Much Ado About Nothing Quotations

1. BENEDICK:-"The savage bull may, but if ever the sensible Benedick bear it, pluck off the bull's horns, and set them in my forehead, and let me be vilely painted, and in such great letters as they write, here is good horse to hire: let them signify under my sign, here you may see Benedick the married man."(I i)

The speaker here is Benedick. In this paragraph he is saying if he was to ever change his mind about marriage, then he shall disguise himself as a bull and 'bear the yolk' as Don Pedro says prior to his statement. By this he is expressing the unlikeliness of his ever getting married. Infact, he pretty much calls it impossible because being a dignified man, he would never disgrace himself to become as a bull and 'bear yolk.'
This statement bears so much significance because it brings forth evidence of the determination and confidence that Benedick declared in himself and his decision. It is a characteristic of Shakesperean plays for main characters to boldly declare that they will never do something, meanwhile, the plot entails great irony. In Much Ado About Nothing, Benedick falls in love and does marry, the very things he swears against.


2.BEATRICE:- "What shall I do with him, dress him in my apparel and make him my waiting gentlewoman? he that hath a beard, is more han a youth: and he that hath no beard, is less than a man: and he that is more that a youth is not for me and he that is less than a man, I am not for him," (II i)


The speaker in this case is Beatrice. In the paragraph she is trying to explain that there is no man suited for her. She has completely turned her eyes towards men that she does not accept them at all. Where they differ, she makes the excuse to say that they do not fancy her, or she does not fancy them.
This presents great dramatic significance because, it somewhat provides evidence of Beatrice putting up an emotional wall towards men. She declares that the fate of love will never cross her path. Through this statement, it appears that she believes that there is no man that can ever be her companion, men are simply not for her; but, as in characteristic of Shakespear, she contradicts herself and falls in love towards the very one man he professed especial hatred for, he being, Benedick, a man.