Shakespeare was an extremely ingenious writer, and shows this in how he has the trio of Claudio, Leonato and Don Pedro execute their plan, originally conceived by Don Pedro. Benedick automatically falls into the trap because of his great respect and trust for Leonato, whom he cannot believe guilty of such deception. Don Pedro’s conversation with his friends appeals greatly to Benedick’s self-love. That a lady of such an excellent nature as Beatrice should be attracted to him boosts his pride greatly. It increases his opinion of himself. His soliloquy gives ample proof of his thoughts and is one of the best examples of comic irony in the play. His views on marriage have all of a sudden undergone a drastic change. “The world must be peopled,” he emphasises.
There is a great deal of humour for the audience in this scene. The supposed plot gives an additional role to the audience in that its members share in the inside story – the fooling of Benedick. The irony lies in the fact that the plotters know that Benedick is listening to them. Benedick does not ‘note’ that the conspirators know his hiding place while the audience ‘notes’ both deceptions.
Shakespeare presents Benedick as a proud young bachelor, self-assured and set in his ways. He is an outspoken bachelor who finds it highly unlikely he will ever meet the woman who can tame his stubborn heart. He is portrayed as an enormously clever and sarcastic man. Most of the really amusing lines of dialogue either come from or are shared by Benedick. He is tremendously likeable, and nothing would be fulfilling enough to the audience than to see him completely enslaved to love once he realises its power.
When Don Pedro, Claudio and Leonato stage a conversation for Benedick to overhear, they realise Benedick’s stubbornness towards love when he says, “…man is a fool when he dedicates his behaviours to love…” Because of Benedick’s attitude the plan of having him overhear is devised. The three men accomplish the plan by waiting for Benedick to be in earshot when they raise the topic of Leonato’s niece, Beatrice. Don Pedro’s reference about “…your niece Beatrice is in love with Signor Benedick…?” helps to accomplish such manipulation of Benedick.
Don Pedro, Leonato and Claudio try to make the deception as believable to Benedick as possible. When Don Pedro says ‘may doth she be counterfeit’ and Leonato replies saying ‘Oh God counterfeit! There was never…’ they are really reassuring Benedick and ‘baiting the hook well’ so that he will respond. Claudio and Leonato pay a lot of compliments to Benedick; ‘he is a very proper man’. Don Pedro turns each compliment into a criticism, such as when Claudio says that Beatrice is very wise and Don Pedro replies with ‘in everything but in loving Benedick.’ I think this is the point where Don Pedro goes a little far in his abuse of Benedick and almost gives the game away.
When Don Pedro, Leonato and Claudio are talking about Beatrice, they name many of her qualities: ‘exceeding wise’, ‘an excellent sweet lady’ and ‘virtuous.’ Benedick is so convinced that Beatrice loves him and resolves to return her affection. Leonato says that Beatrice cannot bear to show her affection for Benedick because she fears his sharp tongue. The men pity her and slander Benedick to the high heavens for unknowingly causing such pain. Don Pedro enhances the story with tales of fainting fits and suicide attempts for love. The men retreat to their chambers, leaving Benedick very confused.
He is convinced that the men were sincere and that the whole thing is not a trick. Benedick wonders if he has blindly been too harsh to Beatrice, and if it is too late to change his bachelor ways.
Beatrice enters the garden at this point, wholly unaware of Benedick’s predicament. She informs him that dinner is ready and is startled when Benedick does not act snappish or rude.
Benedick looks for signs of love in her. In his last soliloquy of the scene Benedick re-tells all the virtues that he has found in Beatrice, which are strangely familiar to the ones of his ‘future wife’ in his first soliloquy. He starts off by saying ‘this can be no trick’ and that the conversation was a serious one, he is taken in by the thought that somebody actually loves him. He also tries to think of excuses for his behaviours towards love, for instance ‘doth not the appetite alter.’ ‘ a man loves his meat (food) in his youth…’ This ironically connects with what he said in the first soliloquy, his views now have completely changed; ‘his words are a very fantastical banquet; just so many strange dishes.’
Benedick is very humorous in his conversation with Beatrice. He is most certainly in love with her, and although Beatrice takes no notice of him and gives him witty remarks, Benedick sees through this. When Beatrice says ‘against my will I am sent to bid you come to dinner’ after she has gone Benedick gives the audience a laugh by saying ‘….there’s a double meaning in that.’ By this he means, Beatrice is covering up her true feelings.
This same scheme is practised on Beatrice to trick her into loving Benedick, with Hero and Ursula staging the conversation.
