by Alyssa Merriam | Creative Writing and Strategic Communication | Class of 2022
Academic Term of Essay Subject: Summer Term 2022
As part of the interpretative nature of William Shakespeare’s plays comes the ability to interpret characters in many different ways all depending on how one reads the lines of the play, or how an actor chooses to portray the character on stage. Even the smallest of changes can have large implications on the overall view of the character. In Much Ado About Nothing, Beatrice can be read in many different ways. She may be read as a woman who is very adamant against marriage, or perhaps as a past lover scorned. The way a reader or actor views Beatrice’s feelings towards Benedick changes her character. She may be headstrong in her opinions or she may be hiding a more feeble nature behind her wit. In the case of The Globe’s 2022 production of the play, Beatrice is portrayed by her actress as a lover scorned hiding behind her wit.
Beatrice’s battles of wit with Benedick offer the first place of interpretation for her character. The play begins with the arrival of a letter announcing the visit of the Prince and his men. Beatrice’s reaction to the letter offers the first glimpse into her character. A simple reading of the play shows her jokingly railing on Benedick saying “He is no less than a stuffed man,” and “He hath every month a new sworn brother” (1.1.57-58,70-71). These comments at face value seem to show her disdain for the man. In the 2022 Globe performance, however, Beatrice’s actress uses facial expressions to suggest other feelings hidden behind these comments. After grabbing the letter from another, Beatrice desperately reads over it, seeking assurance that the man she thinks of is still alive. Hints of relief are given when she is reassured that he is, suggesting that Beatrice has some caring attitude towards Benedick and his well being.
Beatrice and Benedick’s interactions throughout the play offer more hints that Beatrice cares for the man she battles with. At their first meeting in the play, they engage in discourse, which Benedick ends with what Beatrice terms “a jade’s trick” and saying “I know you of old” (1.1.142-143). She clearly indicates here that there is a history between them and an old one at that. Whether this history involves a past relationship may be interpreted by later lines when Beatrice is speaking to the Prince. After Benedick leaves in anger, the Prince comments she has lost his heart to which she responds “Indeed, my lord, he lent it me awhile, and I gave him use for it, a double heart for his single one. Marry, once before he won it of me with false dice. Therefore your grace may well say I have lost it” (2.1.273-277). These lines suggest that there was some exchange of hearts or rather love in their past, but that Benedick’s actions ended the relationship. Beatrice’s actress during The Globe performance decides to interpret it as thus and delivers the lines with a sadness, suggesting again that she cared for Benedick once and still does.
Though Beatrice cares for Benedick, she hides any feelings she might have around the others and scorns the idea of marriage. Beatrice speaks about marriage several times throughout the play with other characters in which she reveals her feelings about the matter. In talking with her family she states that she will not take a husband “till God make men of some other metal than earth” (2.1.59-60). She refers to how Adam was created and insinuates she will not marry until the very nature by which men were first made be changed. Since such a thing could not happen, this shows her unwavering feelings about marriage. Later, the Prince himself asks Beatrice if she would marry him. She rejects him saying “Your Grace is too costly to wear every day” (2.1.321-322). No matter who might ask her, Beatrice always has something to say against her suitors. Her rejection of marriage seemingly indicates that she is a headstrong woman and a feminist rejecting the bindings of marriage. As other evidence shows, however, Beatrice loves Benedick and rather rejects marriage to protect herself from the heartbreak of not having the man she wants.
Beatrice is much rejoiced when she overhears Hero and Ursula speaking about Benedick’s hidden love for her. The acceptance that Beatrice has of Benedick’s love and her reciprocation of it really shows her true feelings. If she were really so against marriage, she might have battled against the idea more. Instead she very quickly states that she will reciprocate Benedick’s feelings and says “For others say thou dost deserve, and I believe it better than reportingly” (3.2.121-122). Clearly, she does not really hate Benedick from these lines and the fact that she believes he deserves love more than what Hero and Ursula say further shows her affection towards him. In The Globe performance, Beatrice’s actress presses her face into a net, which she is later tangled in. It appears to be an allusion to being trapped in marriage, but Beatrice places herself there in the first place. The action of allowing herself to be trapped further shows that she wants to be with Benedick. From this point on, much of Beatrice’s headstrong personality drops away to show her softness underneath. She returns Benedick’s love and more outwardly shows signs of affection towards him. The two share several kisses in the 2022 performance clearly showing that while it may seem they were tricked into loving each other, they truly do.
The interpretation of Beatrice’s character is crucial to the interpretation of the play. If she is headstrong and fully against marriage, the ending appears to be not as believable. The marriage of her and Benedick seems forced and unnatural. The 2022 Globe performance interprets her differently, as a woman in love with a man but hiding behind wit. The reading of the play creates a much more realistic ending, where the marriage seems reasonable. The two have been in love with each other and now they finally admit to it. Though it may seem a loss for a woman to end up married, Beatrice chooses this for herself and it is something that she has wanted as indicated throughout the play. She has been in love with Benedick for a while and is able to have a happy ending with him.