William Shakespeare s Much Ado About Nothing - 1608 Words

In Shakespeare s play, Much Ado about Nothing, many contrasting views on the subject of love are dramatised in the relationships presented, particularly those of Benedick and Beatrice, and Claudio and Hero. These views help to shape the play into a comedy, due to the severe differences. Benedick s slightly misogynistic views of love at the start of the play contrast heavily with his views by the end, as they change so drastically. He claims, in Act 1 Scene 1, that he is loved by all ladies, yet he loves none, suggesting that he is quite frivolous in terms of loving, further supported by his claims of being a professional tyrant to their sex. Women love him nevertheless, but he does not reciprocate the feelings, as he deems women†¦show more content†¦Benedick states that her love must be requited and he will be horribly in love with her. This sudden change contrasts in his earlier, relationship with Beatrice in Act 2 Scene 1, where he ridicules and mocks her harshly, showing no signs of affection. His speech also contrasts with his earlier views on marriage, as he states that he did not think I would live till I was married, hinting at the fact that his views are now swaying. In Act 5 Scene 4, Benedick asks the friar to aid in his marriage confession, only t o be met with mockery from Claudio, who states they will tip his horns with gold, further relating to the cuckold motif and mocking the fact that he has changed his ways considerably. Beatrice, however, occupies a similar view on love as Benedick, as she was previously a misandrist. In Act 2 Scene 1, she states that she will die a virgin, evading her fate of leading apes into hell when she dies, an expression describing the fate of unmarried women, and instead will sit where the bachelors sit up in heaven. This leads into why she does not take interest in men, as she thinks that they have no substance to them apart from earth, comparing them to dirt to heighten her bitterness towards the sex. She also compares men to a piece of valiant dust and a clod of wayward marl, feeding the fact that she compares men to dirt and other earthly, useless substances. Despite Beatrice s apparent bitterness towards males in general, it could be interpreted