Beatrice is the wealthy niece of Leonato and the cousin of Hero. She is intelligent, witty and charismatic and is consequently given a great deal of freedom in comparison with Hero. She converses as an equal with her Uncle and the soldiers and she is well liked by them, receiving a marriage proposal from the prince himself. Beatrice and Benedick have a battle of wits with each other whenever they meet and they are duped into falling in love with each other as a result of overhearing their respective friends speaking of the love each one feels for the other. Beatrice is distraught and furious when Hero is falsely accused and entreats Benedick to kill Claudio for his cruelty.
"I was born to speak all mirth and no matter "
2.1.303-4
Title: Niece to Leonato
Sex: female
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Hometown: Messina
Job: Lady of the house
Often called: "Lady Disdain", "Lady Tongue" or "harpy" by Benedick.
Personal philosophy: "...there was a star danced, and under that was I born." (2.1.309)
Views on marriage: “Lord, I could not endure a husband with a beard on his face! I had rather lie in the woollen... 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... I'll none. Adam's sons are my brethren, and truly, I hold it a sin to match in my kindred.” (2.1.26-57)
