Much Ado About Nothing : Acts: I & II

benedicts Soliloquy on ideal cleaning lady (2.3.20-27)In Shakespeares Much Ado About Nothing Benedick, a ro earthtic young Lord in Padua, is capitulum over shoulders in go to sleep with Beatrice, Leonatos niece. A moment ago he satirized the fantastical behaviour of Claudius in get it on. As he readies himself for relish, he contemplates the sterling qualities he enamorks in his love lady. He desires her to be the embodiment of entirely rare virtues admired by men. He would not buy her unless she is fair, sassy and virtuous.Furthermore, she needs to be rich, and mild, and noble. He also expects her to be a brilliant conversationalist as well as an clarified musician. Benedick goes about choosing his charwoman as a fastidious buyer go bargaining for the best property at worst price. This speech is meant to provide fun and mirth to the audience but it also demonstrates the virile attitude of regarding women as property.If he succeeds, then he would be in possession of a gem of a woman, and could go about boasting of his prize catch. We are indeed prone to laugh at such acquisitiveness. The commodification of woman is also deplorable. She has to be tailor-made with all virtues stitched in to satisfy the male ego. It is a rabidness for Benedick that he rules out the possibility that if such a perfect woman existed at all , she might not choose him.Benedicks reaction to hearing that Beatrice is secretly in love with him (2.3.181-213)2 paras. On her husband like qualities. On why he is so easily duped by his friends.In the speech following the trap set by Pedro, Claudio and Leanato, Benedict starts behaving like a genuinely compromising buff who is willing to bury past his antagonism with Beatrice. As suggested by Pedro, Benedick begins his self-examination self-examination to improve his chances of being a good and worthy husband. Like a repentant lover and future husband he feels he has unfairly treated the fair Beatrice, and her love must be requit ed. (2.3.216)He also decides that he must not seem proud. (2.3.220). He concludes that she is fair, virtuous and wise for having locomote in love with him. He has now grown wise to listen to peoples disapproval which would lead to the improvement of his ainity. For having so long opposing and railing against marriage, he makes a 180 tip turn and pledges to be horribly in love with her. (2.3.226)He further argues that he must neglect his vow of celibacy so that the world must be peopled.(2.3.233). Being conditioned and brainwashed by Leanato, Pedro and Claudio he now discovers some marks of love in her.(2.3.236)His conclusion I am a villain if I do not love her. (2.3.253) is a proof of his delusion.In this speech Benedick recapitulates after eavesdropping the mock-serious conversations of Claudio, Pedro and Leanato who aver that Beatrice is dying for his love, but is too modest to wear her heart out first. (2.3.195) What he so long regarded a gull now has become veritable tru th as he says, This can be no trick the conference was sadly borne. Like the typical lover with imagination all compact, he is duped by the prank played by Pedro and Claudio.He is unable to see through the sport to mislead both the proud lovers to h out of date an opinion of anothers dotage. (2.3.208) The old and the experienced Prince and Governor are successful in manipulating the romantic but arrogant lovers to confess their love and overcome their egoes. All Beatrices objections like Against my will and forcing her on knifes point to go by a daw withal. (2.3.246) are romantically interpreted as signs of love. Benedicks behavior does tolerate Shakespeares view of lover in Midsummer Nights Dream The lunatic, the lover and the poet/ be of imagination all compact. (Midsummer, 5.1.7) Their wild imagination hardly resembles the reality.Qualities I like in a man or woman. Do I choose any qualities admired by Benedick? Why? Or why not?The qualities I like in a man are tenderness, aff ection, and a readiness for enduring relationship. He must not treat woman as a prized possession for his personal benefit but treat her as an equal partner. The qualities admired by Benedick are male ego-centric and would not satisfy any modern woman. Wise, noble and mild are admirable qualities in male as well female spouse.Some intellectual qualities like brilliant conversationalist and excellent musician are welcome personality traits, but not a necessity. But rich indicates love of wealth and dowry which often creates problems in marital life. Benedick gives the impression of a customer with a shopping list of virtues rather than a lover. To match his list a woman has to be perfect. No woman would like such an exacting husband.Work CitedCraig, W.J.(ed.), Shakespeare Complete Works. London. O.U.P. 1974