Blog 4

If we assume that Shakespeare is referring to two soul mate in his sonnet 116 which first lines begins as , “Let me not to the marriage of true minds” Benedick and Beatrice can be soul mate but on certain conditions. Both are quick, sharp, expressive, witty but lonely inside. During the period when Shakespeare wrote, Benedick lord of Padua is well to do fellow and Beatrice as well is rich enough to lead a noble life in Elizabethan period in city of Messina which was predominately English. Both match in status and character and have least chance of having conflict because of financial or career enhancement priorities. We can see that both are able to hire few servants from some remote parts of Scotland or Africa as other well to do family of that time. It seems to me that even after marriage; Beatrice doesn’t have to work even inside kitchen and home and can afford to amuse herself reading books, studying Latin and Greeks, going theaters etc whereas Benedick as well can enjoy his life on other pleasure of that time appopriate to him. However, if such couple get married in present time, let say in NYC and both are on their own, then they might end up as Mr and Mrs. Kramer in Robert Benton movie Kramer Vs Kramer ( Beatrice might get bored with daily mundane life of cooking, preparing child for school, cleaning etc at the cost of her potential in other outside career and Benedick being too much centered his outside to meet their ends career neglecting Beatrice’s emotional needs / It’s weird for me to imagine Beatrice leaving six year son in husband hand to pursuit for her career ; or may be she would have asked Benedick to flip flop the role – you take care of home and I work outside or let’s share both home and outside work together ). But they were living in different world then.

It’s seems to me rather Benedick has surrendered himself on the will of Beatrice as he loves her and vice versa. From the beginning of the play it is the Beatrice who is inspiring Benedick for his actions of wit and sophistry. She is over him as we saw that she convinced him to challenge Claudio for harsh treatment of Hero. Without her it hard to imagine Benedick’s strong wit and wisdom. She is complementary to him and without her, his character can’t be well defined. The most important is both realize that they love each other even after it was reveled that both were crossed by their friends and cousin and told lies about how each love one another. Even here Beatrice is manipulating him when she says, “ I would not deny you, but by this good day, I yield upon great persuasion, and partly to save your life, for I was told, you were in consumption.” Note she is surrendering to save his life. However such silly things and personal ego vanishes when two people really are in love and are committed to take care of each other. When Benedick kisses after this to stop her mouth its mutual love and harmony they have learned to share. I don’t think its one’s surrender over other’s will but a mutual understanding which every couple who are in love should must possessed.