the comic scenes, these scenes are lengthy with long speeches written in poetic form of characters especially in severe emotional turmoil. The public accusation of Hero is as shocking to the audience as it is too other characters in the play, so harsh a confrontation is unacceptable behaviour in modern society, although in Elizabethan times it may have been acceptable to publicize a woman’s dishonour. Hero cannot express herself in words at the accusations of her being unfaithful, and is so defeated with emotional turmoil that she faints, “demonstrating the theatrical image of grief”. The song that Balthazar sings “men were deceivers ever” catches the spirit of the play as men will always be fickle in life and love, it is the woman’s position to accept it, and also Don Johns deceiving almost lead to a tragic climax in the play. The characters of Don Pedro, Bene*censored* and Claudio were at first appearing to be quite foolish, but with the tragic elements of the play seemed to develop and mature so that the comedy in the play is no longer relevant.The scenes of comedy prominently feature Beatrice and Bene*censored*’s “skirmish of wit” in which their “merry war” is pursued. The uses of disguise in the play are funny as in the masked ball, where Bene*censored* disguises himself to Beatrice, who gives unexpected criticism of Bene*censored* being a “Princes jester” the laughing stock of all, from which Bene*censored* could not defend himself less he should be exposed. Other characters essential for comic value in the play are the malapropisms of Dogberry, and the language of The Watch, which help to alleviate the serious moments in the play.Don John is at the heart of all the tragic elements in the play, as he is the villain, his evil deeds need no explanation further than his jealousy of his brother the Prince. Don John is shown in two short scenes, which conve...
