Beatrice is given a very sociable character, we see this is the way she treats the Messenger in act 1, scene 1; “Messenger: I will hold friends with you good lady.” “Beatrice; Do, good friend”. I can clearly tell that Beatrice is a very warm and inviting person who is easy to befriend. However, The minute Benedick’s name is mentioned, her choice of words alter; “He has a very valiant trencher-man; he hath an excellent stomach.” I can understand why Benedick would refer to her as ‘Lady Disdain’ as she constantly mocks him.
She treats most people apart from Benedick with a certain degree of respect as she feels no need to be a burden towards them; “No, my lord, unless I might have another for working days: your Grace is too costly to wear every day.” This is an example of the way in which Beatrice talks to Don Pedro. However, the way in which she speaks to Benedick is quite different; “he is a prince’s jester, a very dull fool.” When one speaks to Don Pedro in the same manner as Beatrice spoke to him, that person would not be seen as a Burden, however when one speaks to Benedick in the same way that Beatrice talked to him, that person would most certainly be considered a burden.
Beatrice is very loyal to her cousin Hero. When Hero is accused of betraying Claudio, Beatrice is one of the very few people who believe her innocence. However, to get her revenge On Claudio, for destroying Hero’s name, Beatrice asks Benedick to kill Claudio. This is quite a villainous thing to do, and some would say it fits the role of “Lady Disdain”. Is this Beatrice’s true nature revealed? I think that she is merely showing simple human emotions here, but it could be considered as drastic measures.
