Deception and Forced love

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Kim

Beatrice and Benedick’s Love

In Much Ado about Nothing by William Shakespeare, the main characters in the play are faced with obstacles such as deceit and revealing true emotions. The lovers introduced in the play are Claudio, Hero, Beatrice and Benedick. Sometimes deception can be perceived as good when used for benign purposes, but it can also destroy relationships. In this comedy, Beatrice and Benedick seemed to be tricked and forced into falling in love, but actually they are dynamic as they realize they truly love each other. I believe you can’t “force” a couple into falling in love, Beatrice and Benedick weren’t also forced in to loving each other, they loved each other all along.

        From the beginning of the play, Beatrice and Benedick are shown in the play almost always having a “merry war of wits”, bickering with one another right from the start. It is also noted that they had a past relationship, which shows that they had some kind of interest with one another. When Don Pedro talks to Beatrice about “losing Sir Benedick’s heart” she replies that she once had “lent him a double heart for his single one…your grace may well say I have lost it.” (2.1 240-245) which could mean he eventually led her on and they broke up. Therefore, it is only reasonable that an estranged couple would not try and love each other again because of their past mistakes/indifferences unless they still have affections for each other. As for Beatrice and Benedick, they did feel something for each other and were confused and feared of their attractions, which plays as a big obstacle for them throughout the play.

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        While it appears that the love relationship between Claudio and Hero is more realistic and shallow, we can see the love between Beatrice and Benedick is more of the idealistic Shakespeare love. It seems the driving forces of love in most of Shakespeare’s work are irony and destiny. So in this case, all the credit doesn’t go to the Prince’s “cupid-plan” rather that these two unlikely lovers were ironically destined to be together. While Claudio and Hero’s love is realistic, we can see Beatrice and Benedick love nurturing and their characters evolving. As the play progresses, it is gradually shown ...

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