The best answer here is the first one. The enter premise of the play is for the audience to laugh at the antics of the characters. One of the ways this is achieved is through trickery, which is evident throughout the play. The biggest way this is evident is with Beatrice and Benedict. By forcing/tricking them into loving each other, it makes it more entertaining for the audience as the play progresses. Of course, the other thing about the comedies is that they also have a happy ending, which is why it is surprising, yet isn't, when they admit their real feelings at the end.