The play starts with the men returning from war.
A hierarchy between the Prince and the anonymuous messenger, Comrad:'My Lord' power play.
The conflict, banter- Benedick and Beatrice mutual dislike- why?
Stock character stereotypes- the bastard Don John- he is disadvantaged and jealous. Issue that Don John does not get the wealth that Don Pedro(his half brother) will get. He is an outcast and he thinks he is too even though he is accepted within the group. Why is he so upset, he doesn't have much to be sad about. His speech written in blank verse-' I' repeated shows arrogant, he does not care that he is a bastard he'd rather be bad then in his brothers' shadow. Only has two followers
Don Pedro sense of verse.
The war may be over but there is a war of wit and spite- Beatrice and Benedick
Narrative pace- the change.
Wearing masks- to cover true selves apart from Don John, he does not care who he is and causes trouble.
Don Pedro has wooed Hero for Claudio- very happy, love is in the air. A marriage on the way.
Beatrice and Benedick were together they had a history,Beatrice makes light of how he treated her badly- with the jest. Possibly cheated.
Yes, so war is a theme, used as a serious context and also to establish B and B's relationship. Also, serious issues in their past?
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