Last weekend, my Mother, two sisters and I watched one of Kenneth Branagh’s fantastic movies, Much Ado About Nothing - not the sort of movie one should watch when one does not have a love interest, and we are all single!
We started to compare Hero and Claudio’s relationship with Beatrice and Benedick’s. My mum decided without question that she would rather have her life follow the same path as Beatrice. She admires her strength and wit, and (being a divorcee of 4 years) ability to be happy without waiting for a man. I would prefer my life to follow the path of sweet, modest, romantic Hero. Even though she is so wronged, the movie ends with her marriage to a man hopelessly devoted to her (and who has hopefully learned to ask questions before making accusations).
I see in Hero a lot of qualities that we as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints are encouraged to cultivate. Humility, compassion, forgiveness. I want to believe that I won’t need Beatrice’s willingness to remain unmarried if she doesn’t meet her match, and I worry that if I encourage too much of her strength, I will scare off all potential suitors. I dream of marriage to a good, sweet man. A leader and patriarch, for whom I can be a helpmeet. I want the fairytale.
But, I know that my dream would not really satisfy me. I always wake up in the morning smart, sarcastic, strong and I need a man that can cater to that. I just pray that he really exists!