Pride, Deception And Fear As The Obstacle For Love In Much Ado About Nothing

November 4, 2021 by Essay Writer

Throughout Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, Beatrice and Benedick love takes an overwhelming course of ups and downs. In the book the people of Messina are rooting for them to build a relationship and eventually get married but Beatrice and Benedick have personal issues that’s hindering the true love they share for one another. Beatrice has a very sharp tongue and uses sarcasm very often. Benedick is very witty and always making jokes. They are also struggling with their own personal beliefs and past experiences. I know that True love is not easy but it must be fought for. The Beatrice and Benedick love story show how enemies can turn into lovers through a sequence of pride, deception, and fear.

There is nothing more deceiving than an obvious fact. Being deceived can actually make you go into denial about situations. It’s a constant battle with your heart and mind. It is best to go with your mind because your heart is deceitful. Beatrice and Benedick attended a masked ball and Beatrice didn’t know she was dancing with Benedick and she said harsh things about him. After the ball Benedick feelings were hurt. He said “she speaks poniards and every word stabs. If her breath were as terrible as her terminations, there were no living near her; she would infect to the north star.” His feelings of hurt could be interpreted revealing his true feelings about Beatrice. In the beginning of the story Benedick says he really doesn’t love anymore. Beatrice says “I thank God and my cold blood I am of your humor for that. I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me.” I took this as they were deceiving themselves into feeling they felt nothing for each other. I believe their relationship was built off deception but it actually strengthen the relationship.

Pride could definitely ruin a relationship and people view about you. Pride can sometimes be viewed as a good think but always a bad thing. Benedick and Beatrice were very prideful in the play. Pride was one of the main things that kept them from forming a bond. Benedick says “But it is certain I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted.” I interpreted that Benedick is arrogant he feels as if every woman supposed to love him and if you don’t something is wrong with you and I feel as if Beatrice doesn’t like him being prideful it makes her argue with him even more. I know in some cases women like arrogant men because they feel like are popular. Act 3 Scene 1 Beatrice’s cousin Hero has come up with a plan to have a conversation with Ursula so that Beatrice could ease drop because they knew she was around. They were to brag about Benedick and also talk about how Beatrice is so in love with herself that she is incapable of loving anyone else. The solution they hoped to get Beatrice to humble herself and finally confess her true love for Benedick. After the over hearing the conversation Beatrice felt really bad. She said “What fire is in mine ears? Can this be true? Stand I condemned for pride and scorn so much? Contempt, farewell, and maiden pride, adieu! Benedick, love on; I will require thee, Taming my wild heart to thy loving hand.” I see now that Beatrice loved Benedick she just wouldn’t confess it because she was too prideful and felt like she didn’t need anyone. When Beatrice heard the conversation about her being scornful and prideful it made her realize she needed to humble herself. Now she is willing to better herself rather than change which is a good start.

Fear will keep you from meeting the love of your life. Beatrice and Benedick were afraid to love each other. I believe that also played a huge part in their love story. Benedick said “But that I will have a recheat winded in my forehead or hand my bugle in an invisible baldrick, all women shall pardon me.” I interpreted that Benedick is afraid that a woman will cheat on him so that is one reason he is not confessing his love for Beatrice because he does not want to look like a fool he would just avoid them. By him avoiding women he pretty much pushing the love of his life farther away. Beatrice is also afraid of love. In the play she says “If he send me no husband, for the which blessing I am at him upon my knees every morning and evening. I had rather lie in the woolen.” Beatrice prays every day that God wouldn’t send her a husband I believe that Beatrice pretends to hate marriage and say she will never get married because she is afraid no one will love her. Fear is keeping her from letting her guard down and actually letting someone love her. She would rather be lonely than deal with rejection. Throughout majority of the play all she talks about is how she will never get married and other things she would rather do than fall in love.

Throughout the play we can see that certain issues kept Beatrice and Benedick from confessing their love for one another. By the end of the play, specifically the final scene, they put their issues aside confessed their feelings and got married. Enemies can turn into lovers because enemies are in fact lovers to begin with but pride, deception, and fear can be stumbling blocks before you get to your destination as it was shown in Much Ado About Nothing with Beatrice and Benedick. Often times enemies use hatred to show their love like Beatrice and benedick did in the beginning they could not get along with each other at all. It is important to know that Love does not always come easy. Sometimes you have to put in a lot of work for true love. Beatrice and Benedick had many personal issues to deal with before they were able to love each other.

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