Benedick's Transformation
Benedick’s Transformation
Benedick, a strong willed man, is tough as nails. His journey as a hardened soldier under the leadership of Don Pedro has sprung forth a cunning and sarcastic attitude. He is against anything that has to do with love, as he believes love will turn a man soft, and he would never want such a thing to happen to him. He swears on the fact that he will never be wed or even fall for a woman. Yet he asks himself this story altering, climax of a question “May I be so converted and see with these eyes?” (2.3. 19 20). After this, we can start to see deep down who he really is, and that he may be capable of love after all. What happens with Benedick? Does he really have it in him to stay away from women, even one who is seemingly in love with him? Will he actually be converted and see with a lover’s eyes? Benedick, being such a hard shell to crack, seemed as if he would never fall I love. He was more than just against marriage and love, he thought lowly of others who fell in love. “Is’t come to this? In faith, hath not the world one man but he will wear his cap with suspicion? Shall I never see a bachelor of three-score again?” (1.1. 154 58). By saying this, Benedick means to point out that it seems as if he is the only man who is not madly in love with a woman, and he is disgusted by it. He also points out in the previous quote, a big indication as to why it is he behaves in this manner. When he says “…wear his cap with suspicion…” he means to point out that he believes all a woman will do if wed is cheat. We begin to see some of his issues and reasoning behind his arguments. He goes on to say “Go to, i' faith, an thou wilt needs thrust thy neck into a yoke, wear the print of it, and sigh away Sundays” (1.1. 158 62). We can really sense this growing frustration and hatred towards marriage. He is rather upset with Claudio at this point telling him “Ok it’s your decision to hang a noose around your neck and give up all of your free time.” But how
Benedick, a strong willed man, is tough as nails. His journey as a hardened soldier under the leadership of Don Pedro has sprung forth a cunning and sarcastic attitude. He is against anything that has to do with love, as he believes love will turn a man soft, and he would never want such a thing to happen to him. He swears on the fact that he will never be wed or even fall for a woman. Yet he asks himself this story altering, climax of a question “May I be so converted and see with these eyes?” (2.3. 19 20). After this, we can start to see deep down who he really is, and that he may be capable of love after all. What happens with Benedick? Does he really have it in him to stay away from women, even one who is seemingly in love with him? Will he actually be converted and see with a lover’s eyes? Benedick, being such a hard shell to crack, seemed as if he would never fall I love. He was more than just against marriage and love, he thought lowly of others who fell in love. “Is’t come to this? In faith, hath not the world one man but he will wear his cap with suspicion? Shall I never see a bachelor of three-score again?” (1.1. 154 58). By saying this, Benedick means to point out that it seems as if he is the only man who is not madly in love with a woman, and he is disgusted by it. He also points out in the previous quote, a big indication as to why it is he behaves in this manner. When he says “…wear his cap with suspicion…” he means to point out that he believes all a woman will do if wed is cheat. We begin to see some of his issues and reasoning behind his arguments. He goes on to say “Go to, i' faith, an thou wilt needs thrust thy neck into a yoke, wear the print of it, and sigh away Sundays” (1.1. 158 62). We can really sense this growing frustration and hatred towards marriage. He is rather upset with Claudio at this point telling him “Ok it’s your decision to hang a noose around your neck and give up all of your free time.” But how