Relationships In Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing

Shakespeare’s play, Much Ado About Nothing, is a play about multiple relationships. Hero and Claudio are the first relationship, and Beatrice and Benedick are the other relationship. The play talks about the ideal traits of a couple in the Shakespearian time period. Times have changed, as couples have evolved and have generally become less “traditional”. Back in the day, the female would submit to the male. It was a set up marriage and she would just try to make the male proud. Relationships, in the modern day, are more egalitarian than they use to be. This allows Benedick and Beatrice to represent more of a modern time ideal couple, than Claudio and Hero.

A great quote about relationships is “ Respect is as important as love in a relationships”

Benedick and Beatrice just roll with each other. They have similar wits and intelligence. This can be seen when Benedick first arrives. Beatrice says that “Scratching could not make it worse an ’twere such a face as yours were” (1.1.109) in which Benedick replies with “Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher.” (1.1.110). Beatrice then says “A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours” (1.1.11) in which Benedick replies with “I would my horse had the speed of your tongue and so good/ a continuer. But keep your way, i' God’s name. I have done” (1.1.112-113). Benedick and Beatrice has quick comebacks for each other. There is a significance in equal with and intelligence because it shows how they have much in common, which later helps their romance blossom. They are compatible because they are both in love with each other. Benedick even says to Margaret “Pray thee, sweet Mistress Margaret, deserve well at my/ hands by helping me to the speech of Beatrice.” (5.2.1-2). Benedick is in love, and is willing to try and write a poem for her. Later, Hero proclaims that she has taken a “Writ in my cousin’s hand, stol'n from her pocket,/ Containing her affection unto Benedick” (5.4.93-94). Beatrice had also tried to write a poem professing her love to Benedick. They are so compatible that they had the same idea to profess their love. In Shakespearian times, the man could just choose a wife to marry, they did not have to be compatible. In a modern context, people in relationships have to be compatible, making Beatrice and Benedick an ideal