Balthasar and Feste fulfill the same role of paid entertainers that are kept around to make the nobility laugh. This role seems like one that Shakespeare used simply to continue the progression of the play. This argument is mostly true with Balthasar who we learn very little about and who appears only when the plot necessitates it. On the other hand, Feste is a much more complex and central character. Shakespeare uses Feste to insert his own commentary about the play and the characters in it. Feste displays more cynicism and bitterness than other characters and his songs do not always align with the tone of the play. With Balthasar and Feste, Shakespeare takes two characters that fulfill the same role and has used them in entirely different ways to reach the goals he wants to achieve.
Balthasar’s first appearance is in the palace orchard where Benedick is hiding. He sings a song about men being unfaithful, “Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more, Men were deceivers ever,” (2.3.blank-blank). Don Pedro and Claudio are using Balthasar to set up their conversation about Beatrice’s supposed love for Benedick. They have Balthasar sing about men being unfaithful which leads into their conversation about Benedick being too prideful for Beatrice (lines lines). Balthasar’s song obviously irritates Benedick, “an he had been a dog that should have howled thus, they would have hanged him”(2.3.blank-blank). The choice of song is intentional but not by Balthasar, but instead by Pedro and
It is without doubt that William Shakespeare has created many unique, thought - provoking characters. Hamlet is by far Shakespeare's most compelling character. In Shakespeare's play Hamlet, various character traits, exhibited by Hamlet, can be seen through his foils. Similarities with Hamlet and Horatio's education, as well as their levels, can be drawn. However, Hamlet's character is in constant change and even philosophical. Fortinbras, without question encompasses many of Hamlet's qualities. They are both born with nobility, along with a similar lineage. However, Fortinbras is more aggressive and even sneaky. Laertes, Hamlet's late antagonist, is both impulsive and righteous. However, they differ in terms of their nobility, as well as
All throughout the beginning of the play, both Beatrice and Benedick use sarcasm and hide their true feelings for each other, which is the first example of tricky in their relationship. Both of them have vowed never to marry anyone; Benedick stating: "Because I will not do them the wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none; and the fine is, for the which I may go the finer, I will live a bachelor." (1.1.232–35), while Beatrice says, "No, uncle, I'll none. Adam's sons are my brethren, and truly I hold it a sin to match in my kindred." (2.1.59–60.) Their friends see that they are the perfect match for one another, and plan to trick them into confessing their love for each other. When Benedick is in the orchard, he overhears Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato talking about how Beatrice is in love with him but is afraid he will mock her if she tells him. Benedick believes them, saying, "This can be no trick." (2.3.217.) He then goes on to say, "I will be horribly in love with her." (2.3.230–31.) Later, Beatrice hears Hero and Ursula talking about how they can't tell her that Benedick loves her because she is a scornful person. After Hero and Ursula leave, Beatrice states:
Beatrice and Benedick are interesting due to Shakespeare’s use of language. Confusion is created as to whether they love or hate each other owing to their snide comments, such as Beatrice’s response “A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours” (1.1.104), notably continuing the reference to animals, after Benedick
On the other hand Benedick and Beatrice’s relationship is different; their relationship is not superficial but deeply rooted within them. They enjoy insulting each other as Benedick says to her ‘what my lady disdain! Are you yet living?’
He continues with another soliloquy after he overhears the news of Beatrice’s feelings. The differences in the tone and attitude of the two soliloquies gives perfect insight to his capricious state of mind. This is comical because immediately before he overhears the three men speaking, he demeans men who fall in love so quickly and foolishly. He scorns at how one man, after “seeing how much another man is a fool when he/ dedicates his behaviors to love, will, after he hath/ laughed at such shallow follies in others, become the/ argument of his own scorn by falling in love” (II.iii.8-11). This becomes ironic just moments later in the play when Benedick becomes the very thing he describes in his speech. Shakespeare included this soliloquy to exemplify Benedick’s indecisive nature, and to show great insight to his internal struggle.
In most Shakespearean romantic comedies, there is a character that plays the part of a truth-teller. And in William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night it is no different. Feste, a clown, through his mixed up words and songs enlightens the other characters whilst playing the role of the truth-teller. Through aiding the Duke with his patience, helping Viola with her love problems, and having a major role in Malvolio's downfall, Feste holds one of the primary parts of the play.
This statement seems to signify Benedick's apparent state of mind and character at this stage in the play. He makes fun of Claudio for being in love and seeking to marry, which provides opportunity for irony later in the play: his jokes are turned on him by Claudio and Don Pedro when his true feelings for Beatrice are revealed.
During the beginning of Act 1 Claudio is introduced to Hero the daughter of Signior Leonato and is immediately interested in her stating that quote, “she is the sweetest lady that ever I looked on.” Though interested in her, Claudio wanted Benedick’s approval. When hearing that Claudio was attracted to Hero Benedick immediately was in disapproval of the thought, for in his eyes she was quote “too low for high praise, too brown for fair praise, and too little for great praise. Though disappointed of Benedick’s disapproval, Claudio chose to still peruse Hero. Later on Claudio and Hero get engaged but when Don John an evil man here’s about the engagement he devises a plan to deceived Claudio and destroy the marriage. When Don John’s plan is put into action Claudio falls right into the trap and believes that Hero is cheating on him. Though Claudio is furious he does not confront Hero with his problem but rather holds on to the information until the wedding. The wedding day arrives, and everything is in place. Once Hero has come down the aisle Claudio then starts accusing her of cheating on him. Instead of confronting Hero alone to talk about what he saw, Claudio choose to humiliate her in front of her family and friends. His reaction
Similarly, in comparing wooing, wedding and repenting to three types of dancing Beatrice describes them as a “Scotch jig, a measure, and a cinquepace.” This dance image is an inventive one and dance, music, and song are key themes in this play. Here Shakespeare is using an extended metaphor to portray Beatrice’s anti-matrimonial feelings. Of course, these feelings are not genuine. As we see throughout, disguise is one of the key themes in the play and Shakespeare makes it clear that Beatrice is disguising her true feelings, for she admits to Don Pedro that Benedick once “lent her his heart awhile but won her heart with false dice”. She and Benedick obviously have had a relationship in the past – one that they would both like to resume.
The conversation between Beatrice and Benedick take place after the wedding in which Claudio slanders Hero for an apparent wanton. Claudio tells Leonato that he sends Hero back to him as she is not as innocent and pure
Benedick, a melodramatic character of the play, is worthy of receiving Beatrice’s love due to his noble qualities and actions. Although Benedick is first described bitterly by Beatrice and appears to be a light-hearted bachelor, he proves to be honorable, loyal, and loving. During the garden scene
Balthasar’s song in scene iii of Act II, is precluded by a subtle yet important line from himself. He says, “Since many a wooer doth commence his suit to her he thinks not worthy, yet he woos, yet he will swear his love” (II.iii.50-52). This introduces to readers the song as well as its topic, and he means that men usually chase after women even if they think they are of a lower class and will swear their love to anyone they feel like. Later as he
From the very first scene in the play, Beatrice is shown as a character who is very prideful, and very protective of it. Benedick's line "What, my dear Lady Disdain! Are you yet living?"(1.1.114) gives a clue to how much pride Beatrice has. Benedick's reference to Beatrice as "Lady Disdain" shows how Beatrice thinks she is
However, upon hearing of Beatrice’s love for him he is suddenly perplexed and it does not take him long to decide that he will give that affection back in return. How easily persuaded Benedick is. This may come from the way Claudio, Don Pedro, and Leonato (Benedick’s associates) depict Beatrice as the most wonderful woman in Messina. They talk of Beatrice as if she were the most magnificent woman so that Benedick will do exactly what he does indeed do. When Benedick hears of this he must be thinking of what he has said before about his desire for the perfect woman. In his speech he says that “the lady is fair . . . / . . . And virtuous. . . / . . . And wise[,]” which is exactly what Benedick demands in the woman that he will choose to be his wife. However, Benedick only believes these things about Beatrice because of what Claudio, Don Pedro, and Leonato have said about her. They only said them to convince Benedick that Beatrice was deserving of him and that she loved him with all her heart. They told Benedick just what he wanted to hear. It is a scheme made of lies, but it works because Benedick is persuaded and begins to agree with what they have said. By doing this he is already influencing himself to follow the opposite path from the one that he has adhered to for years. Here he is already starting to fool himself into believing Beatrice is the one for him
In the beginning the Goddess granted powers to the leaders of four packs of shifters.