Much Ado About Nothing Essay

Ed Sheeran once said, “People fall in love in mysterious ways.” Much Ado About Nothing is a play written by William Shakespeare. The play is a classic story where enemies become lovers through battles of quick and clever wit. Claudio quickly falls in love with Hero, while both Benedick and Beatrice, Hero’s cousin, despise the idea of falling into love’s trap. Despite their aversion, by the end of the play Benedick and Beatrice manage to fall in love. Both with the aid of their peers, and possibly even due to their own hidden desires. In Shakespeare's play Much Ado About Nothing, the love between Hero, Claudio, Beatrice, and Benedick is fueled by both external and internal forces such as societal expectations, the benefits of marriage, mimetic

In Much Ado About Nothing, marriage is a common topic of conversation, from Claudio wanting to marry Hero from the beginning, to Benedick and Beatrice’s ideas of marriage. Benedick and Beatrice both originally “fear that marriage may diminish their personal agency and autonomy” (Bunker). Benedick lists the reasons as to why he is so opposed to marriage at the start of the play, “The savage bull may; but if ever the sensible / Benedick bear it, pluck off the bull's horns and set / them in my forehead, and let me be vilely painted, / and in such great letters as they write ‘Here is good / horse to hire,’ let them signify under my sign ‘Here / you may see Benedick the married man’” (1.1.257-262) Benedick also originally is scared to marry because he believes that anyone may cheat on him and that the marriage would not last. Benedick even goes so far to say that getting married is similar to getting cuckolded, as horns were a common motif for cuckolding throughout the play. He does not wish to give into society’s standard of marriage. Marriage is expected by society, which ties back into starting a relationship for society and reputation. One might marry to reach positions of respectable status. Leonato pawns off Hero because he “accepts the endorsement of Claudio as a worthy husband” without any questions whether it will genuinely benefit Hero because “they have little knowledge of each other” (Bunker). Because the

Through the experiences and trickery Benedick and Beatrice experience together, they create a bond. This bond formed through their unique experiences with each other allows them to appreciate and enjoy the other’s company until it turns into a simple desire to be with them. This enjoyment of experience boils down to the capability of loving someone. Sometimes it takes a push to prove your love, “[BENEDICK] With no sauce that can be devised to it. I / protest I love thee. / [BEATRICE] Why then, God forgive me! / [BENEDICK] What offence, sweet Beatrice? / [BEATRICE] You have stayed me in a happy hour. I was / about to protest I loved you. / [BENEDICK] And do it with all thy heart. / [BEATRICE] I love you with so much of my heart that / none is left to protest. / [BENEDICK] Come, bid me do anything for thee. / [BEATRICE] Kill Claudio.” (4.1.293-303) Benedick shows their commitment to Beatrice through their willingness to slay their comrade Claudio for causing grief for Beatrice. Though this moment is brief as Dogberry shows up for some clarification to settle the tension and clear the air. Through the aid of their companions, Benedick and Beatrice realize that they have always had underlying feelings for each other. This was both expressed and hidden through their constant banter. After being exposed to the written sonnets, the pair come to terms with their