The characters of Benedick and Beatrice appear to be Shakespeare’s own creation. The archetype of two characters who start the story despising one another before eventually falling in love, or becoming firm friends, is now a common trope in literature, television and film.
Consider the characters and relaionship between Benedick and Beatrice and then answer the following questions:
- Consider stories that you know (film, tv or books) where two characters start the story despising one another, but by the end of the story become friends or fall in love. How many can you list that you know of? Note down the characters names and the title of the work they appear in.
Choose one set of characters from your list and answer the following questions:
- What was the nature of their disagreement to begin with?
- How did their relationship end in the story?
- What was the turning point or key plot point where they saw each other in a different light, or began to change their opinion of the other person?
