9.1.2

Beatrice 2

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Beatrice

Beatrice’s response to Benedick’s attempt to pacify her following Claudio’s public humiliation of Hero could be interpreted several ways.

Key line

Key line

  • BEATRICE: It is a man’s office but not yours.
Goading

Goading

  • Beatrice’s response to Benedick’s attempt to pacify her following Claudio’s public humiliation of Hero could be interpreted in several ways.
  • She may be trying to goad Benedick into challenging Claudio by asserting it is a “man’s office”.
  • Only a truly noble gentleman would see fit to defend Hero’s honour.
  • If Benedick refuses, Beatrice may be suggesting he is a coward.
Testing

Testing

  • Additionally, despite her feelings towards him, perhaps Shakespeare is suggesting that Beatrice does not believe Benedick would willingly fight Claudio on her and Hero’s behalf.
  • In light of this interpretation, Benedick’s rejection of his camaraderie with Claudio in favour of proving his love for Beatrice becomes even more significant.
  • She does not expect him to choose her over his good friend (“it is a man’s office but not yours”) and yet this is exactly what he does.
Preventing

Preventing

  • A third reason for Beatrice’s reluctance to accept Benedick's offer could be that she is afraid he could be killed by Claudio.
  • She is concerned for Benedick’s well-being and safety, just as she was in her opening line of the lay when she enquired whether “Signor Montanto is returned from the wars or no?”

"Kill Claudio"

BEATRICE: Kill Claudio.

Key line

Key line

  • BEATRICE: Kill Claudio.
Contrast

Contrast

  • The bluntness of Beatrice’s request contrasts the romantic atmosphere established as the couple declare their love for one another.
The imperative

The imperative

  • The use of the imperative continues Beatrice’s atypical (unusual) character presentation.
  • It would be most uncommon for women to give orders and instructions at this time, let alone make violent requests such as she does here.
Unconventional

Unconventional

  • Through Beatrice’s language here, Shakespeare again illustrates Benedick’s struggle with conventional, courtly love.
  • He has acted as society dictates he should, openly offering his love to “bid me do anything for thee” only to receive this blunt request.
Jump to other topics
1

Key Terminology

1.1

Key Terminology

1.1.1Key Terminology1.1.2End of Topic Test - Key Terminology
2

Structure & Form

2.1

Structure

2.1.1Structure2.1.2Acts 1 - 32.1.3Acts 4 - 5
2.2

Form

2.2.1Tragicomedy2.2.2End of Topic Test - Structure & Form
3

Act 1: Plot Summary

3.1

Act 1, Scene 1

3.1.1Summary3.1.2Key Lines3.1.3Key Lines 23.1.4End of Topic Test - Act 1, Scene 1
3.2

Act 1, Scene 2

3.2.1Summary3.2.2Key Lines
3.3

Act 1, Scene 3

3.3.1Summary3.3.2Key Lines3.3.3End of Topic Test - Act 1, Scenes 2-3
4

Act 2: Plot Summary

4.1

Act 2, Scene 1

4.1.1Summary4.1.2Key Lines4.1.3Key Lines 24.1.4Key Lines 34.1.5End of Topic Test - Act 2, Scene 1
4.2

Act 2, Scene 2

4.2.1Summary
4.3

Act 2, Scene 3

4.3.1Summary4.3.2Key Lines4.3.3Key Lines 24.3.4End of Topic Test - Act 2, Scenes 2-3
5

Act 3: Plot Summary

5.1

Act 3, Scene 1

5.1.1Summary5.1.2Key Lines
5.2

Act 3, Scene 2

5.2.1Summary5.2.2Key Lines
5.3

Act 3, Scene 3

5.3.1Summary
5.4

Act 3, Scene 4

5.4.1Summary
5.5

Act 3, Scene 5

5.5.1Summary5.5.2End of Topic Test - Act 3
6

Act 4: Plot Summary

6.1

Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 1)

6.1.1Summary6.1.2Key Lines6.1.3Key Lines 2
6.2

Act 4, Scene 1 (Part 2)

6.2.1Summary6.2.2Key Lines6.2.3Key Lines 2
6.3

Act 4, Scene 2

6.3.1Summary6.3.2End of Topic Test - Act 4
7

Act 5: Plot Summary

7.1

Act 5, Scene 1

7.1.1Summary
7.2

Act 5, Scene 2

7.2.1Summary7.2.2Key Lines
7.3

Act 5, Scene 3

7.3.1Summary
7.4

Act 5, Scene 4

7.4.1Summary7.4.2End of Topic Test - Act 5
8

Key Themes

8.1

Key Themes

8.1.1Love & Marriage8.1.2Deception, Appearances & Noting8.1.3Gender8.1.4Reputation8.1.5End of Topic Test - Key Themes
9

Recap: Main Quotes

9.1

Characters Quotes

9.1.1Beatrice9.1.2Beatrice 29.1.3Benedick 19.1.4Benedick 29.1.5Benedick 39.1.6Benedick 49.1.7Benedick 59.1.8Beatrice & Benedick9.1.9Beatrice & Benedick 29.1.10Beatrice & Benedick 39.1.11Claudio9.1.12Claudio 29.1.13Claudio & Benedick9.1.14Don John9.1.15Don John 29.1.16Don Pedro9.1.17Hero9.1.18Leonato9.1.19Leonato & Messanger
9.2

Text Structure - Quotes

9.2.1Deception, Appearances & Noting9.2.2Gender9.2.3Reputation

Practice questions on Beatrice 2

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  1. 1
    Interpretations of Beatrice’s response:True / false
  2. 2
    Who does Beatrice tell Benedick to kill?Multiple choice
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Beatrice

Benedick 1