#borachio

Idea to turn it into full blown tragedy:

Hero actually, for real dies at the wedding-turned-shaming.

She becomes a ghost.

And haunts the eff out of all those who have wronged her, or even doubted her virtue.

Haunts her father into regretting his misgivings, even if they were brief.

Haunts Borachio into never forgetting that he set in motion the events that killed her.

Haunts Pedro so that he never trusts his brother again.

Haunts John for his easy lies, to feel their consequences truly for the first time.

Haunts Claudio until he goes mad with grief and guilt.

anon, i'm delighted to do this and thank you for the reminder that every character is someone's favorite. here's 10 of the best caps i could find of your guy.

"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"

Borachio, Act 3. sc 2, lines 111-114

When explaining to Conrade his deal with Don John, Borachio says that he was paid well by Don John to participate in his trick. He then makes this comment about villainy and the relationship between rich and poor villains.

This comment made me think about how we view rich villains vs poor villains. When we see a rich villain, who is either a villain in order to gain more money or just because they can be, we often don't have sympathy for them. They are simply there to play opposite the "hero" and perhaps send a message about greed. However, when we see a poor villain, especially one who is paid a large sum of money to do villainous deeds, we are more likely to understand their actions or have some sympathy for them. They may not choose the life of a villain for fun, but necessity. Particularly if we use the old definition of a villain, then this quote by Borachio can also mean that rich evil people would go to the low-born folk who have nothing to lose to do their dirty work for them in exchange for money so they can eat or find shelter. Those are some of the villains we might root for. Especially in this economy, who wouldn't do a little villainy to make rent or feed their family? (Legally, this is a joke.)

(Once again, all real names have been changed to the name of the character they’re playing)

Borachio: (unintelligible screaming)

Borachio, calmly: I spilled my Sprite. 

~~~

Conrade: And Dogberry arrests me. 

Verges: I do too! Just because it is the 1940s doesn’t mean you have to erase the work women do. 

~~~

(During the wedding scene)

Hero: I feel like im gonna get beat up. 

Claudio: Verbally, yes.

~~~

Director: The Best Man’s here. And the Best Woman’s here. 

Beatrice: Maid of Honor?

Director: whatever it’s called. 

~~~

Director to Claudio: You’re doing the right thing by shaming Hero. They think it’s wrong, but you’re doing the right thing.

~~~

Antonio to Hero: Here’s some wine to null the pain!

~~~

Dogberry: Remember that I, Dogberry, am an ass!

Verges: You’re my ass 😭🫡

~~~

“You used me,” says Margaret. “You were sweet with me, and I believe you meant it when we danced together, but you still…” Her voice trembles with disbelief but not anger. “You let me be a tool against my lady and friend.”

Borachio tilts his head down, eyes closed. “I cannot deny it. But I would be ashamed to repeat it.”

“Hmm…” He cracks his eyes open to find Margaret squinting hers at him. “Alright, I won’t make you tell me what we both already know. Tell me this, then: why did you do it? Can you really hate Lady Hero so much?”

He did it because he thought it would be fun, and it was until the circumstances grew more dire than anyone could have guessed. He did it because there was untold wealth in it for him and he hardly even had to ask for it. Borachio could say either of those and it would be the truth, but he couldn’t say so to Margaret and expect her to remain his friend.

“It’s not Hero I hated. It never was, she’s always been perfectly decent to me. But doesn’t it make you angry, Margaret, the way they all treat us? I know I’m smart, I know I’m a hard worker, but even if I do everything right the highest I’ll ever climb is the head steward and I’ll still be called ‘that lewd fellow’ behind my back. Because of my birth even my cleverness is a point against me, and I saw the same helplessness in my master, Don John.” He shrugs. “He wanted to get back at his brother through the noble Claudio and I wanted to get back at Leonato through the fair Hero. It only made sense to work together. But I should have known it wouldn’t make either of us feel better.”

“Are you really so angry all the time, Borachio?” He can’t stand the note of pity in her words, but then she laughs a little and this is the Margaret he adores. “I’m not. So maybe I’ll always live below stairs, but it’s not a bad life as long as I have good people to share it with, and you’re one of them.” She really believes that, and he doesn’t understand how she can. A little quieter she adds, “You’ve been crying for it, haven’t you?” He has been, and now he turns his face to the ceiling in a vain attempt to stop more tears from coming. “Borachio…” Margaret fishes in her apron for a handkerchief and won’t let up until he accepts it. “You don’t have to do that anymore, really you don’t.”

“I’d stop this if I could.” His smile is marred by a sniffle. “I have work to do and I have to look my best.”

“Will you listen to me?” Margaret scolds him. “Hero’s alive.”

“She— what? But everyone said she died on the instant of her accusation — her false accusation.”

“It had to look that way so everyone would realize how much they’d lost by rejecting my lady. Even I wasn’t told of the trick right away. But then by being caught you provided enough evidence to clear her name again. In a way, you saved her honor.”

“No, please don’t give me credit for something like that. I know what I’ve done and there’s no way to make that anything but a blot on me. But that Claudio…” He shakes his head. “Even Hero’s death wasn’t enough to make her lovely in his eyes. I saw how he was laughing about it right up to the moment he learned the truth.”

“Right.” Margaret nods. “And I saw how boldly he shamed her at the altar. It was too cold to be truly angry, that’s the worst part. But he did marry her in the end. It was a small ceremony a few hours ago. He really does love her.”

“Your problem is that you’re too forgiving.” He folds her handkerchief and hands it back.

Roses are red

This job is my hell

Mitochondria is