Much Ado About Nothing By Masashimoto

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:

He continues with another soliloquy after he overhears the news of Beatrice’s feelings. The differences in the tone and attitude of the two soliloquies gives perfect insight to his capricious state of mind. This is comical because immediately before he overhears the three men speaking, he demeans men who fall in love so quickly and foolishly. He scorns at how one man, after “seeing how much another man is a fool when he/ dedicates his behaviors to love, will, after he hath/ laughed at such shallow follies in others, become the/ argument of his own scorn by falling in love” (II.iii.8-11). This becomes ironic just moments later in the play when Benedick becomes the very thing he describes in his speech. Shakespeare included this soliloquy to exemplify Benedick’s indecisive nature, and to show great insight to his internal struggle.

Benedick’s attitude to love & marriage in ‘‘Much Ado About Nothing’’ In the play ‘‘Much Ado About Nothing’’ by William Shakespeare, the character of Benedick shows mixed emotions towards loves and marriage throughout. In the two extracts we studied, Benedick shows a large contrast of opinions: In Act 1 Scene 1, Benedick portrays strong feelings of contempt towards love and marriage, whereas by Act 2 Scene 3, Benedick has completely changed his views and he is prepared to make the commitment and marry Beatrice, a woman he appeared to dislike in the beginning of the play and who seemed to have mutual feelings towards Benedick. Act 1 Scene 1 portrays that Benedick has a very negative attitude towards love and marriage. When conversing with

On the other hand Benedick and Beatrice’s relationship is different; their relationship is not superficial but deeply rooted within them. They enjoy insulting each other as Benedick says to her ‘what my lady disdain! Are you yet living?’

Throughout the play, Benedick's relationship with Beatrice is an important mark of his character. In the first scene

Beatrice and Benedick are interesting due to Shakespeare’s use of language. Confusion is created as to whether they love or hate each other owing to their snide comments, such as Beatrice’s response “A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours” (1.1.104), notably continuing the reference to animals, after Benedick

Benedick, a melodramatic character of the play, is worthy of receiving Beatrice’s love due to his noble qualities and actions. Although Benedick is first described bitterly by Beatrice and appears to be a light-hearted bachelor, he proves to be honorable, loyal, and loving. During the garden scene

Like Ruth, Beatrice was hurt by someone who she thought she could trust but was proven wrong. When talking to the Messenger in Act 1 she learns that Claudio “[has] caught the Benedick, [and that] it will cost [Claudio] a thousand pounds [to] be cured” (Shakespeare, 1.1.74-75). Although Beatrice is talking about what Claudio has gotten himself into it sounds as if she is talking from experience and that she too had been “caught” by Benedick and fallen in love with him only to be thrown to the side as he does with his partners and friends. Beatrice is very on edge when she is talking with Benedick when he comes into the scene at this point of the play, being very rude and snarky toward him with good reason. Later in the play Benedick does redeem himself and he and Beatrice end up falling in love, sadly there is no happy ending for Ruth and her father; Ruth does not make up with her father nor does she forgive him for what he did and he ends up shunning her from the family when she does find love with someone who cares for her.

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.

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

In act 1 Scene 1, the audience is introduced to Beatrice. It is apparent that, she is not one of those individuals who would bite her tongue. Also, her witty comments illustrate her great sense of humor. From an insider’s point of view, it appears that, Beatrice has had a prior attachment to Benedick. Beatrice’s first line in this play projects an insult to Benedick. This scene begins with a messenger arriving to inform Beatrice and her family that, the prince of Aragon is on his way to Messina and that he is being accompanied by a few men. Beatrice responds to the Messenger by asking, “I pray you, is Signior Mountanto returned from the war or no?”(Shakespear 27)

In the play, Much Ado About Nothing, the prospective couple is Beatrice and Benedict. Their relationship begins as merciless fighting and teasing between both characters, also known as “the war of wits”. Shakespeare made sure to make this type of relationship prominent and important in the beginning of the play since Beatrice’s first words towards Benedick were, “I wonder that you will still be talking, Signior Benedick. Nobody marks you.” (1.1.92-94). Being around Claudio, a good friend of Benedick’s, and Hero, Beatrice’s cousin, makes life for Beatrice and Benedick a bit difficult. Both Beatrice and Benedick witness as Claudio and Hero’s love story unfolds in a series of romantic events. This seems to put strain on their own relationship because they are so closely involved with both Claudio and Hero. In a series of events

The love of Benedick and Beatrice is built on a weak foundation. In act four scene one, Beatrice and Benedick talk and they say, “Come, bid me do anything for thee./Kill Claudio./Ha! Not for the wide world./...I am gone though I am here. There is not love in you- Nay, I pray you, let me go.” In this scene, Beatrice says to Benedick that if he really loves her, he will kill Claudio because he hurt her cousin Hero. When Benedick refuses, Beatrice says that he didn't love her and that she doesn't love him.

Beatrice and Benedick’s relationship in the story “ Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare is a really common interaction between two people before they start to own up to their feelings for each other. In the story they both tend to have a clever mouth for one another, their communication is all about who can sort of shut the other person first but they seem to like the relationship they have. Beatrice is a passionate and sharp person who has a strong precedence, beatrice could be vulnerable at times but really assertive when it comes to expressing her opinion. Benedick is a man who thinks he will forever stay single and rejects marriage and only did he knew he will love and get married.

Branagh uses Benedick’s character during the second scene to add visual comedy to Shakespeare’s text. This begins when Benedick is alone in the garden when he hears Don Pedro, Leonato and Claudio walking towards him. He quickly hides in the garden hoping to not be seen. A quick motion that is non-existent when reading Shakespeare’s text. However, Branagh uses the character of Benedick to create a sense of humour within the scene. While Don Pedro, Leonato and Claudio know that Benedick is hiding from them in the garden. They decide to plot against Benedick in the hopes of him falling in love with Beatrice. They begin to talk about Beatrice, and how she is apparently in love with Benedick, according to her cousin Hero of course (Branagh 38:36). They pretend that they have no idea that Benedick can hear what they are saying but continue to emphasise words and exaggerate what they are saying to ensure Benedick, in fact, hears everything that they say. This can be interpreted when Don Pedro states “Leonato, what was it you told me of today, that your niece Beatrice was in love with Signor Benedick?” (2.3.94-96), which makes Benedick