Benedick And Beatrice In Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing

In Much Ado About Nothing, while Benedick and Beatrice aren’t the main couple, they certainly draw a lot of attention with their near constant bickering that eventually turns into a relationship. The dialogue above is from Act I of the play when Benedick has just returned to Signior Leonato’s home from the war. Shakespeare tends to present the two in a way unlike the other characters, especially those in love.

In any work of Shakespeare’s, metaphor is used greatly to refer to love in shielded terms. Benedick uses metaphor when he says to Beatrice, “What! my dear Lady Disdain, are you yet living?” (Act I, Scene I, line 95) implying that she’s a typical girl who will end up in love shortly following the conversation. Beatrice responds to this with, “Is it possible Disdain should die while she hath such meet food to feed it as Signior Benedick? Courtesy itself must convert to disdain, if you come in her presence.” (Act I, Scene I, line 96) Through this metaphor, Beatrice insults Benedick by saying even Courtesy would turn to Disdain in his presence. Beatrice is clearly matching Benedick quip by quip, which is Shakespeare’s way of suggesting to the audience that they could potentially be a good couple. Benedick continues this theme by replying, “Then is courtesy a turncoat.” (Act I, Scene I, line 100) This entire exchange is the beginning of the characterization Shakespeare will eventually turn into a relationship.
Benedick talks about how he is irresistible to women though he himself will never love one. Beatrice rejoices at this news and agrees that she will never love a man, even saying that she would rather hear her dog bark at a crow than hear a man confess his love for her. This is an extreme contrast to the end of