Social Grace

The characters in the play use dense, colourful speech, which represents the ideal that Renaissance courtiers strove for.

The play’s language uses metaphor and rhetoric throughout. Benedick, Claudio and Don Pedro all produce the kind of witty banter that courtiers used to attract attention.

Courtiers were expected to speak highly contrived language but to make it appear effortless. Benedick and his companions try to display this effortless performance in both their behaviour and language.

The play mocks the fanciful love language that courtiers used. For example when Claudio falls in love he tries to be perfect as Benedick notes: “His words are a very fantastical banquet, just so many strange dishes” (II.iii.18–19).

Although the young gallants seem casual in their displays they constantly struggle to maintain their social position and Benedick and Claudio strive to remain in Don Pedro's favour.

When Claudio agrees to let Don Pedro woo Hero, it is not because Claudio can not but that he must stay in Don Pedro’s favour.

 When Claudio believes Don Pedro has deceived him and wooed Hero for himself, he cannot drop his polite civility even though he is enraged. Beatrice jokes that Claudio is “civil as an orange,” punning on the Seville orange, a bitter fruit (II.i.256).

Claudio remains quiet and polite despite his upset when he speaks of Don Pedro and Hero: “I wish him joy of her” (II.i.170) Claudio ultimately chooses his obedience to Don Pedro over his love for Hero.

Claudio’s social propriety eventually leads him into a trap when he believes Don John and abandons Hero on their wedding day.

Obviously Don John’s plans do not work as Claudio remains in Don Pedro’s favour, and Hero has to suffer.