Regardless of the argument, the fact that both characters are responding eith such witty, sharp comebacks demonstrates their passion towards eacother- rather than concluding the argument with both characters drawing back hurtfully.
Shakespeare uses animal reference sthroughout the play. Bendeick says ‘The savage bull may; but if ever the sensible Benedick bear it, pluck off the bull's horns and set them in my forehead…the married man.' Another example: “hang me in a bottle like a cat and shoot at me” Benedick refers to love as torture- as if he would be an animal trapped in a cage, if he were to marry/fall in love. He is a very untamed, reckless man. other animal refernces include: ‘parrot’,’bird’,’beast’ and ‘horse’.
Below the surface meaning of these refernces lies another suggesting the animal refernces are used to emphasise the wildness of their love- so passionate and extravagant that it is uncontrollable and intense.
Both characters constantly insult each other or the opposite sex. The odd thing is that they bring up one another at the most random and unrelated moments. This shows they think about each other continually. Even though reference to one another is used in negative context- it is only an excuse to talk about one another even more. For example the subject is on Don John and Beatrice adds to the conversation: “Excellent man…in the mid way between him and Benedick.” Benedick says out of the blue:
“creep into sedges:but that my Lady Beatrice…”
Most of Beatrice and Benedick’s speeches about eachother are very contrived. This shows they have planned it out well before hand as its not eloquent and is very to the point. This shows their love as they try as best as they can to hide their true emotions from one another- not to give in to their pride or give away their love to others. For example Beatrice’s speech “the fault will be in music….sink into his grave” or Benedicks speech: “will your grace command…employment for me?” This is shown through their euphuistis style of writing
There are multiple times Benedick refers to Beatrice in a rude, sexist and un-loving way. However this is all done ignorantly with no intention for agony or harm. All the words and phrases he uses have double meanings:
the fact he refers to Beatrice as ‘my’ shows he is already thinking of her as his possession and objectifieng her. However it can be interpreted as- he’s constantly thinking about her and in his thoughts Beatrice is now part of him. Another example is he refers to her as a ‘fair lady’. It shows Benedick is impressed by her beauty to the extent he can’t resist her. Alternately it can be interpreted as he only want to marry her so his fear of cuckoldry will be abandoned as she is virtous.
THE GULL OFFERS OPPORTUNITY IN THESE WAYS…
The only real reason both charcters don’t give in and act on their emotions is because they are unsure of what they want themselves- they are too pretentious. Their main issue is their despise of marriage rather than love. For example Beatrice’s wants: “Half Signore Benedick’s tongue in Count John’s mouth and half Count John’s melancholy in Sihnor Benedick’s face” Benedick begins to account the following: “rich she shall be…vwise…virtuous…fair” and so the list continues endlessly. They are both asking for too much, but don’t accept that they are eachother’s dream man/woman. Even though both Beatrice and Benedick fit one another’s criteria and desired traits- they don’t confess due to their pompous personalities and strong views. This is seen on many occasions: Benedick never directly compliments Beatrice when talking about her- instead he always refers back to himself ‘sensible’ demonstrating his own high opinion of himself. Another example is Benedick’s speech: “I do much wonder…me in the arbour” without realizing Benedick uses the pronouns ‘I’ and ‘Me’ more than twenty times. Another example of this is when Benedick is listing the desired traits in a woman, after each trait he adds ‘yet I am well’ or ‘I’ll none’. Again he refers back to himself.
The gull acts as a boost or a motive for them to express their feelings
Below the arguing and insults, both characters feel hurt by one another but don’t admit it this shows that they self conscious as they are concerned by the others opinion of them. They obliviously abused eachother thinking its right to do so if the other one did it to. The trick gives them an opportunity to act on their feelings as momenterialy both characters begin to pour their true emotions out aloud. For example when Benedick hears the trick his reactions are bewilderment and joy of acceptance. He says: “her love must be requinted” as if he is going to obtain her love- the gull has given him the perfect reason to go love her. He also uses an oxymoron by saying “I will be horribly in love with her.” Even though ‘horrible’ by itself has negative connotations, in this context it implies the magnitude of his love towards her will be vast.
All of a sudden Benedick is madly in love and openly conveys his love towards Beatrice- such emotion can’t occur so abruptly implieng he’s loved her for a long time. This shows the gull gave him a chance to do so and a kick start into asking Beatrice’s hand in marriage.
