The Peace Treaty of Love

In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., "Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend." One can observe this in William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, when two witty rivals come to find companionship. Romeo and Juliet, another Shakespearean play, features two adolescents of enemy families that fall for each other. Beatrice and Benecick have a stronger and more realistic relationship than Romeo and Juliet, as they have a past love history, the support of their families, and a careful approach.

Beatrice and Benedick have had a past relationship, while on the contrary, Romeo and Juliet profess their love for each other the first time they meet. Beatrice having known Benedick for a long time contributes to the realism of their relationship. Shakespeare shows that they have known each other for a while when Beatrice says "You always end with a jade's trick. I know you of old" (I.i.114). This shows that they are familiar with each other's personalities and have a history with each other, creating tension. Differently, Romeo and Juliet do not know each other well enough to have a deep love. Juliet even says that their relationship is moving too fast when she proclaims, "It is too rash, too unadvised, too sudden." Even Juliet can appreciate for a moment that she barely knows Romeo and their love is not justified. They do not hesitate to tell each other how much they care and move far too quickly to back up their false emotions. Because of their past relationship and knowledge of each other's personalities, Beatrice and Benedict have a much stronger and more realistic relationship.

Another factor that contributes to Beatrice and Benedick's relationship being stronger is the influences of others. They have ...

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...tside influences, and actions. They know each other well, have the support of their friends and family, and act as a real couple does. However, Romeo and Juliet do not know each other well, often making impulsive decisions because of this. Being from enemy families, they hide their marriage. Furthermore, they do not act like real people by frequenting the use of poems in casual speech among other imaginative actions. This couple does not share the same kind of bond as Beatrice and Benedick because of their marriage's fantastical elements. Just as Dr. King said is possible, both couples start as enemies and are united together by love. Although they both prove that love can unite the most bitter enemies, one of the two loves is deeper. Despite the steryotype that Romeo and Juliet have a perfect relationship, Beatrice and Benedick's is much stronger and more realistic.