Interrogating the text

 Given circumstances                     

Benedick is the protagonist of the play. He is seen as an extrovert due to him being very confident and smug. He is arrogant, yet very likeable because of his comedic ways and good intentions. He is witty, sarcastic and loyal. The story is centred on his love-hate relationship with Beatrice. He thinks of life as one big joke and never takes anything too seriously. He vows that he will never fall in love or get married. He is a soldier in the Gulf war, which means that he is determined, brave and respected by others.

What do people say about my character?                   

In general, a lot of people would say that Benedick is a bit of a dick. He is seen as arrogant, immature and rather annoying. Beatrice would emphasize these points and talk about how benedick’s naivety and vanity infuriates her as he constantly mocks her throughout the play. Other characters would see him as rude or annoying, however they wouldn’t consider him to be cruel or mean as his intentions are good and he doesn’t want to upset anyone too much. A lot of the soldiers look up to Benedick as he is seen as the class clown and is always entertaining no matter how stupid he is. He always keeps the spirits up so is it difficult to hate him. They would also think of him as a bit of a lad and a lady’s man. This is probably because of the exaggerated stories Benedick has told them. He is seen as being respectable and quite powerful, therefore he would gain a lot of attention.

What do I say about myself?                    

Benedick definitely thinks of himself very highly. He enjoys life to the fullest and doesn’t take himself too seriously. He thinks he is a lady’s man and that everyone loves him. He would describe himself as the alpha male and thinks of himself as a leader who he wants everyone to follow. He loves a laugh, however he also knows when to be serious and will deal with difficult situations in a sensible, mature and justified manner. He definitely acknowledges that he is arrogant, however he doesn’t see anything wrong with this as he is just enjoying life and believes it is better to be arrogant and proud rather than reserved and boring. He thinks that other people will fear him as he is a talented and experienced soldier. Underneath his confidence, he is caring and down to earth despite the fact that he doesn’t like to show this.
What is my journey through the play?    

Beat changes

There are a number of clear beat changes in the second half of the play. An example is when Claudio rejects Hero and talks about how he despises her. Benedick had no idea about this, therefore it was hugely shocking and upsetting for him to hear. The mood suddenly shifts from being positive and relaxed to being filled with tension and hatred. This is a huge turning point as Benedick doesn’t know which side to take and it is the first time he sees the darker side of his best friend. Benedick is hurt to see Claudio so upset and he doesn’t know what to do about the situation which causes a huge inner dilemma for him. Another beat change is when Benedick declares his love for Beatrice. This takes a huge amount of courage and could end awfully for him. He puts his heart on the line and we first see a nervous and more genuine side to Benedick who isn’t arrogant and as hard as we first thought. When he discovers he loves her too, his world changes and he is able to confess his deep love he feels for her. This changes the mood from tense and solemn to joyful and positive. It is almost as if nothing else matters anymore and they are in their own little world.  However, this mood quickly shifts as Beatrice says the only way she can love him is if he kills his best friend- Claudio. This is a major turning point as Benedick is left with the most difficult decision of his life.  He must choose between his best friend and the girl he loves. He is very reluctant to challenge Claudio as desperately tries to persuade Beatrice to change her mind. However, he realises this is the only way to get her to love him. This is when Benedick sees a darker side of the two people who mean the most to him in his life. This obviously hurts and shocks Benedick who has no idea what to do or what to think. In conclusion, he goes on an emotional roller coaster in a matter of minutes.