This is a prime factor in her shrewd like behaviour. Her reluctance to wed is an action which underlines her want and need for independence.
Beatrice’s language varies with the structure of the play; this plays an important role because it shows her character development which means the audience understand her more;
‘’I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow, than a man swear he loves me’’
The statement by Beatrice is very important because Shakespeare shows her reasonably hard spirit, while maintaining her independence through her lacking support for marriage. The descriptive imagery of her words lay emphasis on her detestation for marriage, this is linked with her non conforming character and personality. Marriage is generally regarded as a conforming act in the Messina society, Beatrice’s refusal to marry shows her non conformity to the traditions.
Language and structure are incidentally linked in the play, i.e. Shakespeare presents Beatrice’s language in the early acts pre her involvement with Benedick, as harsh and independent. On the other hand during the latter stages of the play bear witness to her changing character and language.
In Act 2 Scene 1, Beatrice says,
‘’Lord I could not endure a husband with a beard on his face! I had rather lie in a woollen’’
Beatrice’s words here are as usual harsh and condescending, but as the play chronologically progresses she comes to endure a man with a beard, ironically, i.e. Benedick (Who we know has a beard after he refers to Claudio as ‘Lackbeard’). Shakespeare does this to underline her emotional development; it also lets the audience know the extent of her affection of Benedick after she says;
‘’I love nothing more as you; but believe me not, and yet I lie not’’
Shakespeare uses specific literary forms in order to exploit and present various characters in his plays. He does the same with the character of Beatrice. Shakespeare alters Beatrice’s form of speech in certain situations, when Benedick and Beatrice are deceived into a relationship she speaks in a verse form which is a deviation from the normal form of speech earlier used by her which was generally the prose like speech.
‘’And Benedick, love on; I will requite thee, taming my wild heart to thy loving hand’’
The above statement by Beatrice is a specific way in which Shakespeare portrays her character through the change in her speech format. It underlines the change in her emotional polarity; other ways in which Shakespeare changes speech from in his plays include the variation from Iambicpentametre (Intelligent speech) to prose.
Beatrice’s change in speech format is easy for the audience to pick up on because it is imbibed with an occurrence in the play which forces such change. In this case it is the getting together of Beatrice and Benedick.
Imagery is a major asset of Shakespeare’s in character presentation. Bestial imagery is the primary technique used by Shakespeare to present Beatrice in certain lights for general benefit of the audience.
It allows the audience to visually acknowledge Beatrice on a whole different level.
Most importantly, it allows the audience to see Beatrice through the point of view of the character which is interacting with her either at that point in time or over long periods of time.
- ‘’I would my horse had the speed of your tongue’’
- ‘’So some gentleman or other shall ‘scape a predestinate scratched face’’
Benedick’s use of the words scratched and hose is associated with animal imagery, the reference to Beatrice’s speed of tongue is a direct reference to her wit and ability to verbally spar with Benedick. This is exactly what the audience will know and acknowledge through the imagery presented by Shakespeare.
Shakespeare doing this will also allow the audience acquire knowledge of a different side to Beatrice’s character.
Beatrice is presented by Shakespeare as a character which is at times vulnerable, or perceived to be vulnerable as a result of her constant indifference to actions surrounding her.
Her vulnerability is presented by Shakespeare in certain aspects of her personality which Shakespeare use to make the audience either feel closer to the character or distance themselves in terms of emotion.
For all her independent bravado she falls victim to the emotions imbued by love through a trick, this is ironical in a way because it undermines her resolve to stay a spinster, it also undermines the superior air she portrays.
Her vulnerability is underline when she says;
‘’O that I were a man for his sake! Or that I had any friend would be a man for my sake!’’
The statement covers two major issues in the presentation of Beatrice, firstly her vulnerable nature in a world which is largely controlled by men, it also emboldens the lesser and impotent nature of women in renaissance times. By bringing light unto these issues Shakespeare is likely to make the audience see Beatrice for what she truly is, while thinking her air of independence is a face. On the other hand it might strengthen the understanding between audience and character.
Shakespeare uses brilliant structural in presenting her flaws. In Act 2, Beatrice is shown as a strong character, she still uses strong words and her demeanour is impassive,
‘’If it had been painful, I would not have come’’
As the play progresses, due to occurrences she starts to lose her edge and her language becomes passive and soft, Shakespeare uses chronological structure to effectively pin point the development of Beatrice as a character, in later acts, e.g. Act 4, she says;
‘’I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest’’
Beatrice is character who the audience know is not one dimensional, Shakespeare makes her character even more interesting through her immense variation when it comes to her behaviour and actions.
Beatrice is a character which can be said to be manipulative.
Prime example of her manipulative nature is brought to light in the occurrence of negative events such as the dishonouring of her cousin Hero.
Shakespeare gives her dimension by creating a flaw to her character, others might argue that she already had previous flaws but the general consensus can be said to be that her previous actions weren’t flaws but positives to her character as a woman living in renaissance times.
The introduction of her manipulative nature is something Shakespeare uses to capture the audience’s attention by seeing Beatrice in a different light,
‘’Kill Claudio’’
This statement uttered by Beatrice to Benedick as a result of Claudio’s shaming of Hero is a direct reaction to the occurrence of that event.
It intertwines with Shakespeare’s structural evolution of Beatrice’s character in terms of the fact that it passes as further evolution in her character from strongly independent to in love and finally spiteful.
This technique used by Shakespeare can be regarded as his way of generally catering for a wide audience in terms of the behaviours these characters need to display in order toe certain audience members to relate to them.
To conclude Shakespeare’s presentation of Beatrice as a character in ‘Much ado about nothing’, it can generally be derived from the play through the structure, form and language used by Shakespeare, that Beatrice is strong and independent character.
Who as a result of various events and occurrences is seen in a wide variety of ways, Shakespeare does this through the writing techniques he uses. The techniques highlight the depth of these her character which the audience might not fully appreciated.
Shakespeare creates a system which allows Beatrice to be appreciated by all audience members, irrespective of the angle from which the character is viewed.
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