The relationship between Beatrice and Benedick is described as ‘a merry war’ in the play. Starting with this conversation, explore how Shakespeare presents the relationship between Beatrice and Benedick.

This extract from Act 1 Scene 1 serves as the establishment of Beatrice and Benedick's relationship arc in the play. In their first moments alone, we see both characters adamantly denying that they are capable of love because they have a "hard heart" and "cold blood." However, this is contrasted inside this scene with their apparent fixation on eachother, with Benedick remarking that all women love him "only [Beatrice] excepted." By highlighting that they are supposedly incapable of love, but demonstrating their clear verbal chemistry and familiarity with eachother, it suggests they're not being entirely honest about their feelings- for Beatrice says of Benedick "I know you of old." This sets up the narrative development in the play towards their eventual realisation and acceptance of their love for eachother, as concluded in Act 2 Scene 3 with Benedick's declaration that "the lady is fair." For the audience, this creates comedy in allowing us to watch the characters wrestle with their clear real feelings of affection while in denial and then creating satisfaction and joy when they accept them and declare them to eachother.