Monologue

Beatrice Monologue from Much Ado About Nothing

From Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare

female · sarcastic · 1:30 min

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Too curst is more than curst: I shall lessen God’s sending that way; for it is said, ‘God sends a curst cow short horns;’ but to a cow too curst he sends none. (LEONATO: So, by being too curst, God will send you no horns?) Just, if he send me no husband; for the which blessing I am at him upon my knees every morning and evening. Lord! I could not endure a husband with a beard on his face: I had rather lie in the woollen. (LEONATO: You may light on a husband that hath no beard.) What should I do with him? dress him in my apparel and make him my waiting gentlewoman? 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: therefore I will even take sixpence in earnest of the bear-ward, and lead his apes into hell.

About this piece

Beatrice expresses her disdain for the expectations of romantic relationships and the absurdity of gender roles, using humor and sarcasm to convey her independence.

20s · disgust · identity · power · gender roles · love

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