Lesson 1 Thought question 3: "The Benedick"

In act 1 scene 1 Beatrice heard that Claudio had become friends with Benedick she called Benedick "the Benedick" as if he were some sort of disease. She said that he was easy to catch, but one could spend a fortune and still not get rid of him. This is ironic because very soon in the play, she will be "infected" by his strange disease.