Claudio and Leonato tricking Benedick into believing that
Beatrice loves him, Hero and Ursula trick Beatrice into thinking Benedick is in love with her. The relationship between Claudio and Hero also endures much manipulation.
For instance Don John and Borachio trick Claudio and the
Prince into believing Hero is unfaithful. As in the tradition of
Shakespeare, the Friar deceives everybody into thinking
Hero is dead.
An instance of trickery involves Benedick being manipulated to believe Beatrice is in love with him. This trickery is carried out playfully by Don Pedro, Leonato and Claudio. They realise Benedick's stubbornness in Act II Scene iii, when he states "man is a fool when he dedicates his behaviours to love." Due to this stubbornness Don Pedro, Leonato and
Claudio must devise a way of attaining the love amid
Benedick and Beatrice. In Act II Scene iii the men accomplish this by way of waiting for Benedick to be within ears reach, then raising the topic of Leonato's niece
Beatrice. Don Pedro's reference about "your niece Beatrice was in love with Signor Benedick." helps to accomplish such manipulation. This scheme is completed when this is overheard by Benedick, and due to his insecurity about love he falls for their trick, thus loving Beatrice.
Another example of manipulation that is closely related to the one involving Benedick but Beatrice becomes the focus of the scheme. Like Benedick, Beatrice's feelings about love are strong and opposing. When she states "Not till God make men of some other mettle than earth" she assumes that her desired partner does not exist. Hero and Ursula believe
that