Beatrice and Benedick Reationship in Much Ado About Nothing

Benedick proves his love for Beatrice when he asks whether Beatrice has ‘wept all this while’.

Benedick although being discrete about it feels, concern for Beatrice and upset at her sadness which shows Benedick has an affection for her.

He tries to take Beatrice’s side reassuring her that he does ‘surely’ believe that Beatrice’s ‘fair cousin has been wronged’.

He emphasises his belief on the scenario by saying ‘surely’, ‘really’. This suggests Benedick is passionate and determined to make Beatrice feel better about the situation.

Beatrice hints to Benedick,

‘how much might the man deserve of me that would right her!’

She is asking Benedick how much the ‘man’ would deserve of her heart for Beatrice’s cousin to not be wronged. ‘Man’ implies that Beatrice doesn’t think of Benedick as a ‘man’ of that time; Beatrice asks Benedick how much the ‘man’ might deserve of her as if he not being a man himself. She is gauging her influence over him and stating that If Benedick wants her heart, he will have to do defend Beatrice’s cousin Hero.

Benedick then replies,

‘is there any way to show such friendship?’

Benedick wants to be more than just Beatrice’s ‘friend’. He implies that he is keen to show his love for Beatrice as he is quick to take the opportunity to ‘deserve’ Beatrice. Benedick is very hesitant and apprehensive about the relationship he has with Beatrice, asking if there were a way to show his ‘friendship’.

When Benedick confesses,

‘I do love nothing in the world so well as you’,

Beatrice coyly speaks

‘I confess nothing, nor I deny nothing.’

She says ‘it were as possible for me to say I loved nothing so well as you’.

This implies that if she were allowed to say she loved Benedick she would do but she can’t ‘confess’ anything, neither ‘deny’ suggesting she does have feelings for Benedick. She acts very coy and innocent, like women were expected to be in those days. The way she is so coy suggests that Beatrice is flirting with Benedick and trying to be somewhat of a good woman, and shy of men as that was what was expected by the men.

Benedick protests,

‘By my sword, Beatrice, thou lovest me’

He swears on his ‘sword’ that Beatrice loves him. He is so convinced of this thought that he swears on his ‘cross’ that this is true., in which Beatrice replies

‘Do not swear and eat it’.

Beatrice predicts that Benedick will ‘eat’