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   janeyb

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   Beatrice is very witty, and she uses her acid wit to verbally spar with all of the characters in the play. At the ball, she recognizes benedick (the man that she has feelings for) but still she says to him as they dance, "he is the prince's jester: a very dull fool" (II.i.137-38). Beatrice, however, is not completely blind to social niceties and practicality, and when these situations arise she can put her wit aside. (think about prompting of Claudio to be other than a mute in his engagement to Hero.)
   At the end of the play, after the scene at the alter, and Hero fainting, Beatrice's wit is dulled towards Benedict, and she tells him that she loves him. This, of course, does not last long, and they go back to verbally sparring with their wit. As Benedik observes, ""Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably."
   The other person in the play to whom Beatrice speaks to without her joking wit, is Hero. Although at times Beatrice does, because Hero tells her to stop being so critical, she is softer with her cousin Hero, than anyone else in the play. Although her wit and criticism certainly do come out at times.

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   Posted by janeyb on Monday May 21, 2007 at 8:11 AM