Much Ado About Nothing Character Analysis

In much ado about Nothing, the characters used physical and metaphoric masks to conceal their emotions and identity, but some, however, may have been wearing ‘masks’ without realizing it. In the play two of the main characters, Benedick and Beatrice, clearly resented each other from the beginning of the play but it unintentionally motivated Don Pedro to orchestrates a plan to consequently remove their masks and making them realize that they loved each other. Although Benedick and Beatrice have made it very clear that they have no intentions to be married, they do imply throughout the book that they have some unattended feelings for one of another that they don't consciously realize. Before Benedick even made an appearance in the play,Beatrice asks the messenger if ‘signior Montanto returned from the wars (I.i 25.) .’ Hero replied, My cousin means Signor Benedick of Padua I.i 29 . Since Hero automatically knew that She was talking about Benedick, Beatrice must have talked about him. After Claudio pronounces his love for Hero, Benedick chastises him and rudely warns him that he shouldn't trust women and that he’ll regret it in the long run. This may reflect Benedick’s attitude on women and the prospect of marriage, but while he was scolding him, Benedick exclaims in, I.i 162-164, There’s her cousin, an she
[and] That Benedick loves Beatrice so entirely? Benedick’s automatic response in, II.iii 203 was, “Love me? Why, it must be requited III.i 38!” This was the confirmation that Benedick needed, whether he knew it or not. Beatrice’s response was similar III.i 113 And, Benedick, love on; I will requite thee (III.i 113) , Even though she was still evasive toward Benedick she eventually gave in. After that, they both changed significantly in order to requite their