“Benedick, didst thou note the daughter of Signor Leonato?” is the opening line; it suggests that although Benedick might not have observed Hero closely, Claudio obviously has. Benedick replies with very sarcastic answers, like, “Why, i’faith, methinks she’s too low for a high praise, too brown for a fair praise, and too little for a great praise.” His sarcastic responses imply that he does not think much about Hero and that he finds the whole affair a joke – something to make fun out of. Shakespeare shows Benedick’s staunch outlook of love when he says, “With anger, with sickness, or with hunger, my lord; not with love.” Benedick compares love with negative emotions, which shows that he finds love just as bad, or even worse than anger, sickness and hunger. Love is usually associated as a positive emotion, and so he is depicted as a cynical character that finds other peoples’ points of view as strange; while he is the eccentric one.
Since Claudio asked Benedick for his opinion, Benedick is definitely senior and Claudio would like to have his approval of Hero, as he asks, “Is she not a modest young lady?” The audience gets an impression that Benedick is heartless because Claudio is so madly in love with Hero, but then they realise otherwise because Benedick wants someone on his side; for someone to be a bachelor like him. “Is’t come to this? In faith hath not the world one man but he will wear his cap with suspicion? Shall I never see a bachelor of threescore again?” His language suggests that he could be angry, but inside he feels upset that his friend wants to get married and that he feels left out.
In the second extract, Benedick’s monologue suggests that he will never find the right woman because, “Till all graces be in one woman, one woman shall not come in my grace.” According to Benedick, his ideal wife has to be perfect, but no one is perfect so he will never find a wife. Benedick believes that women are untrustworthy and he mentions in the previous extract, “I will do myself the right to trust none. And the fine is, for the which I may go the finer, I will live a bachelor.” He is still very sarcastic and somewhat childish as he calls Claudio, ‘Monsieur Love!’, but he may be jealous of him inside.
Don Pedro, Leonato and Claudio all take part in the gulling of Benedick. Benedick’s monologue afterwards has a definite change in tone and attitude. “They say the lady is fair; ‘tis a truth, I can bear them witness; and virtuous; so, I cannot reprove it’ and wise, but for loving me.” His language changes to a much more positive tone and he points out all the good aspects of Beatrice that he never thought of before. His pessimistic old-self becomes optimistic as he says, “When I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I should live till I were married.” Benedick is much more open-minded now that he embraces the concept of love.
