Much Ado About Nothing and Emotional Suppression Much Ado About Nothing is the story of two couples, one whose love for each other is discovered through deception and the other who he is almost destroyed by it. A young girl named Hero is conquered by Claudio, lord of Florence, while her cousin, Beatrice, and Benedetto, lord of Padua with whom Beatrice is engaged in a constant battle of wits, are deceived and fallen in love. Beatrice is described as intelligent, witty, and sassy when speaking to Benedick. Although Beatrice's performance in the film is true to this description, she displays a softness that is not explicitly stated in the text, suggesting feelings for Benedick. Benedick seems to be the only person who can bring out both extremes of his personality. Benedetto was reluctant to leave her that morning, but ultimately made the decision to do so anyway, presumably because he didn't want Beatrice to know that he cared about her. Likewise, Beatrice didn't want Benedick to know that she knew he was leaving, because she would have to express her feelings for him or hide them. Instead, she chose not to address it in front of him at all. Although he maintains composure in front of other characters, his desire for companionship and affection manifests itself when they are not looking. Her sharp tongue is her method of dealing with her feelings for Benedick. At the end of their first altercation, she states that he "always ends up with a jade trick" (1.1.118). There is pain in his eyes when he says this sentence. She is also seen looking longingly at Hero and Claudio when they agree to marry, and her voice often trembles as she speaks ill of Benedick. Beatrice and Benedick are both afraid that submitting to each other will hurt their pride, but when they discover (or think) that the other has submitted first, they give up, almost as if they feel they have already won. While in the short term this may have a happy effect on lovers, the long-term implications of their prideful tendencies can have debilitating consequences on their lives. Beatrice and Benedick ultimately sacrificed their values ​​and their independent self-image to be together, yet they had been tricked into doing so. They were never willing to admit their feelings until the other did so first. Benedetto likes to be known for being loved but not for giving love because it makes him feel powerful. Beatrice is either afraid of getting hurt, or she has already done so. Even after declaring their love for each other, Beatrice and Benedick remain in competition to protect their egos. At the wedding they declare that they do not love each other until Hero and Claudio expose the love letters they had written but never sent. Then they give up and decide to get married, but they don't get rid of the patterns of pride that might later threaten their relationship. If they are not yet able to healthily express their love for each other, is that love strong enough to withstand the hardships of a life together? Another effect of her emotional suppression is Beatrice's outburst in Act 4. She is first seen crying, followed by a radical request. When she tells Benedick that he must kill Claudio or lose her, all the tension and emotion she has been holding back throughout the film is released and her frustrations with gender roles and inequality are seen (4.2.255-329). This scene also reveals the unequal expectations of each other. Benedick is originally