Much Ado About Nothing - CHARACTERS
Beatrice - ‘The Shrew’
- Niece of Governor of Messina, close to Hero, her cousin, protective of her.
- ‘Merry war’ with Benedick - “I know you of old” suggests they have history…
- Seems strong and independent, refuses to give up her freedom - very
brave of a woman in Elizabethan times.
- She even refuses DP’s offer of marriage. You’d expect many women to jump
to this offer of marrying such a high ranking man. Shows Beatrice is picky but
also might imply that deep down she does have feelings for someone else -
Benedick.
- She has the strength to say no, most women would be too afraid to turn
down a man, especially one so well regarded like DP.
- We then see an insight in to Beatrice’s caring and gentle side - she lets DP
down in a very nice way showing she really does care for people’s feelings. -
“Your grace is too costly to wear everyday”.
- She also shows recognition of the fact that sometimes she does perhaps talk
too much and it can mislead people - “I was born to speak all mirth and no
matter”
- The point in the play when Hero and Ursula trick Beatrice in to loving
Benedick sort of acts as a turning point for her…. Hearing what they say
about her being full of “pride and scorn” makes her realise what she is like
and therefore she decides to be less harsh as well as opening up and
‘requiting’ Benedick in love.
- Obviously, she doesn’t change completely - we even see the way she and
Benedick mock each other as they are about to be wed…. It is how their
relationship is clearly going to be.
- However, Beatrice does finish the play as a slightly more rounded and
likeable person than the way she was at the beginning - making her even
MORE popular with the audience.
Beatrice - ‘The Shrew’
- Niece of Governor of Messina, close to Hero, her cousin, protective of her.
- ‘Merry war’ with Benedick - “I know you of old” suggests they have history…
- Seems strong and independent, refuses to give up her freedom - very
brave of a woman in Elizabethan times.
- She even refuses DP’s offer of marriage. You’d expect many women to jump
to this offer of marrying such a high ranking man. Shows Beatrice is picky but
also might imply that deep down she does have feelings for someone else -
Benedick.
- She has the strength to say no, most women would be too afraid to turn
down a man, especially one so well regarded like DP.
- We then see an insight in to Beatrice’s caring and gentle side - she lets DP
down in a very nice way showing she really does care for people’s feelings. -
“Your grace is too costly to wear everyday”.
- She also shows recognition of the fact that sometimes she does perhaps talk
too much and it can mislead people - “I was born to speak all mirth and no
matter”
- The point in the play when Hero and Ursula trick Beatrice in to loving
Benedick sort of acts as a turning point for her…. Hearing what they say
about her being full of “pride and scorn” makes her realise what she is like
and therefore she decides to be less harsh as well as opening up and
‘requiting’ Benedick in love.
- Obviously, she doesn’t change completely - we even see the way she and
Benedick mock each other as they are about to be wed…. It is how their
relationship is clearly going to be.
- However, Beatrice does finish the play as a slightly more rounded and
likeable person than the way she was at the beginning - making her even
MORE popular with the audience.
