DOGBERRY: Are you good men and true?
🔹 Meaning: Are you honest and trustworthy?
🔹 Analysis: A serious question, but coming from Dogberry (a fool), it’s already a bit ironic.
🔹 Theme: Appearance vs. reality – these “good men” will succeed despite their foolishness.
VERGES: Yea, or else it were pity but they should suffer salvation, body and soul.
🔹 Meaning: Yes, otherwise it would be a shame if they got salvation in both body and soul.
🔹 Language Device: Malapropism – he probably meant “damnation,” not “salvation.”
🔹 Effect: Comic confusion.
🔹 Theme: Incompetence in authority.
DOGBERRY: Nay, that were a punishment too good for them if they should have any allegiance in them, being chosen for the Prince’s watch.
🔹 Meaning: No, if they were loyal and chosen for this job, salvation would be too good for them.
🔹 Analysis: Nonsensical logic. He means the opposite.
🔹 Device: Malapropism + irony.
🔹 Effect: Further emphasizes Dogberry’s foolishness.
VERGES: Well, give them their charge, neighbor Dogberry.
🔹 Meaning: Go ahead and tell them their duties.
🔹 Note: Verges acts like Dogberry’s sidekick.
DOGBERRY: First, who think you the most desartless man to be constable?
🔹 Meaning: Who do you think is the most deserving to be constable?
🔹 Malapropism: “Desartless” should be “deserving.”
🔹 Theme: Leadership by mistake.
FIRST WATCHMAN: Hugh Oatcake, sir, or George Seacoal, for they can write and read.
🔹 Meaning: These two can read and write, so they’re the best choice.
🔹 Analysis: Literacy is rare and respected. Shows how basic skills are valued.
DOGBERRY: Come hither, neighbor Seacoal. … God hath blessed you with a good name.
🔹 Meaning: You’ve got a respectable name, and that’s a blessing.
🔹 Device: Mock-serious tone.
🔹 Effect: Comedy through exaggeration.
DOGBERRY: To be a well-favored man is the gift of fortune, but to write and read comes by nature.
🔹 Meaning: Being good-looking is luck; being able to read/write is natural ability.
🔹 Malapropism: Suggests literacy is natural, not learned—shows his ignorance.
🔹 Theme: Social class, education.
SEACOAL: Both which, master constable—
🔹 Meaning: I have both qualities.
🔹 Note: Seacoal is polite and trying to be respectful.
DOGBERRY: You have. I knew it would be your answer.
🔹 Meaning: I expected that.
🔹 Tone: Self-important. Dogberry loves hearing himself talk.
DOGBERRY: You are thought here to be the most senseless and fit man for the constable of the watch; therefore bear you the lantern.
🔹 Meaning: People think you’re the most “senseless” (he means sensible), so you get the job.
🔹 Malapropism: “Senseless” instead of “sensible.”
🔹 Effect: Comedy.
🔹 Symbolism: Lantern = duty, light in darkness.
DOGBERRY: This is your charge: you shall comprehend all vagrom men; you are to bid any man stand, in the Prince’s name.
🔹 Meaning: Arrest any suspicious men and tell anyone to stop in the name of the Prince.
🔹 Malapropism: “Comprehend” instead of “apprehend”; “vagrom” for “vagrant.”
🔹 Theme: Justice, authority.
SEACOAL: How if he will not stand?
🔹 Meaning: What if the man doesn’t stop?
DOGBERRY: Take no note of him, let him go … thank God you are rid of a knave.
🔹 Meaning: Just ignore him. Be thankful he’s gone.
🔹 Irony: The opposite of what law enforcement should do.
🔹 Theme: Foolishness of officials.
VERGES: If he will not stand … he is none of the Prince’s subjects.
🔹 Meaning: If he disobeys, he must not be loyal.
🔹 Faulty logic: Anyone could be a criminal.
🔹 Effect: Continues the absurd logic.
DOGBERRY: True, and they are to meddle with none but the Prince’s subjects.
🔹 Meaning: We only deal with loyal citizens.
🔹 Irony: They misunderstand their duties.
DOGBERRY: You shall also make no noise in the streets … it is most tolerable and not to be endured.
🔹 Meaning: Don’t talk in the streets. It’s tolerable but unacceptable.
🔹 Oxymoron: “Tolerable and not to be endured” contradicts itself.
🔹 Effect: Absurdity = humor.
SECOND WATCHMAN: We will rather sleep than talk. We know what belongs to a watch.
🔹 Meaning: We’ll sleep instead of chatting.
🔹 Irony: Guards sleeping = neglecting duty.
🔹 Theme: Incompetence.
DOGBERRY: Why, you speak like an ancient and most quiet watchman … only have a care that your bills be not stolen.
🔹 Meaning: You sound wise. Just make sure no one steals your weapons (bills = polearms).
🔹 Irony: If their weapons are stolen, they’re defenseless.
DOGBERRY: Call at all the alehouses and bid those that are drunk get them to bed.
🔹 Meaning: Go to taverns and tell drunk people to go home.
🔹 Theme: Public order vs. chaos.
SEACOAL: How if they will not?
🔹 What if they refuse?
DOGBERRY: Let them alone till they are sober … they are not the men you took them for.
🔹 Meaning: Wait until they’re sober. If they don’t behave, they’re not who you thought they were.
🔹 Absurd logic: Again, foolish enforcement advice.
🔹 Comedy: Built on misunderstanding.
DOGBERRY: If you meet a thief, you may suspect him, by virtue of your office, to be no true man …
🔹 Meaning: If you see a thief, suspect him of being dishonest.
🔹 Tautology: A thief is obviously not “true.”
🔹 Effect: Mockery of overcomplicated authority.
DOGBERRY:
“Kind of men, the less you meddle or make with them, why, the more is for your honesty.”
- Simple meaning: The less you deal with bad people, the more honest you will appear.
- Analysis: Dogberry gives foolish advice—saying it’s best not to interfere even with criminals. He mixes up wisdom and nonsense.
- Device: Malapropism – Dogberry often uses the wrong words (e.g., “meddle or make with” is awkwardly phrased).
- Theme: Miscommunication, incompetence in authority.
SEACOAL:
“If we know him to be a thief, shall we not lay hands on him?”
- Simple meaning: If we know someone is a thief, shouldn’t we arrest him?
- Analysis: Seacoal is the voice of reason here, trying to understand his duty.
DOGBERRY:
“Truly, by your office you may, but I think they that touch pitch will be defiled.”
- Simple meaning: Yes, your job allows you to arrest him, but if you touch something dirty (like pitch), you’ll get dirty too.
- Analysis: Dogberry tries to use a metaphor, saying contact with criminals might “dirty” the watchmen, but again it comes off as foolish.
- Device: Metaphor – “touch pitch” = get involved with bad things.
- Theme: Folly of authority, incompetence.
“The most peaceable way for you, if you do take a thief, is to let him show himself what he is and steal out of your company.”
- Simple meaning: If you catch a thief, just let him go and let him reveal his own nature.
- Analysis: Dogberry once again gives terrible advice. Instead of stopping crime, he encourages ignoring it.
VERGES:
“You have been always called a merciful man, partner.”
- Simple meaning: You’ve always been known to be kind.
- Analysis: Verges supports Dogberry’s poor logic, showing how foolish both are.
DOGBERRY:
“Truly, I would not hang a dog by my will, much more a man who hath any honesty in him.”
- Simple meaning: I wouldn’t even hang a dog, let alone a man who’s even slightly honest.
- Analysis: Dogberry prides himself on being merciful—but again blurs justice with leniency.
VERGES (to the Watch):
“If you hear a child cry in the night, you must call to the nurse and bid her still it.”
- Simple meaning: If you hear a baby crying, tell the nurse to quiet it.
- Theme: Authority’s misplaced focus—more concerned with trivial things than real danger.
SECOND WATCHMAN:
“How if the nurse be asleep and will not hear us?”
- Simple meaning: What if the nurse is sleeping and doesn’t respond?
DOGBERRY:
“Then depart in peace, and let the child wake her with crying…”
- Simple meaning: Then just leave and let the child’s crying wake her up.
- “…for the ewe that will not hear her lamb when it baas will never answer a calf when he bleats.”
- Simple meaning: A mother who doesn’t listen to her child won’t listen to anyone.
- Analysis: Dogberry tries to sound wise with a farming metaphor, but again misuses it.
- Device: Metaphor, proverbial language
- Theme: Misapplied wisdom.
VERGES:
“‘Tis very true.”
- Simple meaning: That’s very true.
- Analysis: Shows blind agreement without critical thought.
DOGBERRY:
“This is the end of the charge.”
- Simple meaning: That’s the end of your instructions.
“You, constable, are to present the Prince’s own person.”
- Simple meaning: You represent the Prince himself.
- Analysis: Dogberry overstates the role of the constable.
“If you meet the Prince in the night, you may stay him.”
- Simple meaning: If you meet the Prince, you can stop him.
VERGES:
“Nay, by ’r Lady, that I think he cannot.”
- Simple meaning: No, I don’t think he can do that.
- Analysis: Verges realizes this suggestion is ridiculous.
DOGBERRY:
“Five shillings to one on’t, with any man that knows the statutes, he may stay him…”
- Simple meaning: I’ll bet five shillings that anyone who knows the law would say he can.
- “…marry, not without the Prince be willing…”
- Simple meaning: But only if the Prince agrees to be stopped.
- “…it is an offense to stay a man against his will.”
- Simple meaning: It’s illegal to stop someone without permission.
- Analysis: Contradictory – says he can be stopped, then says it’s illegal.
VERGES:
“By ’r Lady, I think it be so.”
- Simple meaning: You’re probably right.
DOGBERRY:
“Ha, ah ha!—Well, masters, goodnight.”
- Simple meaning: Haha! Alright, goodnight.
- Analysis: Ends with false confidence.
“An there be any matter of weight chances, call up me.”
- Simple meaning: If anything serious happens, wake me up.
“Keep your fellows’ counsels and your own, and goodnight.—Come, neighbor.”
- Simple meaning: Keep each other’s secrets and stay quiet.
- Analysis: Dogberry ends on a note of false wisdom.
- Theme: Miscommunication, comic ineptitude.
SEACOAL:
“Well, masters, we hear our charge. Let us go sit here upon the church bench till two, and then all to bed.”
- Simple meaning: We’ve received our orders. Let’s sit on the church bench until 2 AM, then go to sleep.
- Analysis: Seacoal’s suggesting a restful watch, though this lack of urgency shows the watchmen’s incompetence.
- Theme: Incompetence in authority, comic relief.
DOGBERRY:
“One word more, honest neighbors. I pray you watch about Signior Leonato’s door, for the wedding being there tomorrow, there is a great coil tonight. Adieu, be vigilant, I beseech you.”
- Simple meaning: One more thing, please keep an eye on Leonato’s house tonight, as there’s a lot going on with the wedding preparations. Stay alert!
- Analysis: Dogberry’s instructions are clear, but the watchmen, already sleepy, aren’t likely to follow them well.
- Theme: Authority, misunderstanding of seriousness.
Dogberry and Verges exit.
Enter Borachio and Conrade.
BORACHIO:
“What, Conrade!”
- Simple meaning: Conrade!
- Analysis: Borachio calls out, looking for his partner in crime.
- Theme: The scheming nature of Borachio.
SEACOAL, aside:
“Peace, stir not.”
- Simple meaning: Quiet, don’t make a sound.
- Analysis: Seacoal warns the others to stay hidden. This shows his suspicion and alertness, even if he’s not fully aware of the situation.
- Theme: Suspicion, secrecy.
BORACHIO:
“Conrade, I say!”
- Simple meaning: I’m calling you, Conrade!
- Analysis: Borachio’s impatience is clear as he repeats himself.
- Theme: Urgency, impatience.
CONRADE:
“Here, man, I am at thy elbow.”
- Simple meaning: I’m right here, at your side.
- Analysis: Conrade responds, indicating he’s ready to listen.
- Theme: Partnership, loyalty.
BORACHIO:
“Mass, and my elbow itched, I thought there would a scab follow.”
- Simple meaning: My elbow was itching, and I thought a scab might form.
- Analysis: Borachio’s words are odd and humorous, showing his drunken state.
- Device: Humor, physical imagery.
- Theme: Drunkenness, comic relief.
CONRADE:
“I will owe thee an answer for that. And now forward with thy tale.”
- Simple meaning: I’ll get back at you for that comment later. Now, go ahead with your story.
- Analysis: Conrade acknowledges the comment and shifts the focus back to Borachio’s scheme.
- Theme: Mischief, loyalty.
BORACHIO:
“Stand thee close, then, under this penthouse, for it drizzles rain, and I will, like a true drunkard, utter all to thee.”
- Simple meaning: Stand close to me under this roof, it’s raining. I’ll tell you everything like a true drunkard.
- Analysis: Borachio’s speech is full of dramatic self-awareness—he implies that his confession, being drunk, will be a truthful one.
- Device: Self-deprecation, irony.
- Theme: Confession, drunkenness.
SEACOAL, aside:
“Some treason, masters. Yet stand close.”
- Simple meaning: There’s some kind of betrayal going on. Stay close and listen.
- Analysis: Seacoal, who’s eavesdropping, suspects something shady but stays quiet to gather more information.
- Theme: Suspicion, eavesdropping.
BORACHIO:
“Therefore know, I have earned of Don John a thousand ducats.”
- Simple meaning: I’ve received a thousand ducats (money) from Don John.
- Analysis: Borachio reveals the payoff he’s received for his work, showing his loyalty to Don John.
- Theme: Greed, betrayal.
CONRADE:
“Is it possible that any villainy should be so dear?”
- Simple meaning: How can villainy be so valuable?
- Analysis: Conrade is shocked by the high price Borachio has been paid for his treachery.
- Theme: Corruption, price of villainy.
BORACHIO:
“Thou shouldst rather ask if it were possible any villainy should be so rich. For when rich villains have need of poor ones, poor ones may make what price they will.”
- Simple meaning: You should ask if it’s possible for villainy to be so profitable. When rich criminals need help, they can pay poor ones anything.
- Analysis: Borachio justifies his actions by emphasizing that the rich, like Don John, can afford to pay whatever price he demands for his treachery.
- Theme: Corruption, exploitation.
CONRADE:
“I wonder at it.”
- Simple meaning: I’m amazed.
- Analysis: Conrade shows disbelief at how much Borachio has been paid.
- Theme: Shock at betrayal.
BORACHIO:
“That shows thou art unconfirmed. Thou knowest that the fashion of a doublet, or a hat, or a cloak, is nothing to a man.”
- Simple meaning: That shows you’re inexperienced. You know, the style of a jacket, hat, or cloak doesn’t matter to a man.
- Analysis: Borachio uses an example of fashion to make a point about superficiality, but he’s really pointing out Conrade’s lack of understanding of the world of crime and corruption.
- Theme: Inexperience, appearance versus reality.
CONRADE:
“Yes, it is apparel.”
- Simple meaning: Yes, it’s clothing.
- Analysis: Conrade is agreeing to Borachio’s point about fashion, but it’s a bit of a dismissive response.
- Theme: The conversation about appearance.
BORACHIO:
“I mean the fashion.”
- Simple meaning: I mean the style or trend, not just clothing.
- Analysis: Borachio is clarifying that he’s talking about the trend or fashion itself, not just the garments.
- Theme: The influence of fashion.
CONRADE:
“Yes, the fashion is the fashion.”
- Simple meaning: Yes, fashion is just fashion; there’s no deeper meaning to it.
- Analysis: Conrade’s response shows indifference or perhaps confusion. He doesn’t quite understand what Borachio is getting at.
- Theme: Superficiality.
BORACHIO:
“Tush, I may as well say the fool’s the fool.”
- Simple meaning: Nonsense, I might as well just say that a fool is a fool.
- Analysis: Borachio is dismissing Conrade’s trivial response. He’s making a point about how superficial and misleading fashion can be, much like a fool’s foolishness.
- Theme: Superficiality, irony.
“But seest thou not what a deformed thief this fashion is?”
- Simple meaning: But can’t you see how deceitful and harmful fashion is?
- Analysis: Borachio is now making a serious point about fashion being like a “thief” – it steals from people, leads them astray, and causes confusion.
- Device: Metaphor – fashion as a “deformed thief.”
- Theme: Deception, corruption, appearance vs. reality.
FIRST WATCHMAN, aside:
“I know that Deformed. He has been a vile thief this seven year. He goes up and down like a gentleman. I remember his name.”
- Simple meaning: I know that man, Deformed. He’s been a thief for seven years, pretending to be a gentleman.
- Analysis: This aside gives us a little background on “Deformed” – a thief who poses as a gentleman. The Watchman’s words echo Borachio’s idea that appearances can be deceiving.
- Theme: Deception, appearance vs. reality.
BORACHIO:
“Didst thou not hear somebody?”
- Simple meaning: Didn’t you hear someone?
- Analysis: Borachio’s suspicion rises here, likely because of the Watchman’s comment about “Deformed.” He’s growing more paranoid.
- Theme: Suspicion.
CONRADE:
“No, ’twas the vane on the house.”
- Simple meaning: No, it was just the weather vane on the roof.
- Analysis: Conrade dismisses the noise, trying to calm the situation.
- Theme: Misdirection, calmness.
BORACHIO:
“Seest thou not, I say, what a deformed thief this fashion is, how giddily he turns about all the hot bloods between fourteen and five-and-thirty, sometimes fashioning them like Pharaoh’s soldiers in the reechy painting, sometimes like god Bel’s priests in the old church window, sometimes like the shaven Hercules in the smirched worm-eaten tapestry, where his codpiece seems as massy as his club?”
- Simple meaning: Do you not see how fashion twists people around? It changes them—sometimes like soldiers, sometimes like ancient gods, sometimes like Hercules with his huge codpiece and club.
- Analysis: Borachio expands on the metaphor of fashion as a “deformed thief,” showing how it confuses and corrupts those who follow it, leading them to look ridiculous. His description emphasizes the absurdity of fashion.
- Devices: Metaphor, allusion (Pharaoh’s soldiers, god Bel’s priests, Hercules), imagery (smirched tapestry, large codpiece).
- Theme: The power of appearance, superficiality.
CONRADE:
“All this I see, and I see that the fashion wears out more apparel than the man. But art not thou thyself giddy with the fashion too, that thou hast shifted out of thy tale into telling me of the fashion?”
- Simple meaning: I see all of that, and I agree that fashion wastes more clothes than it’s worth. But aren’t you also getting caught up in it, talking about fashion instead of telling your story?
- Analysis: Conrade points out the irony that Borachio, too, is getting distracted by fashion when he should be focused on his original story.
- Theme: Irony, distraction.
BORACHIO:
“Not so, neither. But know that I have tonight wooed Margaret, the Lady Hero’s gentlewoman, by the name of Hero. She leans me out at her mistress’ chamber window, bids me a thousand times goodnight. I tell this tale vilely. I should first tell thee how the Prince, Claudio, and my master, planted and placed and possessed by my master Don John, saw afar off in the orchard this amiable amiable encounter.”
- Simple meaning: No, I’m not distracted. Let me tell you that tonight I courted Margaret, Hero’s maid, pretending she was Hero. She even leaned out the window and bid me goodnight. But first, I should tell you how Claudio and the Prince, led by Don John, saw this “encounter” in the orchard.
- Analysis: Borachio is now getting to the heart of the plot—his deception involving Margaret and Hero, which will lead to the public disgrace of Hero.
- Theme: Deception, betrayal.
CONRADE:
“And thought they Margaret was Hero?”
- Simple meaning: And they thought Margaret was Hero?
- Analysis: Conrade is confirming the plan and expressing some surprise or disbelief.
- Theme: Deception, confusion.
BORACHIO:
“Two of them did, the Prince and Claudio, but the devil my master knew she was Margaret; and partly by his oaths, which first possessed them, partly by the dark night, which did deceive them, but chiefly by my villainy, which did confirm any slander that Don John had made, away went Claudio enraged, swore he would meet her as he was appointed next morning at the temple, and there, before the whole congregation, shame her with what he saw o’ernight and send her home again without a husband.”
- Simple meaning: Yes, the Prince and Claudio thought Margaret was Hero, but Don John knew it was Margaret. He swore them to it with his oaths, deceived them with the dark night, and I, with my villainy, made sure the slander stuck. Claudio, enraged, planned to confront her at the temple the next morning and publicly shame her, ruining her reputation and sending her home without a husband.
- Analysis: Borachio’s confession reveals the full depth of the plot to disgrace Hero. It shows how carefully Don John has planned the deception, manipulating both the environment (the dark night) and the emotions of Claudio and the Prince.
- Theme: Betrayal, manipulation, revenge.
FIRST WATCHMAN:
“We charge you in the Prince’s name stand!”
- Simple meaning: We command you, in the name of the Prince, to stop!
- Analysis: The First Watchman is invoking the authority of the Prince to command obedience. This is a formal and serious statement meant to enforce the law.
- Theme: Authority, justice.
SEACOAL:
“Call up the right Master Constable.”
- Simple meaning: Go and get the proper Constable (Dogberry).
- Analysis: Seacoal is directing the Second Watchman to call for Dogberry, the constable, to handle the situation.
- Theme: Order, responsibility.
FIRST WATCHMAN:
“And one Deformed is one of them. I know him; he wears a lock.”
- Simple meaning: And one of the suspects is Deformed. I recognize him because he wears a lock of hair.
- Analysis: The First Watchman is identifying Deformed as one of the individuals involved in the crime, noting a distinguishing feature—his lock of hair.
- Theme: Recognition, identity.
Enter Dogberry, Verges, and Second Watchman.
DOGBERRY:
“Masters, masters—”
- Simple meaning: Gentlemen, gentlemen—
- Analysis: Dogberry, as the Constable, is trying to command attention, but his speech is often marked by comedic misunderstandings or misuse of language.
- Theme: Authority, incompetence (comedic).
FIRST WATCHMAN, to Borachio:
“You’ll be made bring Deformed forth, I warrant you.”
- Simple meaning: You’ll be forced to bring Deformed forward, I’m sure of it.
- Analysis: The First Watchman is assuring Borachio that Deformed will be brought to face justice. The phrase hints at the certainty of Dogberry’s plans to resolve the matter.
- Theme: Justice, authority.
DOGBERRY, to Borachio and Conrade:
“Masters, never speak, we charge you, let us obey you to go with us.”
- Simple meaning: Gentlemen, do not speak. We command you to follow us.
- Analysis: Dogberry is giving orders, but the phrasing is awkward and somewhat comical. He means to direct them but does so in a confusing way.
- Theme: Incompetence, authority (in a comedic light).
BORACHIO, to Conrade:
“We are like to prove a goodly commodity, being taken up of these men’s bills.”
- Simple meaning: We’re likely going to be seen as a valuable prize, being taken by these men.
- Analysis: Borachio is sarcastically commenting on how they are being treated like important captures by the Watchmen, who seem to be proud of their “catch.”
- Theme: Sarcasm, irony.
CONRADE:
“A commodity in question, I warrant you.—Come, we’ll obey you.”
- Simple meaning: I’m sure we’re in trouble now. Let’s just follow them.
- Analysis: Conrade is also being sarcastic, mocking the situation but acknowledging that they have no choice but to follow the Watchmen.
- Theme: Irony, helplessness.
They exit.
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