What Impressions Might an Audience Get of Benedick from the Different Ways He Speaks and Behaves in the Two Extracts? - Much Ado About Nothing

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In the two extracts Benedick shows two very different sides to himself. At the start of act 1 scene 1 he does nothing but joke around and insult Beatrice, and having the pleasure of sharing his thoughts on marriage and women. In act 2 scene 3 Benedick starts to consider what he has heard about himself and expresses his thoughts much differently towards Beatrice. Benedick then changes his ways of doing things and takes life more seriously. In the beginning of act 1 scene 1 Benedick shows to be rude and arrogant. “What my dear lady disdain! … it is certain I am love of all ladies, only you excepted … for truly I love none”. Benedick is very opinioned about Beatrice and uses ugly words when describing or talking to her. He believed every lady loved him, which shows he is not shy when it comes to sharing his thoughts. However, not all the ladies love him, he just thinks too much of himself. Benedick also assumes that he is too good for anyone and there is no lady good for him, and therefore he cannot have any lady, and says he never will. It also demonstrates that Beatrice and Benedick have a fiery relationship based on the childish bickery. Shakespeare portrays a rude and independent character of Benedick. Benedick uses strong words to characterize Beatrice. “Oh god, here is a dish I love not … But till all graces be in one woman, one woman shall not come in my grace”. In Shakespeare’s time people would suffer just to get food, it was very precious to them. When Benedick says he does not like the dish, he is being disrespectful not only to Beatrice but to the people of the time. He also states that no woman will be let in to his perfectness until the woman is perfect herself. Benedick loves teasing people but will not accept the fact that people tease him. Shakespeare illustrates benedick in more detail which allows the audience to understand what type of character

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