Beatrice and Benedick’s relationship appeals more to a modern audience, they are direct and confident in expressing their own opinions and the opinion that they have of each other. Even when Beatrice and Benedick are in agreement with each other that is, that they are against marriage, they cannot help but quarrel.
Benedick: God keep your ladyship in that mind so some gentlemen or other shall scape a predestinate scratched face
Beatrice: scratching could not make it worse and t’were such a face as yours.
This constant bickering between Beatrice and Benedick is a passion which their relationship is built upon, each are intuitive they echo the others language. They are not wooing in the expected ways because their relationship is one of equals. This is in contrast to the way that Hero and Claudio court; he cannot imagine Hero as a passionate and sexual being ‘but as a brother to a sister showed bashful sincerity’.
The way in which the two couples communicate with each other gives the audience a useful insight into how well they know each other. Early on in the play we realise Beatrice and Benedick have known each other for a while, ‘I know you of old’ says Beatrice, they have a better understanding of each other as they may have previously courted. When speaking of Benedick’s heart Beatrice says ‘Indeed my lord he lent it me a while’ this suggest that previous experiences of love may make them more wise and cautious as Beatrice may have been hurt in the process ‘he won it of me with false dice’.
Modern interpretations such as the Branagh film starring Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh show Beatrice and Benedick as significantly older than Hero and Claudio. This may be an indication that they are more mature and ready to commit than Claudio and Hero. Theatre productions such as the 1979 RSC production have shown Beatrice as feisty and even violent although a lot of her wit may be missed,
‘With a good leg and a good foot’. Modern audiences miss the fact that she is a shrew, an outspoken woman that no man will want to marry.
‘Thou wilt never get thee a husband, if thou be so shrewd of thy tongue’.
The two couples communicate in different ways because of the disproportionate status. Hero would have to treat Claudio with a greater respect as he is a count and therefore has a higher status than Hero. Further restricting her from speaking freely is the fact that she has family ties. She is the daughter of an established man anything that she does will affect his name and image.
As an orphan Beatrice isn’t restricted by family ties, on many occasions she has shown her confidence in speech through her somewhat shrewd statements. Beatrice addresses Benedick as her equal throughout the play it is not that she is incapable of respecting men, as she addresses Don Pedro as, ‘no my lord…your grace’.
The manners in which Claudio and Benedick discuss Hero reflect the idea that she can be bought and is a commodity.
Claudio: Can the world buy such a jewel?
Benedick: Yea and a case to put it in.
Although this may seem as Claudio thinking Hero too precious to be bought, but the idea of Claudio seeing Hero as a commodity is reinforced when he asks ‘hath Leonato a son my lord’. We realise that Claudio’s interest in Hero is not only in her looks, Hero is the only heir to Leonato she will inherit all his money, which will belong to her husband. In Shakespeare’s time enquiring after a prospective partners inheritance would have been perfectly acceptable, as society at that time would marry for aggrandisement. Receiving another’s inheritance would be one of the main ways in which someone would gain their wealth. Even the somewhat unconventional Benedick admits his ideal woman shall be ‘rich … that’s certain’.
Shakespeare highlights the defects in a conventional style of marriage in the shaming scene. In a conventional marriage each can be easily deceived because of the lack of knowledge they have of each other. Modern audiences view Claudio’s behaviour as extremely unjust, as they fail to realise just how important it is for women to be modest. A modern audience will also not realise just how damaging these accusations will be towards Hero. The image of a woman determines her fate. If she is accused of having loose morals and of loosing her virginity outside of marriage she will never be married.
The men in the renaissance society have a bond with each other; in this play there is a sense of male solidarity. The way this bond affects the Claudio and Benedick reflect the commitment and trust towards their partner. Claudio has always relied on other males for his opinion on Hero. Before he approaches Hero he requests the others for advice ‘tell me truly how thou lik’st her?’ Claudio’s dependence on the other men’s opinion reveal how immature and insecure he is. Claudio can only declare his love for Hero once he has gained approval form the other men. Modern audiences may view this hesitancy as a sign of insincerity in his love for Claudio, especially when compared to Benedick casual reference to the ‘odd quirks and remnants of wit’ he will suffer. Benedick admits that he is in love with Beatrice and realises that he may be taunted, but his carefree manner shows us that he isn’t dependent on the opinions of the other men.
Claudio devises a plan of shaming Hero if she is found to be unfaithful as soon as he hears of accusations made against her. This is before anything is proved, this reflect how little he trusts Hero. Although Claudio is young and would be easily influenced by Don John the bastard who is presented as a cunning villain. (Sparknotes 2/03)
Masculine values of loyalty and allegiance are clearly shown when Hero is to be married as Don Pedro says,
‘I stand dishonoured that have gone about
To link my friend with a common stale’
The men are united in accusing and shamming Hero apart from Benedick.
Benedick love for Beatrice is strong enough to break the code of conduct amongst the males. Benedick’s challenge to Claudio reveals his change in attitude; he has now switched his allegiance to Beatrice, this form of courtship shows a shift in the values of marriage is not one of social betterment based on looks but of commitment and trust these are considered to be feminine values.
In the final scene when both couples marry, there is a shift in the balance of power between the characters. Hero and Leonato have changed in the way they interact with Claudio. When Leonato says ‘and I do give you her’ this can be interpreted as Leonato giving Claudio to Hero instead of giving Hero away as he did in the first wedding. Claudio requests Hero to ‘give me your hand’, this symbolises that they now will be part of a partnership, as the hand has previously been used to symbolise equality, trust and commitment between Beatrice and Benedick.
In this play many characters are unsure that the other feels the way they say they do. Beatrice is uncertain of Benedick returning her love, when she first meets him after she has heard that he is in love with her. By the end of the play there is no denying that they truly love each other, ‘here’s our own hands against our hearts’. Through their hands they have proclaimed their love by the action of writing a poem, this is proof that they mean what they say. Beatrice and Benedick are echoing each other’s sentiments ‘they swore that you were almost sick for me’, ‘ they swore you were wellnigh dead for me.’ This reflect the harmony that they now share, she is no longer the ‘infernal Ate in good apparel.’
When Benedick stops her mouth with kiss some critics may argue that now she has submitted her will and will no longer talk out of turn in my opinion it symbolises the end of their ‘merry war’ and the start of their marriage because of the harmony that has been revealed in their last sentiments.
