Benedick In Shakespeare's Much Ado Nothing

All throughout the beginning of the play, both Beatrice and Benedick use sarcasm and hide their true feelings for each other, which is the first example of tricky in their relationship. Both of them have vowed never to marry anyone; Benedick stating: "Because I will not do them the wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none; and the fine is, for the which I may go the finer, I will live a bachelor." (1.1.232–35), while Beatrice says, "No, uncle, I'll none. Adam's sons are my brethren, and truly I hold it a sin to match in my kindred." (2.1.59–60.) Their friends see that they are the perfect match for one another, and plan to trick them into confessing their love for each other. When Benedick is in the orchard, he overhears Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato talking about how Beatrice is in love with him but is afraid he will mock her if she tells him. Benedick believes them, saying, "This can be no trick." (2.3.217.) He then goes on to say, "I will be horribly in love with her." (2.3.230–31.) Later, Beatrice hears Hero and Ursula talking about how they can't tell her that Benedick loves her because she is a scornful person. After Hero and Ursula leave, Beatrice states:

In the play of Much Ado About Nothing, the characters of Benedick and Beatrice have a love-hate relationship. On the surface, it appears that their relationship is built on a war of wits and insults. However, in Benedick’s soliloquy, the reader discovers that at the core of their insults actually lie the true feelings of love. It is also apparent that Benedick even sees loving each other as a competition, in that he wants to love her to a point of outdoing her love for him. Not only is Benedick constantly warring with Beatrice, but he is also undergoing an internal struggle, which is made quite apparent in Benedick’s soliloquy in Act 2 Scene 3.

The change in Benedick's character is accompanied by the change in his relationship with Beatrice, as they move from 'merry war' and 'skirmish of wit' to become lovers, though Benedick does still protest that he 'love thee (Beatrice) against my will'.

Here, Beatrice compares Benedick to a fool; someone who makes his living by entertaining others. As well, she describes him as a dull and unpleasant person who is disliked by men. These lines truly depict Beatrice as a nasty and cruel character but in reality, she is deceiving Benedick and herself of her true feelings toward him in order to protect herself. However, this deception seriously hurts Benedick because although he will not admit it, he truly cares about her opinion. This is demonstrated when he complains to the Prince about the verbal abuse he received during the masquerade party: “She speaks poniards, and every word stabs (2.1. 244-245)”. However, Beatrice is not who she appears to be. Although she treats Benedick with utter disdain and contempt, she has strong feelings for him which she hides. This is seen when at the beginning of the play, she suddenly interrupts Leonato to inquire about Benedick's safety: “I pray you, is Signior Mountanto returned from the wars or no? (1.1.30-31)” This symbolizes her interest in him and her genuine feelings toward Benedick. Though she certainly comes off as a malicious and hurtful person, Beatrice does not want to be vulnerable again and we learn this from a reference made about a past relationship. When

Throughout the book Beanedick and Beatrice say what they believe is right and stick to it and don’t let anyone convince them otherwise. Benedick and Beatrice say this because they still don’t like each other because benedick broke up with her. So that is why they are “roasting” on each other. Benedick has just come back from the war so he is catching up with everyone. This impacts their relationship because at the beginning of the story they hated each other because Benedick broke up with her. In spite, of them have differences they still have multiple similarities. Like they are both so

The Love between Benedict and Beatrice is a strong love hate relationship after their previous ties had failed between each other. Heros plan is to trick Beatrice into entering the orchard and overhearing their conversations about her. Through their conversation Hero, Ursula praises the virtues of Benedick and to point out the flaws in herself(Act 3 Scene 1). By doing this Hero is able to convince Beatrice to her love of Benedick. However the same time Claudio and Don John are talking of Beatrice's secret love for Benedick. After this occurred both characters realize their true feelings and began to fall for one another through the deception played out by Hero and

‘Tis certain so; the prince wooes for himself” (II.i.556-558). Here Claudio is led to believe, by Don John, that Don Pedro has wooed Beatrice for himself rather than for Claudio. This makes Claudio very upset. Claudio is deceived once in the play for a good cause. After he slanders Hero at their wedding, he needs to prove his worth:

She throws away her old self, stating "Contempt, farewell! and maiden pride, adieu!"(3.1.109). She also choses not to be so protective of her independence and declares love for Benedick, claiming "I will requite thee, Taming my wild heart to thy loving hand"(3.1.111-112). However, the true change in Beatrice does not show until the first church scene in which Claudio publicly humiliates Hero. Beatrice shows deep concern for her cousin Hero, the first time in the play where Beatrice shows concern for another. She is the first to claim Claudio is a liar and declare "on my soul, my cousin is belied!"(4.1.145). Beatrice then proves once again that she is a better person by demanding justice for Hero is met. Through Benedick, Beatrice plots to right the wrong and asks Benedick to "Kill Claudio"(4.1.290). It is in this scene as well that Beatrice, proving a complete turnaround in behavior, confesses to Benedick that "I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest "(4.1.287-288). This shows Beatrice transforming from someone who would scoff at marriage and love, declaring things like "I may sit in a corner and cry heigh-ho for a husband"(2.1.312-313), to someone who easily embraces love from the person she once mocked. But such a dramatic change is seen in her love as well.

In this Shakespearean comedy ‘Much Ado about Nothing’ two similarly obstinate characters of Beatrice and Benedick are presented between the rather normal relationship of characters Hero and Claudio. Shakespeare presents Beatrice and Benedick’s obstinacy towards the rather obligatory act of marriage and also their particularly similar personalities that cause reason for their familiar act of squabbling; he does this whilst also presenting two characters that are completely interested in marriage and who are hardly intellectually capable of squabbling in a similar manner. As the play unfolds both characters remain combative with one another but as love becomes the better of them, they begin to reveal that somewhat secretive sensitivity

The three points mentioned spark a great deal of discussion. Subsequently, questions that the audience will raise are; why does Benedick stay to hear the whole conversation and not just walk away? What does Balthasar’s song

However, upon hearing of Beatrice’s love for him he is suddenly perplexed and it does not take him long to decide that he will give that affection back in return.  How easily persuaded Benedick is.  This may come from the way Claudio, Don Pedro, and Leonato (Benedick’s associates) depict Beatrice as the most wonderful woman in Messina.  They talk of Beatrice as if she were the most magnificent woman so that Benedick will do exactly what he does indeed do.  When Benedick hears of this he must be thinking of what he has said before about his desire for the perfect woman.  In his speech he says that “the lady is fair . . . / . . . And virtuous. . . / . . . And wise[,]” which is exactly what Benedick demands in the woman that he will choose to be his wife.  However, Benedick only believes these things about Beatrice because of what Claudio, Don Pedro, and Leonato have said about her.  They only said them to convince Benedick that Beatrice was deserving of him and that she loved him with all her heart.  They told Benedick just what he wanted to hear.  It is a scheme made of lies, but it works because Benedick is persuaded and begins to agree with what they have said.  By doing this he is already influencing himself to follow the opposite path from the one that he has adhered to for years.  Here he is already starting to fool himself into believing Beatrice is the one for him

The result of the tricking scene and the way that they are so easily duped creates humour because they now seem desperately in love with each other 'Benedick love on. I will requite thee'. As a modern audience we feel satisfied at this union. Kenneth Branagh creates unity between Beatrice and Benedick with a montage. When Benedick is in the fountain splashing and laughing and Beatrice is on the swing smiling. These scenes make the audience smile and anticipate the positive ending.

In Much Ado About Nothing, Leonato quotes, “There is a kind of merry war betwixt Signior Benedick and her. They never meet but there’s a skirmish of a wit between them.” What this quote represents is that there wasn’t a time when Benedick and Beatrice weren’t arguing this relates because in today’s time couples fight over the littlest things. Another reason for which they are the most realistic couple is because they play hard to get with each other. Benedick also says in the play , “It is certain I am loved of all

Beatrice is a powerful, outspoken women who break gender stereotypes. Her battles with Benedick highlights her strong personality from the way she replies back and her body language. The purpose of Act 1 scene 1 is to watch the conflict between Beatrice and Benedick but the audience also gets a view on how the two dislike each other. Some insights the audience will gain of Beatrice is the fact that she is no Elizabethan women. She has a husky personality and she responds in a flick when Benedick tries to battle with her.

    Shakespeare's comedy, `Much Ado About Nothing' is a play revolved around the love and friendships of two young couples, integrated with each other through both friendship and love. Love and marriage are the two most prominent ideas in Shakespeare's comedies. The two couples are Benedick and Beatrice, an unpredicted match as they appear to be quite the opposite and are forever arguing in their poetic banter. The other couple is Claudio and Hero, the two who seem madly in love yet Claudio's untrusting and naive side takes power at one stage, in which the couple's relationship seems destined to be doomed. The two characters of Benedick and Claudio are very