As honour, love, obedience, troops of friends, / I must not look to have; but, in their stead, / Curses, not loud but deep, mouth-honour, breath, / Which the poor heart would fain deny, and dare not" (5.3.25-28).
William ShakespeareRead
LEONATO Well, niece, I hope to see you one day fitted with a husband. BEATRICE Not till God make men of some other metal than earth. Would it not grieve a woman to be overmastered with a pierce of valiant dust? to make an account of her life to a clod of wayward marl? No, uncle, I'll none: Adam's sons are my brethren; and, truly, I hold it a sin to match in my kindred.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Beatrice expresses her disdain for marrying men who are flawed and earthly, suggesting that true compatibility is rare.
In this quote from Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing', Beatrice articulates her reluctance to marry, criticizing the nature of men as being made from 'earth' and not worthy of her affection. She implies that to submit to a man is to be 'overmastered' by something inferior, as she values individuality and strength over societal expectations of marriage, viewing her male counterparts as flawed and unworthy of a union with her.
Themes
RelationshipsMarriageIndividualityFeminismSelf-Worth
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be shared during a discussion on modern relationships and the importance of mutual respect.
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