'How does the relationship between Beatrice and Benedick develop in ''Much Ado About Nothing
'How does the relationship between Beatrice and Benedick develop?' 'Much Ado About Nothing' is a 16th century Shakespearean story developed into a film by Kenneth Branagh. This entertaining love-comedy entangles the viewers' minds with all the ups and downs of relationships. Benedick (Kenneth Branagh) and Beatrice (Emma Thompson) both swear never to marry and to live their lives happy being single. But as this story develops, both are led misled into assuming the other loves them. Soon enough, sparks are flying and their utmost hate for each other evolves into love and mutual respect. Benedick is a smart, witty, good-looking guy. He always has a response to everyone's comments and likes to finish off the conversation with the last word. Benedick is the sort of person who believes that marriage leads to the trapping of men. Therefore, he never wants to get married and does not know how marriage can be a good thing in anybody's case. Beatrice is very similar to Benedick. She is an independent person and does not like to rely on anyone. Beatrice is a smartly dressed lady. Like Benedick, she is also against marriage. In one conversation, she refers to men as 'valiant dust'. Leonarto: Well, niece, I hope to see you one day fitted with a husband. Beatrice: Not till God make men of some other metal than earth. Would it not grieve a woman to be overmastered with a pierce of
How Does Shakespeare Convey The Character Change In Beatrice In The Play "Much Ado About Nothing"
How Does Shakespeare Convey The Character Change In Beatrice In The Play "Much Ado About Nothing" I am going to write about the change of character of Benedick/Beatrice in Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing." The play is set in Messina around 1598. The play revolves around a few central characters, Benedick, Beatrice, Don John, Don Pedro, Leonato, Claudio, and Hero. The play has two main central characters, Benedick and Beatrice. Benedick is one of Don Pedro's soldiers and is considered a womaniser by Beatrice "and a good soldier to a lady. But what is he to a lord?" Beatrice Lives with Leonato who is her uncle and from the first scene it appears as if she dislikes Benedick she also seems very witty in the way she twists every thing the messenger says against Benedick. When Beatrice and Benedick first meet in the play they start arguing but it is obvious that they do not really hate each other but they exchange wit as a way of flirting. It is also hinted, throughout the play, that these two have had a history together. It is never directly mentioned but Beatrice hints at it "you always end with a jades trick" and "his heart? Indeed my lord, he lent it me awhile, and I gave him use for it. If they did have a past together it would explain their playful bickering. During the play there is a dramatic change in both characters. The main reason for this is the trick that the
How does Shakespeare Develop the Relationship between Benedick and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing?
[image001.gif] Name: David Ireland Form: 10DC Grade: Comments: How does Shakespeare Develop the Relationship between Benedick and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing? During Much Ado About Nothing, Benedick and Beatrice certainly have an exceedingly tempestuous relationship that goes through many stages through the play. In Act I, Scene 1, it seems that they have met before, as Beatrice says she "know[s him] of old" (l.107), which could imply that they were in a relationship before the war Benedick has just returned from at the beginning of the play. Although she acts as though she hates Benedick when she is talking to him, Beatrice seems to care for him before he returns, as she asks the messenger who brings the news of the returning soldiers if "Signor Mountanto [has] returned from the wars or no?". This shows she cares about Benedick, and that she still has feelings for him of some kind. When Benedick comes back from the war, he and Beatrice meet for the first time in the play, which is the cue for a huge confrontation of wit and personality. This confrontational reaction to meeting is probably caused by the previous meeting between Beatrice and Benedick, as there is no evidence in this play why they act like they hate each other. This hostility is the first stage in Benedick and Beatrice's relationship. Benedick and Beatrice, although acting as
Much Ado About Nothing:
Discuss The Character And Role Of Beatrice In "Much Ado About Nothing". What Do You Feel She Adds To The Play For The Audience? The play "Much Ado About Nothing" is set in Sicily, Italy. Shakespeare uses the character Beatrice to contribute to central themes such as Love and Comedy. This central character helps Shakespeare to write about the attitutdes towards women in the late 16th century. Shakespeare present his two leading ladies, Hero and Beatrice, in very different ways. Hero illustrates the perfect 16th Century woman, whereas Beatrice is the complete opposite of this. Shakespear refers to ladies as posessions, available to be bought and cold, Hero is seen as a posession to both her father, and her suitor, "...could the world buy such a jewel?" Claudio clearly feels strongly for Hero and his admition of these feelings prompts Benedick's reply "...yea, and a box to put it in..." adding to the imagery of women being posissions and to the comedy of the scene. Shakespeare uses Beatrice's position in the household as a reason for her more outrageous behaviour - she lives with her Uncle, and doesn't feel the pull of resposibility towards her parents that Hero feels. This causes many differences in the behaviour of Beatrice and |Hero; Beatrice can be herself, "warring" with men and is critical of many male values, Hero on the other hand is the perfect 16th Centurye woman -
What does the audience learn about Beatrice and Benedick in Act 1 of 'Much ado about nothing'?
What does the audience learn about Beatrice and Benedick in Act 1 of 'Much ado about nothing'? In 'Much Ado About Nothing' we learn about Beatrice and Benedick. Benedick is a very confident, witty man who appears to have a love hate relationship with Beatrice. He is very self sure with women and makes it known to others that he would prefer to remain a bachelor for the rest of his life rather than marry a woman. Beatrice in a way is very similar to Benedick, she also is very intelligent and witty but she seems to have more of a fiery nature which seems to hide most of her true feelings. She challenges men, which would seem quite insulting to a Shakespearean audience as it would not be expected of an Elizabethan woman. Beatrice is a very modern woman and is seen to be the complete opposite of her cousin Hero. Beatrice's first words in the play, 'I pray you is Signior Mountanto returned from the wars or no?' she immediately asks about Benedick but covers herself by insulting him. Here the audience would be aware that Benedick and Beatrice are known to each other well. She manipulates the messenger's words, 'and a good soldier to a lady but what is he to a Lord?' suggesting that Benedick is a womaniser, which could be relevant later in the play to the audience when observing Beatrice's words of 'I know you of old' and the remark about sharing Benedick's heart, 'a double heart
Much Ado About Nothing
English Coursework Essay on 'Much Ado About Nothing'. 'The Jokes which society tells are a significant index of that society's concerns and anxieties'. (M. Mangan, A preface to Shakespeare's comedies, 1996) If this is the case what can we learn from 'Much Ado About Nothing' about the 'concerns and anxieties' of the society in which Shakespeare was living? 1Sir H Walpole once remarked that 'a comedy should make us think', Shakespeare exploits this function of comedy by utilizing jokes on the themes of cuckoldry, infidelity and honour to permit the audience to think about the 'concerns and anxieties' associated with these jokes within Shakespeare's society and what can be learnt from these jokes told. The figure of the Cuckold in 'Much Ado About Nothing', a husband of a woman who commits adultery, is a running joke throughout the play. In the play, the character Benedick, who carries a misogynistic view of women, is the main instigator of these jokes, he says that being a cuckold is what happens when you get married and you would have to 'hang' his 'bugle in an invisible baldrick' and he vows never to allow the plucking 'off' of 'the bull's horns and' setting 'them' on his 'forehead', meaning he does not want to get married. Even though Benedick may be slightly bestial, it is clear there is a fear of getting married in Benedick's opinions. As Michael Mangan2 comments in
Much Ado About Nothing
Much Ado About Nothing- How Does Shakespeare Present Difficulties In Relationships In Much Ado About Nothing? 'Much Ado About Nothing' was written in 1600 by William Shakespeare. The play is set in Messina, Sicily however it shows typical English comedy characteristics for that time. I find this unusual because not many people travelled far from home. Relationships are shown in various ways throughout the play using themes such as love, romance and patriarchal society. The main relationships which are portrayed are between Hero and Claudio and Beatrice and Benedick. Act two scene one is the masked ball. Conversations take place between a number of couples; this makes the scene seem lively and gives a sense of movement. The character Beatrice is attracted to Benedick. However Shakespeare confuses the audience by having Beatrice pass insults to Benedick, "masking" her real feelings. Beatrice says to Benedick "why he is the Prince's jester, a very dull fool; only his gift is in devising impossible slanders". Beatrice is teasing Benedick so that her real feelings towards him are concealed. Don John appears to deliberately try to cause problems in the relationship between Hero and Claudio by claiming "how canst thou cross this marriage?" Don John is showing his distaste for the marriage his brother arranged. This is because Don John is jealous of his brother's higher status
Much Ado About Nothing
How does Shakespeare present difficulties in relationships in "Much Ado About Nothing"? Shakespeare's play "Much Ado About Nothing" conveys the typical attributes of an English comedy although it is set in Messina, Italy. He manages to present the many difficult aspects of love and romance, as well as portraying the patriarchal society, whilst still keeping the light heartedness that comedy's of that era showed. The play is based around Count Claudio, Hero, Beatrice and Benedick and the problems they face as they embark on their journey of love and self discovery. The Masked Ball and Wedding scene are key points in "Much Ado About Nothing" as they show the couples at their best and worse. Beatrice manages to convey her feelings towards men quite early on in the Masked Ball scene; "I could not endure a husband with a beard on his face! I had rather lie in the woollen." This shows how Beatrice would rather suffer discomfort than be married. She does not believe there is any man alive that is suitable for her. Benedick also makes his feelings for women clear right at the beginning of the play. He re-enforces this point directing it towards Beatrice in the same scene after she insults him "He is the Prince's jester, a very dull fool..." Benedick claims that Beatrice has "misused me past the endurance of a block!" and this shows how angry and upset he is even though he has a
Trace and comment upon the development of Beatrice and Benedick's relationship in "Much Ado About Nothing".
Trace and comment upon the development of Beatrice and Benedick's relationship in "Much Ado About Nothing". In Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" there are two plots involving lovers; one is serious and potentially tragic; the other is humorous and entertaining. It is upon this second love hate relationship between Beatrice and Benedick, that I shall be focusing and commenting upon the relationship between Beatrice and Benedick and the phases their relationship goes through. The pair have shared love in the past but Benedick won her love "with false dice" and Beatrice gave him her love "a double heart for his single one". They are both intelligent individuals and have battles of wit in public to attempt to gain the advantage over the other. Don Pedro decides to play a trick on the two by tricking them into love; "Cupid is no longer an archer, his glory shall be ours" This scene is one o the main comical moments as both characters go completely against their beliefs that they so proudly and loudly proclaimed at the beginning of the play. As Benedick and Beatrice comes to terms to their new found love they begin to trust each other. When Leonato's daughter and one of Don Pedro's soldiers Claudio decide to get married. DonJohn decides to try and wreck the marriage and deceives him into thinking that Hero has been deceitful and this is when Beatrice tells Benedick to kill
'Much Ado About Nothing'.
SHAKESPEARE COURSEWORK 'Much Ado About Nothing' Two of the most important scenes in Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing' are undoubtedly the gulling scenes between Benedick and Beatrice. These two scenes are inextricably linked, but similar as they are in how they are carried out and in purpose, there are also several differences. Before we can compare these two scenes and what effects they have on Benedick and Beatrice, we first need to understand the two characters. Benedick is presented in general as a nice person, the 'good guy'. He is lighthearted and fun, and there is nothing really to dislike about him. He provides entertainment for the other characters; for example, Don Pedro and Claudio find his conversation about how he will never marry quite amusing [1.1. 208-238]. However, when there is some wish to be serious, it cannot be when Benedick is around. After the aforementioned conversation, Don Pedro has to ask Benedick to leave (not directly, but by asking him to give a message to Leonato) so that they can have a serious conversation about Hero. One gets the feeling that Benedick can sometimes be slightly annoying and quite hard work, and hid utter lack of ability to ever be serious must be very difficult to live with. Nevertheless, Benedick is obviously popular with his fellow characters, and this would make him popular with the audience also. Beatrice is
