Per. 3 Much Ado About Nothing
Who would ever imagine falling in love only because of the trickery and deceit others put upon you? In shakespeare's book called, “much ado about nothing”, trickery and deceit was one of the main things used by practically every character in the book to push two characters together while also pushing two other characters apart. Beatrice and Benedick found a love that would have never been found without the help of others. But Claudio and Hero unfortunately took a turn for the worst also because of the help of others.
In the book, there was a scene where the characters took it as far as pretending to be someone else. Claudio, took it upon himself to pretend to be Benedick only to find out information
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Their relationship started solely because of the deception of others. The two of them were tricked into thinking that the other was madly in love with the other. This caused the couple to open there eyes to what “could be”. In the beginning of the play, whenever Benedick’s name was even brought up, Beatrice would go into a quick fury. Just hearing his name brought anger to Beatrice. By the end of the play this changed dramatically. When Beatrice was lied to and told about the love that Benedick supposedly had for her she put up a front. There was a scene where Ursula knew that Beatrice was around, so she spoke loudly and proclaimed; “o, do not do your cousin such a wrong! She cannot be so much without true judgment, having so swift and excellence a wit as she is prized to have, as to refuse so rare a gentleman as signior Benedick.” (act three scene 1, lines 92-96). In this quote Ursula is saying that Beatrice is a good person, and that she would never turn down someone like Benedick because of who Benedick is. She is saying that Beatrice is not the type of person to turn away that type of love. After hearing this Beatrice started looking at Benedick differently. A similar thing happened to Benedick, and just as it changed Beatrice’s point of view, it also changed his. Both of the two having this new mindset of one another caused them to be interested in each other and eventually fall in
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:
This quote shows the enjoyment Benedick gets when insulting Beatrice as it displays an enjoyable hate that would eventually grow into love.
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
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
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
In William Shakespeare’s play Much Ado About Nothing, love has played a major rule as theme in this play. Shakespeare discussed different kinds of loving relationships; romantic love, family support and loyal friendship, and he shows how different characters react to love in many different ways. The main plot of Much Ado About Nothing is that of the relationship between Claudio and Hero, and the hidden love between Benedick and Beatrice. Similarly, deception is a big concept to consider as a theme in this play. Each of the main characters being the victim of deception; Shakespeare in this play shows that deception is not inherently evil, but can also be pure.
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.
By using the intense phrases like ‘I lose more blood’ this could also convey that love is something he knows he may be hurt by. Similarly Beatrice states that no man is good enough for her and then also declares her intentions of remaining bachelor. However Beatrice’s confident chatter can be just a cover of her inner insecurities. She may talk as if she definitely will not marry when really she is afraid of this as her age is rapidly increasing; this is a feeling of desperation. Overall, the similarity between their views and feelings sparks a kind of sweet compatibility between them. This shines through their obstinate attitudes reflecting the idea that a love relationship has the potential to evolve. However, this is also makes the end (where they are indeed in love) more surprising therefore presenting their relationship as quite volatile.
Although Beatrice and Benedick are not yet shown as in love, a Shakespearian audience would not have thought it usual for a woman like Beatrice to be speaking as she was about Benedick. However, today it is perfectly normal for Beatrice to be talking like she is, so at the moment, the two relationships are more satisfying to the different audiences. Beatrice and Benedick's relationship has another problem. They both like to use their wit and intelligence to try and outsmart people, and mainly themselves.
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
Hero, Ursula, and Margaret similarly deceive Beatrice. By the end of the women’s conversation of high praise for Benedick, Beatrice acknowledges her feelings for him. She further decides to “[tame her] wild heart to [Benedick’s] loving hand” (3.2.118). At Claudio and Hero’s wedding, the pair’s true feelings finally become known. Despite the fact that Beatrice and Benedick were tricked into falling in love, the end result of this deception was one of bliss and
The two are deceived when they are not together, and they overhear many different things. However, they are hearing negative comments regarding themselves, and positive comments regarding the other side of the relationship. Beatrice and Benedick react by going to one another, to discuss the events that are unfolding. They are willing to see past their own mishaps, and accept the other for who they are. This, in turn, shows how the couple has the ability to accept their faults, move on, and build a healthy and strong
Like many of Shakespeare's other heroes, Benedick has a comic and serious side. I think he combines everything Shakespeare seems to like in a character; he is amusing (his witty banter with Beatrice is where most of the humour in this play revolves around) and he is also able to laugh at himself- he takes in good humour like the teasing of his friends about his cynicism about matrimony. He is loving too, (an example of this is his poem to Beatrice) and also deadly serious is his love for her- he renounces his male comradeship to "kill Claudio" as she demands- he is prepared to give up his current, enjoyable way of life for her. He is also loyal to the prince, in that he despises Don John, but he is most loyal to the one he loves, something the majority of Shakespearean heroes personify (even those who go astray eventually return to their love- Romeo never wavers from his purpose in loving Juliet). His relationship with Beatrice is another ideal held up to us by the playwright. Beatrice chooses Benedick, she pleases herself, not her family, and as a result, their relationship is much more equal and evenly balanced. It is this relationship, and not the other, quite stereotypical romance, which Shakespeare makes the main thread of this drama.