Dogberry n Verdes

• • Shakespeare introduces Dogberry as the constable and Verges as his compartner (Act III, scene 3).
  • Though they may have the same official title, Dogberry adopts the role of senior officer. Think of them as police captain and lieutenant.
  • Given Dogberry's inflated sense of self-importance, you can bet he thinks of himself as a superhero with Verges as his sidekick--''to the rescue,'' as you might imagine them saying in modern speech.
• • In Elizabethan England, the police force was assembled from the yeoman class, citizens in the lowest position of society, mostly illiterate. ; Constable was an honorary, elected position, which meant that people actually went out of their way to avoid having to serve, kind of like jury duty.
  • In Shakespeare's time, law enforcement had a bad reputation for being inept and corrupt.
• • Dogberry and Verges are portrayed as foolish and inept constables who take themselves very seriously despite their lack of intelligence and competence.
  • Their attempts to maintain order and uphold the law often result in chaotic and comical situations.
  • For example, their misinterpretation of important information and their mishandling of suspects lead to humorous misunderstandings and confusion.
• • Dogberry and Verges frequently use malapropisms and verbal errors, such as mixing up words or using them incorrectly.
  • These linguistic mistakes add to their comedic characterization and highlight their lack of understanding and education.
  • The audience finds humour in their unintentional misuse of language and their obliviousness to their own errors.
• • Dogberry and Verges occupy positions of authority as constables, but their behaviour often undermines their own authority and exposes their incompetence.
  • This reversal of expectations, where those in positions of power are actually inept and clueless, adds an extra layer of humour to their characters.
• • "Comparisons are odorous" (Act 3, Scene 5): Dogberry intends to say "odious" instead of "odorous," meaning unpleasant or offensive, but his malapropism turns the phrase into a comical statement about comparisons having a smell.
• • "Our watch, sir, have indeed comprehended two auspicious persons" (Act 3, Scene 5): Verges uses "auspicious" instead of "suspicious," indicating his confusion between the two words and resulting in a humorous misinterpretation.