Beatrice is Leonato’s niece, although close to her cousin Hero they could not be more different. Beatrice is feisty, cynical and witty, and continues to play a ‘merry war’ of wits with Benedick.

The play suggests that Beatrice was once in love with Benedick but he led her on and the relationship ended.

When Beatrice and Benedick meet again the two compete to outdo each other with clever insults.

Although she appears hardened and sharp, Beatrice is very vulnerable. Once she overhears Hero discussing that Benedick is in love with her, she opens herself to sensitivities and weakness of love.

Beatrice is one of Shakespeare’s strong female characters.

She refuses to marry because she has not discovered the perfect equal partner and she is unwilling to give up her liberty for a controlling husband.

Beatrice explodes at Claudio when he humiliates Hero. She overtly rages at Claudio and rebels against the unequal treatment of women. This is supported when she says

 “O that I were a man for his sake! Or that I had any friend would be a man for my sake!” she passionately exclaims. “I cannot be a man with wishing, therefore I will die a woman with grieving” (IV.i.312–318).