Shakespeare also uses the two older lovers, Beatrice and Benedick as a contrast to the younger couple, to show different aspects of love. Hero and Claudio represent a girl and boy who have fallen deeply in love for the first time; Benedick and Beatrice are more worldly, and both of them protest that they never intend to marry. This makes the audience enjoy even more their rapid acceptance of the each other’s affection when they are tricked into falling in love with each other.
Although Shakespeare allows Claudio to confess his love for Hero to Benedick, he and Hero never play out a love scene alone together. This is quite unlike the tender scene between Benedick and Beatrice in the chapel after Claudio has refused to marry Hero. They discover and reveal their love in front of the audience, which makes it seem far more sincere and real. True to her fiery character, Beatrice is soon despatching Benedick to challenge Claudio to a fight to the death.
The courtship of Benedick and Beatrice seems never to run smoothly, for even at the last minute they are joking and teasing each other. The audience can accept their love as deep and sincere – unlike Claudio’s quick acceptance of Hero’s infidelity, and his willingness to marry her ‘cousin’ – but still understand and can be amused by their strength of character and ‘merry war’.
There are many relationships. Probably the most important are the lovers. We have Hero and Claudio, who show the innocence of love, and Beatrice and Benedick, who show a more cynical version. There are also the friendships, between Hero and Beatrice, and Don Pedro, Claudio and Benedick. It is also important to remember that Don John is the bastard brother of Don Pedro – this is a major factor in the events of the play, for Don John’s status makes him envious and evil.
At some point in the play, all the relationships are challenged. For example, Claudio believes Don John’s lies and accuses Hero of being a whore, and Benedick challenges his friend Claudio to a duel, to protect the honour of Hero.
The play’s main interest lies in the relationship between Beatrice and Benedick, for they create a great deal of tension because everyone but them can see they belong together.
