Much Ado About Nothing Maturity Quotes Page 1

Page (1 of 3) Quotes: 1 2 3

How we cite the quotes:
Citations follow this format: (Act.Scene.Line). Line numbers correspond to the Riverside edition.

Quote #1

MESSENGER
Much deserv'd on his part, and equally rememb'red by Don
Pedro. He hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age, doing
in the figure of a lamb the feats of a lion. He hath indeed
better bett'red expectation than you must expect of me to tell
you how. (1.1.12)

Claudio isn’t just praised for being a great soldier, it’s of particular importance that one so young has proven himself on the battlefield. This qualification will be important throughout the play. Though Claudio will have adult feelings (especially about love), he’s still young. While he has experience in battle, he has no such experience yet with love, which sheds light on his immature behavior towards Hero.

Quote #2

DON PEDRO
Well, as time shall try.
'In time the savage bull doth bear the yoke.' (1.1.261)

Don Pedro’s been around the block, and he’s mature enough to realize that even the savage bull can be tamed. He knows men can change their minds, which is, interestingly, exactly the conclusion Benedick comes to in the very end of the play, after he’s had some time to mature himself.

Quote #3

CLAUDIO
How sweetly you do minister to love,
That know love's grief by his complexion!
But lest my liking might too sudden seem,
I would have salv'd it with a longer treatise. (1.1.312)

Even Claudio recognizes that seeming to fall in love quickly is a mark of immaturity.

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