Beatrice promises to eat the soldiers that Benedick has killed. Her words are outrageous, of course. Her uncle, Leonato, is a little shocked by Beatrice's words. He tries to explain her words away by stating that Beatrice and Benedick are always engaged in a war of wits.
When the messenger contends that Benedick fought well in the war, Beatrice answers:
You had musty victual, and he hath holp to eat it. He is a
very valiant trencherman. He hath an excellent stomach.
Here, we see another comparison between soldiering and eating. The enemy
is the "musty victual" and Benedick is the "valiant trencherman." War is
equated with a sort of cannibalism. Basically, the war machine consumes men's
lives, and Beatrice is saying that Benedick is part of that machine. Beatrice
is also saying that Benedick has an excellent constitution for war.
But, what about her statement about "eating" the soldiers Benedick has
killed? Here, Beatrice may also be saying that she is Benedick's equal when it
comes to war of a different kind: a war of words. All in all, Beatrice's words
in this opening act tell us that Benedick is in for a war of a different kind
when he returns.
Get Ahead with eNotes
Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.
Already a member? Log in here.