Much Ado About Nothing

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1. 
   missblimey Teacher
   High School - 12th Grade

   The short answer is love - but their habit of verbal sparring is a tough one to break and both suggest that there are other reasons before they admit to the real one. Benedick, for instance, cites the fact that he has been told by Claudio and the Prince that Beatrice loved him first as a reason and she retaliates saying Margaret and Ursula said the same thing about him (Act 5 Scene 4). In this each is trying to suggest that they are marrying the other to preserve them from harm caused by unrequited love - "They swore that you were well-nigh dead for me" (Act 5 Scene 4). This continues after they are 'outed' by the others when their love poems are revealed - Benedick tells Beatrice " I take thee for pity" (Act 5 Scene 4) and she retorts by telling him she is only going to marry him because "I was told you were in a consumption" (Act 5 Scene 4).

   The jocular nature of these remarks reveals the truth though; that this is a marriage of people truly in love. Benedick's remark to the Prince - "Prince, thou art sad; get thee a wife, get thee a wife" (Act 5 Scene 4) - shows that Benedick now understands that marriage is the way to happiness.

   Sources:

   http://www.enotes.com/muchado/beatrice-character-analysis

   http://www.enotes.com/muchado/benedick-character-analysis

   http://www.enotes.com/muchado/themes

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   Posted by missblimey on Tuesday August 19, 2008 at 12:53 PM
   
   

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