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Beatrice And Benedick In Much Ado About Nothing

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Throughout literature, authors have depicted love in many ways. One such author is Shakespeare, who shows multiple views on marriage, both healthy and unhealthy. He does so through his characters in “Much Ado About Nothing.” The one that Shakespeare suggest as the most healthy and accurate is the one between Beatrice and Benedick. The other characters that Shakespeare includes show the contrasting differences between marriages.
The first marriage that Shakespeare displays is Claudio and Hero. They have the least healthy relationship because their love is often referred to as “puppy love.” This is often found in fairy tales, and is not very realistic nor healthy. According to Nancy Mohrlock Bunker in her essay “Companionate Marriage; Much Ado …show more content…

These two have the most ideal relationship because they possess honesty, trust, and commitment. Although these two characters have the qualities that make good relationship, it was not always so. In the beginning, neither Benedick nor Beatrice wanted to be in a relationship. Benedick and Beatrice saw marriage as a pointless and unnecessary act between two individuals. They both relished in their freedom and independence, until they were confronted with the opportunity to be in a relationship. Beatrice and Benedick were tricked to fall in love. Some people may argue that this makes their relationship fake, but Don Pedro only awoke the feelings they already had. Beatrice hints at a past relationship with Benedick while speaking to Don Pedro when she states, “Indeed, my lord, he lent [his heart] to me awhile, and I gave him use for it, a double heart for his single one. Marry, once before he won it of me with false dice; therefore Your Grace may well say I have lost it” (Act 2. Scene 1.). This revelation allows the readers to see why Shakespeare uses these two characters to demonstrate the best type of relationship. Any realistic relationship has setbacks—financial instabilities, uncertainty, or unresolved issues— that can force people to act foolishly. What may have caused Benedick’s and Beatrice’s setback is uncertain, but the readers can attain that whatever it may have been, it did nothing to fully douse the flames of desire within them. This resilience that they each display for one another is the true reason why they have what can only be seen as the best relationship. Despite their troubles in the past, both Beatrice and Benedick are willing to put their differences aside to love each

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