishing, therefore I will die a woman with grieving."

Journey Keypoints

  • Hook: Beatrice’s shocking demand, "Kill Claudio!" immediately grabs attention and sets the emotional tone.

  • Turning Point: Her scornful recount of Claudio’s public humiliation of Hero fuels her rage.

  • Climax: Beatrice’s lament over societal hypocrisy and her frustration at being unable to act as a woman.

  • Resolution: She resigns herself to grieving Hero’s plight, acknowledging her inability to change the situation.

Famous or Notable Actors Who Have Played the Role

  • Emma Thompson (Film, 1993)

  • Zoe Wanamaker (National Theatre, 2007)

  • Catherine Tate (Shakespeare’s Globe, 2011)

  • Lily Rabe (Shakespeare in the Park, 2014)

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