Key Lines 2
English Lit: AQA GCSE Much Ado About Nothing, topic 6.2.3
"Kill Claudio"
BEATRICE: Kill Claudio.
Key line
- BEATRICE: Kill Claudio.
Contrast
- The bluntness of Beatrice’s request contrasts the romantic atmosphere established as the couple declare their love for one another.
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
- 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.
Benedick and Beatrice
This short exchange between Benedick and Beatrice demonstrates her forceful character.
Key lines
- BENEDICK: Hear me, Beatrice,-
BEATRICE: Talk with a man out at a window! A proper saying!
BENEDICK: Nay, but, Beatrice,-
BEATRICE: Sweet Hero! She is wronged, she is slandered, she is undone.
BENEDICK: Beat-
The force of Beatrice
- This short exchange between Benedick and Beatrice demonstrates her forceful character.
- Benedick is unable to get his point of view across as Beatrice repeatedly cuts him off (as illustrated through the use of dashes) - something that again would be atypical for the time period.
Test yourself on Key Lines 2
Who does Beatrice tell Benedick to kill?