.
"was no music with him but the drum and the fife .
he rather hear the tabor and the pipe.".
Line 11-12.
This shows his contempt because he says that before, Claudio would listen to manly music, and now he listens to weak music. He continues saying how Claudio has changed and how it is wrong and how love has ruined all of Claudio's masculine traits. I think that Benedick is a bit jealous of Claudio.
Towards the end of his soliloquy, Benedick repeats the phrase:-.
" I am well.".
By this, I think that he means that he is not in love and this is "healthy" to him. He says that unless he gets a perfect women he will remain "well".
There is a song also. The song is thematically relevant, as it is about deception. .
"Men were deceivers ever,".
Line 54.
This line I think sums up the play, because that is what the play is about all the Men (mankind) in it are deceiving at one point or another.
It is especially appropriate for the scene and is ironic as the scene is about Don Pedro and friends deceiving Benedick.
The trick starts with Don Pedro calling to Leonato loudly to get the attention of Benedick. The staging of this is so that we can see Benedick's reactions next to the trickster's. This way it is more humorous.
The success of the trick is in getting Benedick to eavesdrop on their pre-planned conversation, because if he had just walked off then the hoax would have failed. Also they needed him to believe what they were saying. There is a lot of dramatic irony here, Don Pedro, Leonato and Claudio know that what they are saying is false, but Benedick thinks that what is being said is true. Because they say they have proof of Beatrice's love from Hero and Hero is virtuous. Also Leonato was saying it and Benedick believes Leonato as in those days the society believed that old people had experience so he was wise and old meant that he was also trustworthy so he would never lie. It is ironic when they "ask" if Beatrice is just pretending, when it is actually them who are feigning.
