Beatrice Flashcards
Beatrice
Anti marriage
Humorous
‘Unquiet’ woman
Limited by gender
Give a quote to show Beatrice as anti-marriage
2.1 (Leonato) “Well, niece, I hope to see you one day fitted with husband” (Beatrice) “Not till God make men of some other metal than earth”
Give a quote to show Beatrice as humorous
1.1 “I pray you, is Signior Mountanto returned from the wars or no?”
Give a quote to show Beatrice as an ‘Unquiet’ woman
2.1 (Leonato) “By my troth, niece, thou wilt never get thee a husband, if thou be so shrewd of thy tongue”
Give a quote to show Beatrice as being limited by her gender
4.1 “O God, that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the market-place”
How is Beatrice portrayed as argumentative?
Her relationship with Benedick is based on quick-witted arguments (“A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours.” (Beatrice - pg 196)
How is Beatrice presented as bold?
She speaks her mind and puts Benedick down in front of others (“Is it possible Disdain should die, while she hath such food to feed it as Signior Benedick?” (Beatrice - pg 195). This contrasts with Hero’s quiet and obedient personality.
How is Beatrice shown as outspoken?
She refuses to marry which was seen as absurd for a Shakespearean woman, women at the time were expected to be discreet
How is it shown that Beatrice is frustrated by society?
4.1 “O God, that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the market-place.” Repetition of ‘If I were a man’ emphasises her frustration
What were women considered to be in Elizabethan times?
Women were considered to be the property of their father or husband and less important than men, Beatrice shows her frustration with this injustice after Hero is left at the altar
