The audience would learn that Beatrice is very abrupt and shrewd as Beatrice sees herself as better than Benedick when it comes to their wit and confidence, ‘so that if he have wit enough to keep himself warm’ she implies that he has limited insults to her and that she is more intellectual and can therefore return his insults more cunningly. Beatrice often makes out to the audience about Benedick’s poor qualities, ‘he wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat’ which implies that he changes his mind too often and cannot settle. Beatrice is extremely critical of Benedick and when talking to the messenger, ‘No; and he were, I would burn my study’ she indicates that she has a hatred for him which is ironic as later it becomes apparent that she is still in love with him.
In the beginning of Scene 1 when in conversation with Benedick she uses the phrase ‘nobody marks you’ this is ironic to the audience as Beatrice ‘marks’ or notices him the most, perhaps due to her hidden feelings towards him. Beatrice appears much more spiteful and insulting towards Benedick than he is to her, ‘a bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours.’ So exclaims that a creature such as a parrot that can speak is better than a dumb one such as a horse.
Benedick has the reputation of a womaniser and a "prince's jester", as well as being fickle and superficial in his friendships. His first line in the scene to Leonato implies that he is the prince’s fool and is a humorous character, ‘where you in doubt, sir, that you asked her?’ commenting that the Prince might not of been sure is Hero was his daughter.
Beatrice uses Benedick’s characteristics against him on many occasions. Benedick’s first words to Beatrice are, ‘What, my Lady Disdain! Are you yet living?’ He implies that he has some standing resentment towards her but yet banters with her on the aspect that she is still alive. Near the beginning of the play Benedick protests his hatred about all aspects of love to Beatrice, ‘I could find it in my heart that I had not a hard heart for I truly love none’ and his wanting for bachelor status. By doing this it also shows to the audience his hidden feelings for her. Shakespeare shows to the audience Benedick's unwillingness to marry in the start of the play to emphasise it. The audience may predict that this strong view of Benedick's will change during the play and therefore this is dramatic irony.
Benedick sees Beatrice as some what overwhelming in her wit, ‘God keep your ladyship still in that mind’ he protests that she is too insulting and confident that she will never find a husband if she talks to men like that. When talking to Claudio Benedick he speaks of women being mere objects to men, ‘Would you buy her, that you inquire after her’ suggesting that Claudio would have to impress Hero’s father with money in order to get his blessing. He compares Beatrice to Hero and implies she is much more beautiful than her, if only ‘she were not possessed with a fury’ this shows to the audience that Benedick would consider Beatrice as a wife but it shows that her offensive nature bothers him. Shakespeare presents to the audience an image of a woman Benedick would prefer to be with and it is ironic that it should be Beatrice. In the same way Beatrice talks about her ideal husband but finds it impossible to consider any possible suitor.
The relationship between Benedick and Beatrice is based mostly on wit and there is a sense of background and significance between the two. Although there seems to be something between Beatrice and Benedick they seem reluctant to show their feelings. Shakespeare presents their relationship to the audience as complex and deep and their love for each other seems to be evident but is deeply hidden under a veil of wit and a show of hatred. Signs of this suppressed love are the fact that Benedick and Beatrice are always on each other's minds, shown by their first words to each other. Another sign of this unspoken affection could be that Beatrice also has hatred towards love as Benedick, when she exclaims, ‘I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me’. Shakespeare has presented to the audience their relationship through the pretence of their hatred and their reluctance to marry anyone else.
