Benedick's Tsundere Traits: A Dramatic Analysis

Although Benedick was both a sharp fellow as well as a “bachelor” for most of the play, Benedick’s actions were always different when beatrice was involved. In act 2 scene 1 was the scene that revealed his true self. In that scene, not only did he become a punching bag for the other main characters, but it was also the scene that he began to reveal his tsundere traits.
In act 2 scene 1, Benedick follows the punching bag archetype because he was constantly bombarded with “hate” from everybody. During the masquerade dance, Benedick tried to take advantage of everyone wearing masks by questioning Beatrice and attempting milking information out of her. This however, worked against him as he was roasted beyond belief. Not only did she call him

After being unknowingly lied to and told that Beatrice loved him, his character turned drastically. His character turned to the classic character trait of a shoujo manga of a “tsundere”. Tsunderes are people who “hate to love but love to love” or in other words, people who are aggressive and cold at first but reveal their warmer side as they get to know the person. Benedick shows this character trait in the form that after he “learned” that Beatrice “loves him with an enraged affection: it is past the infinite of thought.”(2.3.921),he did not know what to do. His once sharp and “bachelor” nature changes to that of a person who wants to find true love. He shows this by not only writing a letter, but also stating,” with no sauce that can be devised to it. I protest I love thee.”(4.1.1930)Further revealing that his heart was now opened up to Beatrice, and that once aggressive nature changed to one of love. Contrasting his original behavior of a “rude gentlemen” to his behavior now of a “ sweet man”, towards Beatrice surely shows that he is a Tsundere. Benedick’s character change is the biggest character change in the whole play. From the once rude and self-doting Bachelor to the lovey dovey yin and yang couple. Benedick was not only a punching bag, but also a tsundere. By combining these two unique character types, Shakespeare is able to create a character that was both well rounded and interesting in the fact that he was hated in the beginning but loved in the