LEONATOWell, then, go you into hell?BEATRICENo, but to the gate; and there will the devil meet me, like an old cuckold, with horns on his head, and say 'Get you to heaven, Beatrice, get you to heaven; here's no place for you maids:' so deliver I up my apes, and away to Saint Peter for the heavens; he shows me where the bachelors sit, and there live we as merry as the day is long.
In this excerpt from "Much Ado About Nothing" by William Shakespeare, the character Beatrice humorously contemplates her fate in the afterlife, hinting at a playful disdain for the idea of hell. Rather than succumbing to eternal damnation, she envisions herself at the gates of heaven, where she would presumably encounter the devil, depicted as a jealous figure with horns. This light-hearted exchange reflects her witty personality and the themes of love and life choices that permeate the play.
Beatrice's imagery of heaven includes a whimsical depiction of being in the company of bachelors, suggesting that she values the freedom and joy of companionship over the constraints often placed on women. Her words reveal a desire for a carefree existence in the afterlife, emphasizing her independence and playful nature. This scene captures the comedic essence of the play, highlighting Shakespeare's talent for intertwining humor with deeper reflections on social expectations and relationships.
