Skip to main content

In Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, what are Beatrice's feelings about marriage?

At the beginning of the play, Beatrice is strongly opposed to marrying. Her uncle Leonato laments that she will never marry because she is too picky and harsh, and she cheerfully agrees. First, she says that a perfect man would be a combination of the sour Don John and the talkative Benedick, but she raises the standard even further by adding a number of other qualities. Beatrice says the fact that she has no husband...

At the beginning of the play, Beatrice is strongly opposed to marrying. Her uncle Leonato laments that she will never marry because she is too picky and harsh, and she cheerfully agrees. First, she says that a perfect man would be a combination of the sour Don John and the talkative Benedick, but she raises the standard even further by adding a number of other qualities. Beatrice says the fact that she has no husband is a blessing from God, “for the which blessing I am at him upon my knees every morning and evening.”


She goes on to say that she wants neither a bearded man (“I had rather lie in the woollen”) nor an unbearded one (“What should I do with him? dress him in my apparel and make him my waiting-gentlewoman?”).  Beatrice wishes to remain single and go to heaven a maid, “where the bachelors sit, and there live we as merry as the day is long.” She continues to give all sorts of reasons against marriage, such as that men are made of dust (referring to Adam, the original man) and that all men are technically her kin, whom she refuses to marry.


Beatrice’s final criticism of marriage in this debate compares it to a jig, which begins in haste, proceeds in modesty, and then leads to repentance and exhaustion. She is indeed a hard critic of marriage, but, in the end, she falls for and marries her playful nemesis Benedick.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why did Tybalt attack and kill Mercutio instead of Romeo, who he had originally been targeting?

Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio... Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio and Benvolio, Mercutio responds "And but one word with one of us?/ Couple it w...
Post a Comment
Read more