It is an interesting and uncommon occasion when a novels subplot is more intriguing than the main story itself. Such occasion occurs in William Shakespeares Much Ado About Nothing, where a subplot, the love tale between Benedick and Beatrice, surpasses the main plot, the adventures leading to the marriage of Claudio, a valiant soldier, and Hero, a beautiful and innocent young lady. Claudios friend Benedick is an ex-soldier who has recently returned from a war, determined to stay a bachelor. However, he soon finds himself falling in love with Heros cousin Beatrice. Unwilling to love Benedick at first, Beatrice tries to stay away from Benedick and announces that she too wants to remain unmarried, but she is also quick to change her mind. Despite the fact that both Benedick and Beatrice swore to remain single in the beginning, they are both quick to change when they learn that one likes the other.
In the beginning of the novel, both Beatrice and Benedick dislike each other, constantly arguing and insulting one another. Heros father even says, There is a kind of merry war betwixt Signor Benedick and her. (I.i.49-50). The fact that Leonato sees the relationship between Benedick and Beatrice as merry shows that there exists something beyond dislike between the two. In Much Ado About Nothing, the surrounding characters are more intuitive than the main characters themselves. Don Pedro, Benedicks friend, notices the potential of a relationship between Benedick and Beatrice and thus fabricates a plan to bring about that relationship. In a conversation with Leonato, Beatrice says that unmarried women are destined to go to hell, and Leonato, shocked, asks Beatrice if she is willing to go to hell. Casually, Beatrice replies that when she meets the devil, he will say Beatrice, get you to heaven; heres no place for you maids (II.i.37-39). The fact that she is certain that she will go to heaven even if she stays unmarried shows the confidence behind her decision, and her belief that even the devil will comply with her lifestyle. Similarly, in a conversation with Beatrice, Benedick says But it is certain that 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 (I.i.52-54). Here, Benedick tells Beatrice that all ladies, except she, love him, and yet he wishes to remain single. Despite his confidence that he is loved by all the other the ladies, Benedicks refusal to love one woman shows how he is certain in his decision to remain unmarried. Although both Beatrice and Benedick are determined to stay single, they later come to realize that they have fallen for one another.
As opposed to the beginning when Benedick swore to stay a bachelor, he finds himself attracted to Beatrice. Don Pedro, Benedicks friend, devises a plan to get Benedick to overhear that Beatrice is in love with him. Benedicks vow in the beginning to remain unmarried must have not been a strong one, because when Benedick hears this, he desperately falls in love with her. Benedick even says for I will be horribly in love with her (II.iii.195) in a soliloquy about his surprise in finding out that Beatrice loves him. The use of horribly in his statement emphasizes how deep his love is for her. After a conversation with Beatrice, Benedick leaves to go get her picture, (II.iii.219), emphasizing his own obsession with Beatrice. The fact that he wants a portrait of her for himself implies how beautiful he thinks Beatrice is. Similarly, Beatrice finds herself changing her mind about love through the course of the novel.
Beatrice, like Benedick, has also once sworn to remain unmarried in the beginning, but she soon finds herself deep in love with Benedick. Hero and her maid have a conversation about Benedicks love for Beatrice, as Benedick had often come by in the past to ask them for advice, and if Beatrice had changed her mind about marriage. Beatrice, overhearing this conversation, says to herself Benedick, love on; I will requite thee (III.i.117). A similar situation occurred when Benedick overheard that Beatrice loved him and fell in love with her instantly. Here, Beatrice shocked at this news, is determined to love Benedick back, breaking her old vows to remain unmarried. The two events, having occurred so similarly, show that both Beatrice and Benedick were quick to change their minds about remaining single.
Although Beatrice and Benedick swore to stay unmarried in the beginning, they both break their vows when they learn that they love one another. Benedick falls in love with Beatrice when he overhears that Beatrice is in love with him. Likewise, Beatrice falls in love with Benedick when she finds out that Benedick loves her. The complicating love story in Much Ado About Nothing shows that love can come suddenly, and without warning.
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