haracters in the play as a notorious scorner of women and of romantic love. Don Pedro warns him that 'in time the savage bull doth bear the yoke' meaning that Bene*censored* is destined to marry and that he cannot escape it. However, Bene*censored* replies that,
             'the savage bull may; but if ever the sensible Bene*censored* bear it, pluck off the bull's horns and set them in my forehead and let me be vilely painted, and in such great letters as the write "here is a good horse to hire", let them signify under my sign, "here you may see Bene*censored*, the married man"'.
             This paragraph highlights his contempt of women but also anticipates his submission to love. His hallmark ability to conjure up images with his words and his self-dramatisation by mentioning his name in the third person are also shown in this extract. When he is asked his opinion of Hero by Claudio he replies 'would you have me speak after my custom, as being a professed tyrant of their sex?',
             re: Daniel Riggs-An Analysis of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing.
             this implies that his scorn of women is not his true self and that it may only be a guise to protect him from falling in love as he believes that a wife would limit his freedom and privilege. It is also used as an amusement for his piers.
             Bene*censored* is quite superior to the other male characters of the play. When the grave occasion of the wedding between Hero and Claudio comes, he postpones his habits of mocking and jesting, and we see his wisdom and intelligence shine through. When Hero is accused of being promiscuous, when even her father is convinced of her guilt, he is the first to suspect that 'the practice of i
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