Benedick In Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing

The comedic love story of Much Ado About Nothing constructed by William Shakespeare is set in thirteenth century Italy. In the beginning of the play, each one of the characters has a different point of view on love and who they love, or if they even want to be in love. To be specific, Benedick declares himself to stay a bachelor. It seems he is unwilling to make a commitment to a woman and does not put in effort to do so. Throughout the play, Shakespeare shows how love is making Benedick grow in his character by using various tones and indirect characterization.

Benedick declares many times that he will remain a bachelor. He does not want anything to do with a woman at the beginning of the play. “That a woman conceived me , I thank her;

He thanks his mother and women for being a part of the society because he knows that the world would not sustain without the capabilities of them, but again, he states that he does not want love. This is interesting because it gives the story an earnest tone. It almost makes it seem as Benedick actually wants to be in love but does not know how to show it. He consistently portrays the stereotypes of wanting to be uncommitted to a woman and not putting in effort earlier in the play. The things he says keep an unaffectionate tone towards Beatrice because it makes it seem like he does not want anything to do with her. He keeps bringing up the idea of being single but watches everyone else fall in love. “I will do myself right to trust none; and the fine, for the which I may go the finer, I will live a bachelor” (I, i, 219-221). He says that he does not want to mistreat a woman or give her anything less than her worth, which again is him still having respect for them. The phrase

After Beatrice was upset, Benedick goes to comfort her and ends up speaking his mind. “I do love nothing in the world so well as you: is not that strange?” (IV, i, 265-266). At this point in the play, he is confessing his love for her. Beatrice answers with a witty remark, making Benedick go back inside his head for a moment until she finally says that she loves him too. His thoughts on love are completely evolving because of Beatrice. The phrase ‘is that not strange’ is used to create a questioning tone which pulls out different emotions almost as if Benedick does not want to tell Beatrice what he thinks. He not only tells her once, but he continuously tries to prove it to her that he would do anything to make her happy. This step of love is dictated by a candid tone. Creating this candid tone requires Benedick to go all in for his love to Beatrice, and he does just that. “With no sauce that can be devised to it, I protest I love thee” (IV, i, 276). Benedick goes blind for a moment and goes for the kill when he tells Beatrice again that he loves her, getting it all out of the way and confirming it. In the end, he has come to his senses, and gave into love. Everything comes full circle when he protests his love. In this scene, Benedick’s character had completely evolved and he now is feeling the affects of love. These two characters can be compared to a modern day couple. They both stay lowkey