It is commonly thought that love is one of the most sacred feelings one can possess. In the book Much Ado About Nothing, it is evident that Hero and Claudio are not in love, if you loved someone you wouldn’t get married after only a day of knowing each other and you would take more time than just a few days to get over the other’s death. However, Beatrice and Benedick are in love, they had a past relationship and they confessed their love for the other in a secret letter.
Firstly, Hero and Claudio didn't spend any time trying to get to know each other, they rushed straight into wanting to get married. When Claudio was asked by Don Pedro when he was planning to have the wedding, he said, “Tomorrow, my lord. Time goes on crutches till love have
…show more content…
They had a past relationship that made it clear they had known each other for a while, and the old feelings could’ve resurfaced. Beatrice says this in regard to the past relationship she had with Benedick, “... he (Benedick) lent it (his heart) a while, 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.” (II, i,26). She’s basically saying that there was once a very serious bond and relationship between the two of them, but he didn't love her as much as she loved him. And, they had written secret letters about each other, confessing their love, “For here’s a paper written in his hand, a halting sonnet, of his own pure brain, fashion’d to Beatrice.” (V,iv,101). Claudio had found Benedick’s letter, and Beatrice then read it, seeing that it was in fact true. And Hero found Beatrice’s, “And here’s another, writ in my cousin’s hand, stol’n from her pocket, containing her affection unto Benedick.” (V,iv,101). Benedick was able to read her letter as well, they had been able to witness the truth of the other’s love. After this occasion, readers assume they went on to be married once the play was
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:
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
Benedick and Beatrice within the plot are both individuals with similar headstrong egos, while Hero and Claudio are both a duo of mesmerized partners towards each other’s passions and love. Benedick is an arrogant and dense-minded gentleman towards any object or task which proves his nobility to his pride by denying the theory that Beatrice is in love with him. Accordingly, an example of this is represented directly from him towards Beatrice, “Then is courtesy a turncoat. But it is certain I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted; and I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart, for truly I love none.” (Act 1, Scene 1) Beatrice is the perceptive one in the pair, while showing the similar traits of inflexibility as Benedick. Another Hero response for the previous quote can be used as an illustration of her ego, “A dear happiness to women! They would else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor.
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?’
Needless to say, Benedick and Beatrice are the antithesis of each other, for Beatrice is reasonable which means she is always trying to come up with a reason for what somebody has done or for what she is going to do, but Benedick is irrational which means he never needs a reason for what he does. Beatrice is crying because her cousin, Hero has just been slandered and killed by Claudio. Which is why she is asking Benedick to kill Claudio. Benedick laughs it off like it´s a joke the first time she asks. But, then he realizes that she is serious. ¨ As I have a thought”, “That’s enough for me”, “I’ll challenge him”, “I’ll kiss your hand”. This impacts the
In the beginning of the play, Benedick vows to never marry someone, however, this changes when Claudio, Don Pedro and Leonato trick Benedick into thinking that Beatrice loves him. This leads Benedick into confessing his love to Beatrice in hope that she will tell him she loves him back. Benedick takes the opportunity to tell Beatrice about his love and tells her, “I do love nothing in the world so well as you. Is that not strange?” (IV.i). At this point of the play, the characters are facing both confusion and anger. To ease the tensions steaming inside Beatrice, Benedick admits his love so she knows that he loves her back. So, when Benedick asks Beatrice if loving her is “strange”, he expects her to say that it is not and that she feels the same way. However, after Benedick reveals his love, Beatrice is shocked. In response, she tells Benedick that his love is not “strange”, but she cannot think about loving someone while her cousin was in so much pain after the devastation Claudio causes her at their wedding. Although it seems bizarre that Benedick would bring up his love for Beatrice at this time in the process of a relationship falling apart, but Benedick would most likely argue that it made sense to mention his love to Beatrice to either get her mind off of Hero or she would not even comprehend what he said because her mind is too busy thinking about what to do about
Beatrice and Benedick, however, in much contrast to Hero and Claudio are the ideal couple who are both equal in the relationship. Beatrice is an opinionated and stubborn woman who will have no one if she doesn't have the one she wants, which she makes clear throughout the play by refusing to marry lightly and by the conversation in Act One between her and Pedro. She chooses
Benedick treats Beatrice with respect and would presumably ask her about it before the wedding and rationalize what’s going on. Earlier in the book Benedick says, “I noted her not, but I looked on her.”(Shakespeare,6). While this may contradict what I just said, this is toward the beginning of the book when he only loved himself. At the same time during this quote Claudio is confessing his love for Hero. To Claudio that could be a little insulting.
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.
Claudio had an interest to marry Hero before he got to know her better, while Benedick has known Beatrice for a long time and he is constantly quarreling with her because that is the only way he can express his feelings for Beatrice. “ Silence is the perfectest herald of joy. I were but little happy if I could say how much. [ To Hero ] Lady, as you are mine, I am yours. I give away myself for you, and dote upon the exchange.” (Shakespeare 27) After the party Claudio is confessing his love for Hero. Claudio also just met hero a few days ago, and he is already wanting her hand in marriage. Benedick on the other hand is taking his time to get to know Beatrice, but there is a twist in the plot about a plan created by Hero, Don Pedro, Claudio, Leonato and Margaret to make sure Beatrice and Benedick fall in love. “ [Coming forward] This can be no trick: the conference was sadly borne. They have the truth of this from Hero. They seem to pity the lady: it seems her affections have their full bent. Love me! why, it must be requited. I hear how I am censured: they say I will bear myself proudly, if I perceive the love come from her; they say too that she will rather die than give any sign of affection. I did never think to marry: I must not seem proud: happy are they that hear their detractions and can put them to mending. They say the lady is fair; 'tis a truth, I can bear them witness; and virtuous; 'tis so,
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
Benedick has change his way of insulting Beatrice when listening to a conversation that Leonato and Prince was having. Hearing that Beatrice loves Benedick has made a change in his heart that he to loves her and will win her heart. Leonato has said,” By my troth, my lord, I….it is past the Infinite of thought,”(2.3.107-109) Leonato has described his niece Beatrice to loving Benedick with disrespecting him with a symbol of love. Claudio and Hero did not had to go through this process to falling in love because they try not to hide their feelings for each other. As to Benedick and Beatrice, they had to be deceit for they can release their emotions to each
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
At the beginning of the play Benedick and Beatrice thought they detested each other and regularly engaged in hateful banter. They were both so absorbed in their arguments that neither realized how they felt about each other. However, the Prince realized their potential affection and took it upon himself to match them together. The Prince said, “I will in the interim undertake one of Hercules’ labors, which is to bring Signior Benedick and the Lady Beatrice into a mountain of affection, th’ one with th’
Claudio only saw Hero for a brief moment upon returning from the war, and immediately desires her. Don Pedro agrees to woo the beautiful woman in Claudio's name at the upcoming celebration. He succeeds and summons Claudio who proposes to Hero immediately. As soon as Don John hears of the engagement between Hero and Claudio the audience learns of his desire for Hero. In deep resent of his brother and Claudio, Don John accepts Borrachio's plan of deceiving Claudio into thinking that Hero is promiscuous for the dual purpose of shaming one of his prestigious brother's followers and preventing Claudio and Hero's marriage. Borrachio's plan included having an amorous encounter with