The Dramatic Significance of the Quotes

1)"The savage bull may, but if ever the sensible Benedick 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 they write 'Here is good horse to hire' let them signify under my sign 'Here you may see Benedick the married man'."


-The speaker is Benedick, (as he speaks to Don Pedro and Claudio). The meaning of this quote is that Benedick is saying what is to be done to him if he ever marries, for he sees marriage as a distasteful matter to commit to. Also he believes like the wild horse (he compares himself to), he will be tamed by his wife (when married), which, seemingly, he doesn't want. The dramatic significance is the great emphasis in which he shows what he thinks of marriage. He is also making a significant point in which he states he'll never marry, this is contradicted later on in the play when he and Beatrice fall in love, (and do indeed marry).

2)"What should I do with him- dress him in my apparel and make him my waiting gentlewoman? He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard is less than a man; and he that is more than a youth is not for me, and he that is less than a man, I am not for him."


-Beatrice is the speaker of this quote. The meaning of this quote is that Beatrice can find no man to agree with, to suit her. She states that if he does not have a beard, he will be too young for her and she would not be a suitable match (wife) for him. However, if he is too old, he is not a suitable match for her. The dramatic significance is that she can find no man to suit her and so she is to be left a maiden, (which she, seemingly, is satisfied with).