Poor Benedick

Throughout the first three acts of this place there seems to be a level of expressed yet hidden affectionate connection between Benedick and Beatrice. Another student stated their relationship to be juvenile or high school like which is true, and even further proven by the manner Bendick takes to profess his love to Beatrice.

Act four scene one is the wedding scene between Claudio and Hero. When asked if he wanted to marry Hero, Claudio says no and claims she is not pure that she had multiple sexual encounters with another man. Hero fell in shock of this accusation, which a vast majority of the audience bought into excluding the friar and Beatrice. Beatrice is outraged at this accusation for she is certain that Hero is pure.

Benedick goes over to comfort Beatrice, as any friend would, but like at the start of some juvenile relationships he saw an opening in her vulnerability or so he thought and professed his true love to Beatrice for the first time confirming any suspicions the audience had if any by this point in the play. Beatrice is welcoming to the idea of his love and asks him to challenge and kill Claudio, who is Benedick close and dear friend, for the slander of Hero. Benedick refuses at first, but eventually after realizing how serious Beatrice is says he'll do it.

Benedick stays true to his word and tells Claudio of his intention of killing him for his actions, luckily Borachio comes clean and admits to his lying and treachery and being the cause of this slander clearing Hero's name. Benedick now not only professed his love to Beatrice but also showed how pure it is and how much she means to him by being willing to kill his friend because she believed that is what should be done.

Benedick is happy, he is in love Beatrice is showing affection back towards him. Life is exactly what he wanted it to be. All the flirting and compassion has been shown for one another only in seclusion though. When back again at the wedding Benedick publicly professes his love for Beatrice and asks her to marry him, but she says no and denies ever loving her.

Why would she do this to Benedick? He has done nothing but show her the deepest level of compassion and is in no way deserving of this level of humility.

Claudio and Hero tell everyone that they both Benedick and Beatrice love each other and say they have have finished love poems from each of them written to the other. After being caught Beatrice basically says ok I love him and agrees to marry him.

I just do not understand why or how she could have the audacity to deny Benedick in the manner she did.