Wit Conquers All
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Wit conquers all
Shakespeares Much Ado About Nothing, is set in thirteenth century Italy. The plot of the play can be categorized as both comedy and tragedy. Two of the characters; Benedick and Beatrice, have “a kind of merry war” between them. They always seem to mock one another, but once tricked by theyre friends that they love one another; they actually end up falling for each other. Their wit and love become as one and turns into a wedding ceremony. This paper will attempt to present the fact that Beatrice and Benedick have many similar characteristics but still keep their differences.
Throughout the majority of the play, Beatrice refuses to marry. In the beginning of Act 2. Sc. 1; she and Hero describe the perfect man. Beatrice feels he lies somewhere between Don John, which is someone who rarely speaks, and Benedick; one who is constantly mocking. She compares the two together when she says, “The one is too like an image and says nothing, and the other too like my ladys eldest son, evermore tattling.”
She compares Don John with a picture, who is only there to look at, and Benedick with her ladys eldest son. By comparing Benedick and the eldest boy; she is perhaps mentioning that he is immature.
Although she seems uptight and rude, Beatrice is actually vulnerable. While sitting in the garden and talking amongst her self; she is tricked into love when she overhears Hero saying that Benedick is in love with her. Beatrice is shocked and cannot believe what she heard. She realizes that it would not be so difficult to “take pity” on Benedick and return his love. She realizes how worthy he is and vows to cast away her scorn and pride. She then opens herself up to the weakness of love she had been denying for so long. When Hero had been accused of sleeping with another man, Beatrice is furious at Claudio for mistreating her cousin. She separates the thought of marriage to a man by stating, “O that I were a man for his sake! Or that I had any friend would be a man for my sake!” she exclaimed, I cannot be a man with wishing, therefore I will die a woman with grieving.”
Benedick is a close friend with Don Pedro and Claudio. Just like Beatrice; he is very witty and always making jokes. In the beginning of the play, he also swears he will never marry or fall in love; but he never discusses with his friends what a perfect women or wife would be like. However, to his friends,