ENGL 348 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Droit Du Seigneur, Social Currency, Misogyny
Document Summary
If there"s no mercy, we"re all damned: balance truth & justice w/ pity, what they did vs. what consequences they should suffer, use pity b/c human beings are all frail. Shakespeare hands this debate to audience: how much should we forgive, pity & judge, audience can judge kings, queens, people from higher social orders as well as characters from their own. 1. 1 line 101: "her mother hath many times told me so: means that no man truly knows who father of his child is; even trusted women are not trusted, honour is social currency. Ironic that benedick is portrayed as player but gets all lines about treating women right: has to grow up when he falls for beatrice. Much "ado" about nothing: meanings of "ado" "doing" can also mean "killing: much "to do" - making a fuss, claudio & don pedro don"t see borachio outside window, they make a big deal about what they do not see.
