QUOTE 1 - EMPATHY
          Beatrice: “She is wronged, she is slandered, she is 
                                 undone.” Act 4 Scene 1
       •   The quote emphasises her strong opinions. This is 
           unusual for a female in that time. We therefore, see 
           a connection between Beatrice and Queen 
           Elizabeth. She is confident to speak out and share 
           her opinion – whereas women at the time had “lower 
           self-esteems” and would not voice their opinions.
       •   We also get to know a “loyal” Beatrice, who stands 
           by and sticks up for Hero. She doesn’t at once doubt 
           what Hero tells her and doesn’t doubt her integrity 
           at all.
                                            QUOTE 2 – DISTASTE FOR 
                                                                LOVE
         “I had rather my dog bark at a crow then a man swear he loves me.” Act 
                                                             1 Scene 1
         •   Beatrice uses this comparative to display her utter distaste for love. 
         •   It also portrays that the invulnerability to falling in love is a point of 
             pride for her (and Benedick). She makes love appear as an 
             impossibility.
         •   We again, see a confident and outspoken Beatrice, linking her with 
             figures like Queen Elizabeth.
         •   Distaste for love: “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.” Act 2 Scene 1
                                            QUOTES - WITTY
              “I pray you, is Signor Montanto returned from the wars, or no?” Act 1 Scene 1
       •Signor Montanto:
        -She makes fun of Benedick and calls him a ladies man. This wittiness is not at all normal 
       for a female at the time.
       •
        Such insults are commonly exchanged between Benedick and Beatrice. 
        -The pair are made for each other and deep down they know this, but cover it up by 
       insulting one another and outlining their flaws.  Foreshadows love between them. “He will 
       hang upon him like a disease”
        -She insults him in public and calls Benedick a disease. We see this wit often because 
       Shakespeare’s intent is to outline the way women were  generally behaved and how Beatrice 
       would appear an outcast at the time. 
         •   Even when she admits her love for Benedick, we 
             sense wittiness. “I would not deny you. But . . . I yield 
             upon great persuasion, and partly to save your life, 
             for I was told you were in a consumption.”
                                       QUOTES - DIRECT
                                         “Kill Claudio”
       •   Beatrice can also be adult like and powerful. The 
           short and direct sentence “Kill Claudio” outlines 
           this wonderfully. 
       •   It also emphasises her utmost loyalty towards Hero 
           as she is prepared to risk her new love; Benedick’s 
           life, in order to get revenge for Hero.
       •   We see this powerful speech later, even when she 
           converses with Don Pedro when she says “My cousin 
           is belied.” Again, this makes her seem authoritative 
           and outspoken like Queen Elizabeth.
                                      QUOTES - NAIVETY
              “They swore that you were almost sick for me”
       •   Despite her wittiness and almost heard-
           heartedness, she is still tricked into falling into 
           love’s trap. We almost get the impression that she 
           was looking for love, found it but refused to admit it 
           until it was brought to her through Hero and 
           Ursula. 
       •   This is portrayed by her reaction when being 
           deceitfully told of Benedick’s passion for her: 
           “Benedick, love on; I will requite thee” (Love on, I 
           will love you back).