1. Beatrice has altered in this scene from her previous behaviour as her crude and bawdy wit is contained. This is due to her discomfort about the wedding, she states 'my heart is exceeding heavy'. One may infer that she has been transformed and no conforms to the idea of institutionalised love and so her behaviour has changed with this. Her whole persona has changed. Two sexual jokes the girls make include:
- 'twill be heavier soon by the weight of a man'
- the heavier for a husband'
2. 'Cardus Benedictus' is a herbal remedy. It is a thistle plant which has extensive healing properties. However, Beatrice thinks assumes this is a double entendre meaning Benedick.
3. As the reader one is deceived by Margaret's humour. Shakespeare uses this construct in order to create comic relief. Her bawdiness distracts us from the tragedy which one knows will unfold.
For answer 3 you can bring in Nova Myhill's criticism on deception. Is there more than comic relief at play here?
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