A project of Dr. Sarah Higinbotham's Oxford students
Literature Mixtapes
“Beatrice’s Mixtape: Me, Myself, & I” (Hailey Hunt)

“Beatrice’s Mixtape: Me, Myself, & I” (Hailey Hunt)

1. “Fingers Crossed” is on Beatrice’s mixtape as a break-up anthem. The song is about a woman whose boyfriend broke up with her, and she feels as though their whole relationship and his feelings were a lie. She sings “When you said you loved me/ Well you must’ve had your fingers crossed,” referencing the common superstition that lying “does not count” if one’s fingers are crossed, as if that cancels out the harm of the lie. This is reminiscent of Beatrice’s earlier relations with Benedick (before what is detailed in Much Ado) and his heart, which “He lent it [her] awhile, and [she] gave him use for it” (2.1.273). However, they both imply their history soured them against each other, so this song reminds Beatrice of their once better relations and how her perception of them as a couple and of Benedick completely changed in the aftermath, as though his fingers had been crossed the whole time and he had deceived her.

2. “I Am Woman” is a song meant to uplift and empower females by highlighting their many strengths and capabilities. It appears in Beatrice’s playlist to make her feel powerful and remind her that even in a world where it is expected that she marries a man, she has her own worth and promise. The singer says “I move in my own timing/ Voice of the future, speak to me kindly/ I feel what I want,” which is similar to how Beatrice views herself. She decides she is in charge of her own future and will not simply conform to others expectations, but move at her own pace and pursue only what she chooses while expecting the same respect others, namely men, are granted. She does not view men highly, as displayed through her question “Would it not grieve a woman to be overmastered with a piece of valiant dust?” with valiant dust as her description of men, and this song would remind her of her own female power in comparison (2.1.60-61)

3. “I Won’t Say I’m In Love” is a song sung by a woman who is trying to deny her feelings for a man because she has been burnt by love before. This would be on Beatrice’s playlist as something she listens to in moments of weakness, where she finds herself questioning whether or not she really has no interest in Benedick. Even late into Much Ado, when the relations between the two have improved, she claims she cares about Benedick “truly, but in friendly recompense,” because she cannot bring herself to admit that she loves him (5.4.87). These warring sentiments are displayed in the song through the lyrics “It’s too cliche I won’t say I’m in love/ I thought my heart had learned its lesson.” Beatrice battles with feeling like she should have learned from her poor previous relations with Benedick and reject him as a result versus not being able to control her heart and its true feelings, so she listens to this song as an outlet.

4. “If I Were A Boy” is a song that explores the way in which men have an easier time navigating the world in some way than women do, from the perspective of a woman. This resonates with Beatrice, who lives in a very male dominated society where women are expected to want to get married and follow the bidding of the men who claim some control over them. She does not conform to this expectation of the “good woman,” and instead claims “Adam’s sons are my brethren, and truly I hold it a sin to match in my kindred” as an explanation for why she does not feel inclined to marry (2.1.63-64). She feels more intellectually like a man, and craves the freedom they hold and wishes others would see her in that light like how she perceives herself. The singer says “you don’t listen to her/ you don’t care how it hurts,” which is how Beatrice feels her community reacts to her, seeing her as an object of amusement without taking her feelings into account because they are privileged enough to be unaffected by her thoughts.

5. “Love the Way You Lie” is a song about a toxic and harmful, but emotion-packed relationship between two lovers. This is in Beatrice’s mixtape because it encapsulates the burning hatred, but also deep passion she feels directed towards Benedick. She explains how once “before [Benedick] won [her heart] of [her] with false dice,” implying that she fell for him once under false pretenses but they have since fallen out (2.1.275-276). In their present, their interactions come in the form of a “merry war” of words which they design to try to tear each other down and challenge one another (1.1.60). The song includes a line that very closely resembles this trend, saying “spewing venom in your words when you spit ‘em,” which Beatrice relates to the state of her conversations with Benedick which are both designed to joust at the other but also fueled by something deeper.

6. “Miss Independent” is a song that celebrates independent women like Beatrice. The singer details these women, saying “She’s got her own thing/ That’s why I love her/ Miss Independent,” which could also apply to Beatrice whose “own thing” comes in the form of her refusal to constrain herself to female norms and in her intellect and wit. Beatrice claims “I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me,” further proving that she views herself as an independent woman who actually has no desire to be with a man or marry (1.1.129-130). This song would go on Beatrice’s playlist as an embodiment and celebration of who she is and her strength in her own convictions. It would serve as a reminder that being an independent woman is something to be proud of, even while living in a time and with others who may think differently.

7. “Respect” is a song in which the singer demands the respect- acknowledgment and admiration- that she feels she rightly deserves. Beatrice yearns for similar acknowledgment of her wit and individuality, which is seldom granted to women of the time. The singer claims “All I’m askin’/ is for a little respect,” which is also Beatrice’s goal which is constantly shut down by the dominant men in her social circle. She is even scorned by the women, who posit that “her wit values itself so highly that to her all matter else seems weak,” as though this is something she should be ashamed of (3.1.54-56). The upbeat sounds of this song and the lyrics being sung from a powerful, booming woman fuel Beatrice to continue being herself and can help to pump her up even in the face of disappointment and obstacles.

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