Beatrice & Benedick Versus Hamlet & Ophelia

Benedict and Beatrice's relationship in "Much Ado About Nothing" by William Shakespeare and Hamlet and Ophelia's relationship in "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare will be discussed using the similarities in the two relationships, the differences in the two relationships, as well as the destruction of Hamlet and Ophelia's relationship and the achievement of Benedict and Beatrice's relationship and why one happened and not the other.

The relationship Beatrice and Benedick have when compared to Hamlet and Ophelia show some similarities. In the play Hamlet, Hamlet himself denies any feelings he has for Ophelia, to Ophelia.

This can be comparable to how both Beatrice and Benedick deny their love for each other. Also, when Ophelia realizes that she has never been loved due to Hamlet denying her, she begins to think she will never be loved. This is also comparable to when Beatrice starts to name off all of these characteristics a man must have to be worthy of her love, resulting in herealizing.

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Beatrice says, “What should I do with him?

Dress him in my apparel and make him my waiting gentlewoman? He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man and he that is more than a youth is not for me, and he that is less than a man, I am not for him. Therefore I will even take sixpence in earnest of the bear head, and lead his apes into hell” (2.1.28-34).she will probably be alone forever.

Although their relationships are similar, they do have their differences. Beatrice says “I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow/ than a man swear he loves me” (1.1.129-130). She clearly states that she never wants to hear a man say that he loves her Benedick states “But it is certain I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted, and/ I would I could find in my heart that I Had not a/ hard heart, for truly I love none” (1.1.122-153). He was not looking for love either. They found love when they least expected it, making them fall in love quicker. Benedick and Beatrice never get along but begin to like each other once they fall into a trap. Both couple more so fell into love then forced it.

The differences between the two relationships are also easily seen when compared to each other. Another difference between the two relationships is that the one Hamlet and Ophelia had did not last, but the one Beatrice and Benedict had, did last. The reasons why the two relationships ended up being different is because Hamlet and Ophelia had strong feelings for each other throughout the entire play whereas Benedict and Beatrice had those feelings but continuously lied to each other about it and hid them. I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers/ could not with all their quantity of love/ Make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her?” (5.1 285-288)

He does not want Ophelia to be dead because he wants her love back. Marriage in Hamlet was used to achieve assets where as in Much Ado About Nothing marriage originated from love. Marriage is desired by all at some point in their life. Both Much Ado about nothing and Hamlet are focused on love it is believed Some people live their life looking for love and yet never find it, it is often believed that you will find love when you least expect it. Both plays have common thoughts of love and marriage. Love in Hamlet is often depressing, even though love is what is wanted by all. Hamlet confesses his love at the death of Ophelia. He says “I loved Ophelia. Forty thousand brothers/ could not with all their quantity of love/ Make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her?” (5.1 285-288).

Love can often be depressing and hurtful, or happy and joyous but no matter what, love is still wanted by all. Much Ado About Nothing is solely based on love and Beatrice and Benedict are the main “love story” throughout because of everyone knowing they should be together besides them. Both love stories took some time to form.