diff --git a/composer.lock b/composer.lock
index f209da9..21d1c99 100644
--- a/composer.lock
+++ b/composer.lock
@@ -8,16 +8,16 @@
     "packages": [
         {
             "name": "symfony/polyfill-ctype",
-            "version": "v1.20.0",
+            "version": "v1.22.0",
             "source": {
                 "type": "git",
                 "url": "https://github.com/symfony/polyfill-ctype.git",
-                "reference": "f4ba089a5b6366e453971d3aad5fe8e897b37f41"
+                "reference": "c6c942b1ac76c82448322025e084cadc56048b4e"
             },
             "dist": {
                 "type": "zip",
-                "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/symfony/polyfill-ctype/zipball/f4ba089a5b6366e453971d3aad5fe8e897b37f41",
-                "reference": "f4ba089a5b6366e453971d3aad5fe8e897b37f41",
+                "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/symfony/polyfill-ctype/zipball/c6c942b1ac76c82448322025e084cadc56048b4e",
+                "reference": "c6c942b1ac76c82448322025e084cadc56048b4e",
                 "shasum": ""
             },
             "require": {
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
             "type": "library",
             "extra": {
                 "branch-alias": {
-                    "dev-main": "1.20-dev"
+                    "dev-main": "1.22-dev"
                 },
                 "thanks": {
                     "name": "symfony/polyfill",
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@
                 "portable"
             ],
             "support": {
-                "source": "https://github.com/symfony/polyfill-ctype/tree/v1.20.0"
+                "source": "https://github.com/symfony/polyfill-ctype/tree/v1.22.0"
             },
             "funding": [
                 {
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@
                     "type": "tidelift"
                 }
             ],
-            "time": "2020-10-23T14:02:19+00:00"
+            "time": "2021-01-07T16:49:33+00:00"
         },
         {
             "name": "webmozart/assert",
@@ -142,16 +142,16 @@
     "packages-dev": [
         {
             "name": "amphp/amp",
-            "version": "v2.5.1",
+            "version": "v2.5.2",
             "source": {
                 "type": "git",
                 "url": "https://github.com/amphp/amp.git",
-                "reference": "ecdc3c476b3ccff02f8e5d5bcc04f7ccfd18751c"
+                "reference": "efca2b32a7580087adb8aabbff6be1dc1bb924a9"
             },
             "dist": {
                 "type": "zip",
-                "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/amphp/amp/zipball/ecdc3c476b3ccff02f8e5d5bcc04f7ccfd18751c",
-                "reference": "ecdc3c476b3ccff02f8e5d5bcc04f7ccfd18751c",
+                "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/amphp/amp/zipball/efca2b32a7580087adb8aabbff6be1dc1bb924a9",
+                "reference": "efca2b32a7580087adb8aabbff6be1dc1bb924a9",
                 "shasum": ""
             },
             "require": {
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@
             "support": {
                 "irc": "irc://irc.freenode.org/amphp",
                 "issues": "https://github.com/amphp/amp/issues",
-                "source": "https://github.com/amphp/amp/tree/v2.5.1"
+                "source": "https://github.com/amphp/amp/tree/v2.5.2"
             },
             "funding": [
                 {
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@
                     "type": "github"
                 }
             ],
-            "time": "2020-11-03T16:23:45+00:00"
+            "time": "2021-01-10T17:06:37+00:00"
         },
         {
             "name": "amphp/byte-stream",
@@ -625,25 +625,25 @@
         },
         {
             "name": "felixfbecker/advanced-json-rpc",
-            "version": "v3.1.1",
+            "version": "v3.2.0",
             "source": {
                 "type": "git",
                 "url": "https://github.com/felixfbecker/php-advanced-json-rpc.git",
-                "reference": "0ed363f8de17d284d479ec813c9ad3f6834b5c40"
+                "reference": "06f0b06043c7438959dbdeed8bb3f699a19be22e"
             },
             "dist": {
                 "type": "zip",
-                "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/felixfbecker/php-advanced-json-rpc/zipball/0ed363f8de17d284d479ec813c9ad3f6834b5c40",
-                "reference": "0ed363f8de17d284d479ec813c9ad3f6834b5c40",
+                "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/felixfbecker/php-advanced-json-rpc/zipball/06f0b06043c7438959dbdeed8bb3f699a19be22e",
+                "reference": "06f0b06043c7438959dbdeed8bb3f699a19be22e",
                 "shasum": ""
             },
             "require": {
                 "netresearch/jsonmapper": "^1.0 || ^2.0",
-                "php": ">=7.0",
-                "phpdocumentor/reflection-docblock": "^4.0.0 || ^5.0.0"
+                "php": "^7.1 || ^8.0",
+                "phpdocumentor/reflection-docblock": "^4.3.4 || ^5.0.0"
             },
             "require-dev": {
-                "phpunit/phpunit": "^6.0.0"
+                "phpunit/phpunit": "^7.0 || ^8.0"
             },
             "type": "library",
             "autoload": {
@@ -664,9 +664,9 @@
             "description": "A more advanced JSONRPC implementation",
             "support": {
                 "issues": "https://github.com/felixfbecker/php-advanced-json-rpc/issues",
-                "source": "https://github.com/felixfbecker/php-advanced-json-rpc/tree/master"
+                "source": "https://github.com/felixfbecker/php-advanced-json-rpc/tree/v3.2.0"
             },
-            "time": "2020-03-11T15:21:41+00:00"
+            "time": "2021-01-10T17:48:47+00:00"
         },
         {
             "name": "felixfbecker/language-server-protocol",
@@ -3902,16 +3902,16 @@
         },
         {
             "name": "symfony/polyfill-intl-grapheme",
-            "version": "v1.20.0",
+            "version": "v1.22.0",
             "source": {
                 "type": "git",
                 "url": "https://github.com/symfony/polyfill-intl-grapheme.git",
-                "reference": "c7cf3f858ec7d70b89559d6e6eb1f7c2517d479c"
+                "reference": "267a9adeb8ecb8071040a740930e077cdfb987af"
             },
             "dist": {
                 "type": "zip",
-                "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/symfony/polyfill-intl-grapheme/zipball/c7cf3f858ec7d70b89559d6e6eb1f7c2517d479c",
-                "reference": "c7cf3f858ec7d70b89559d6e6eb1f7c2517d479c",
+                "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/symfony/polyfill-intl-grapheme/zipball/267a9adeb8ecb8071040a740930e077cdfb987af",
+                "reference": "267a9adeb8ecb8071040a740930e077cdfb987af",
                 "shasum": ""
             },
             "require": {
@@ -3923,7 +3923,7 @@
             "type": "library",
             "extra": {
                 "branch-alias": {
-                    "dev-main": "1.20-dev"
+                    "dev-main": "1.22-dev"
                 },
                 "thanks": {
                     "name": "symfony/polyfill",
@@ -3963,7 +3963,7 @@
                 "shim"
             ],
             "support": {
-                "source": "https://github.com/symfony/polyfill-intl-grapheme/tree/v1.20.0"
+                "source": "https://github.com/symfony/polyfill-intl-grapheme/tree/v1.22.0"
             },
             "funding": [
                 {
@@ -3979,20 +3979,20 @@
                     "type": "tidelift"
                 }
             ],
-            "time": "2020-10-23T14:02:19+00:00"
+            "time": "2021-01-07T16:49:33+00:00"
         },
         {
             "name": "symfony/polyfill-intl-normalizer",
-            "version": "v1.20.0",
+            "version": "v1.22.0",
             "source": {
                 "type": "git",
                 "url": "https://github.com/symfony/polyfill-intl-normalizer.git",
-                "reference": "727d1096295d807c309fb01a851577302394c897"
+                "reference": "6e971c891537eb617a00bb07a43d182a6915faba"
             },
             "dist": {
                 "type": "zip",
-                "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/symfony/polyfill-intl-normalizer/zipball/727d1096295d807c309fb01a851577302394c897",
-                "reference": "727d1096295d807c309fb01a851577302394c897",
+                "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/symfony/polyfill-intl-normalizer/zipball/6e971c891537eb617a00bb07a43d182a6915faba",
+                "reference": "6e971c891537eb617a00bb07a43d182a6915faba",
                 "shasum": ""
             },
             "require": {
@@ -4004,7 +4004,7 @@
             "type": "library",
             "extra": {
                 "branch-alias": {
-                    "dev-main": "1.20-dev"
+                    "dev-main": "1.22-dev"
                 },
                 "thanks": {
                     "name": "symfony/polyfill",
@@ -4047,7 +4047,7 @@
                 "shim"
             ],
             "support": {
-                "source": "https://github.com/symfony/polyfill-intl-normalizer/tree/v1.20.0"
+                "source": "https://github.com/symfony/polyfill-intl-normalizer/tree/v1.22.0"
             },
             "funding": [
                 {
@@ -4063,20 +4063,20 @@
                     "type": "tidelift"
                 }
             ],
-            "time": "2020-10-23T14:02:19+00:00"
+            "time": "2021-01-07T17:09:11+00:00"
         },
         {
             "name": "symfony/polyfill-mbstring",
-            "version": "v1.20.0",
+            "version": "v1.22.0",
             "source": {
                 "type": "git",
                 "url": "https://github.com/symfony/polyfill-mbstring.git",
-                "reference": "39d483bdf39be819deabf04ec872eb0b2410b531"
+                "reference": "f377a3dd1fde44d37b9831d68dc8dea3ffd28e13"
             },
             "dist": {
                 "type": "zip",
-                "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/symfony/polyfill-mbstring/zipball/39d483bdf39be819deabf04ec872eb0b2410b531",
-                "reference": "39d483bdf39be819deabf04ec872eb0b2410b531",
+                "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/symfony/polyfill-mbstring/zipball/f377a3dd1fde44d37b9831d68dc8dea3ffd28e13",
+                "reference": "f377a3dd1fde44d37b9831d68dc8dea3ffd28e13",
                 "shasum": ""
             },
             "require": {
@@ -4088,7 +4088,7 @@
             "type": "library",
             "extra": {
                 "branch-alias": {
-                    "dev-main": "1.20-dev"
+                    "dev-main": "1.22-dev"
                 },
                 "thanks": {
                     "name": "symfony/polyfill",
@@ -4127,7 +4127,7 @@
                 "shim"
             ],
             "support": {
-                "source": "https://github.com/symfony/polyfill-mbstring/tree/v1.20.0"
+                "source": "https://github.com/symfony/polyfill-mbstring/tree/v1.22.0"
             },
             "funding": [
                 {
@@ -4143,20 +4143,20 @@
                     "type": "tidelift"
                 }
             ],
-            "time": "2020-10-23T14:02:19+00:00"
+            "time": "2021-01-07T16:49:33+00:00"
         },
         {
             "name": "symfony/polyfill-php73",
-            "version": "v1.20.0",
+            "version": "v1.22.0",
             "source": {
                 "type": "git",
                 "url": "https://github.com/symfony/polyfill-php73.git",
-                "reference": "8ff431c517be11c78c48a39a66d37431e26a6bed"
+                "reference": "a678b42e92f86eca04b7fa4c0f6f19d097fb69e2"
             },
             "dist": {
                 "type": "zip",
-                "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/symfony/polyfill-php73/zipball/8ff431c517be11c78c48a39a66d37431e26a6bed",
-                "reference": "8ff431c517be11c78c48a39a66d37431e26a6bed",
+                "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/symfony/polyfill-php73/zipball/a678b42e92f86eca04b7fa4c0f6f19d097fb69e2",
+                "reference": "a678b42e92f86eca04b7fa4c0f6f19d097fb69e2",
                 "shasum": ""
             },
             "require": {
@@ -4165,7 +4165,7 @@
             "type": "library",
             "extra": {
                 "branch-alias": {
-                    "dev-main": "1.20-dev"
+                    "dev-main": "1.22-dev"
                 },
                 "thanks": {
                     "name": "symfony/polyfill",
@@ -4206,7 +4206,7 @@
                 "shim"
             ],
             "support": {
-                "source": "https://github.com/symfony/polyfill-php73/tree/v1.20.0"
+                "source": "https://github.com/symfony/polyfill-php73/tree/v1.22.0"
             },
             "funding": [
                 {
@@ -4222,20 +4222,20 @@
                     "type": "tidelift"
                 }
             ],
-            "time": "2020-10-23T14:02:19+00:00"
+            "time": "2021-01-07T16:49:33+00:00"
         },
         {
             "name": "symfony/polyfill-php80",
-            "version": "v1.20.0",
+            "version": "v1.22.0",
             "source": {
                 "type": "git",
                 "url": "https://github.com/symfony/polyfill-php80.git",
-                "reference": "e70aa8b064c5b72d3df2abd5ab1e90464ad009de"
+                "reference": "dc3063ba22c2a1fd2f45ed856374d79114998f91"
             },
             "dist": {
                 "type": "zip",
-                "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/symfony/polyfill-php80/zipball/e70aa8b064c5b72d3df2abd5ab1e90464ad009de",
-                "reference": "e70aa8b064c5b72d3df2abd5ab1e90464ad009de",
+                "url": "https://api.github.com/repos/symfony/polyfill-php80/zipball/dc3063ba22c2a1fd2f45ed856374d79114998f91",
+                "reference": "dc3063ba22c2a1fd2f45ed856374d79114998f91",
                 "shasum": ""
             },
             "require": {
@@ -4244,7 +4244,7 @@
             "type": "library",
             "extra": {
                 "branch-alias": {
-                    "dev-main": "1.20-dev"
+                    "dev-main": "1.22-dev"
                 },
                 "thanks": {
                     "name": "symfony/polyfill",
@@ -4289,7 +4289,7 @@
                 "shim"
             ],
             "support": {
-                "source": "https://github.com/symfony/polyfill-php80/tree/v1.20.0"
+                "source": "https://github.com/symfony/polyfill-php80/tree/v1.22.0"
             },
             "funding": [
                 {
@@ -4305,7 +4305,7 @@
                     "type": "tidelift"
                 }
             ],
-            "time": "2020-10-23T14:02:19+00:00"
+            "time": "2021-01-07T16:49:33+00:00"
         },
         {
             "name": "symfony/process",
diff --git a/src/Definition/Body.php b/src/Definition/Body.php
index 1cc1fbf..0f39bf5 100644
--- a/src/Definition/Body.php
+++ b/src/Definition/Body.php
@@ -8,13 +8,13 @@
 
 final class Body
 {
-    private string $content;
+    private array $content;
     private MatchingRules $matchingRules;
 
     public static function fromArray(array $payload): self
     {
         Assert::keyExists($payload, 'content');
-        Assert::string($payload['content']);
+        Assert::isArray($payload['content']);
 
         Assert::keyExists($payload, 'matching_rules');
         Assert::isArray($payload['matching_rules']);
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ public function toArray(): array
         ];
     }
 
-    public function content(): string
+    public function content(): array
     {
         return $this->content;
     }
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ public function matchingRules(): MatchingRules
         return $this->matchingRules;
     }
 
-    private function __construct(string $content, MatchingRules $matchingRules)
+    private function __construct(array $content, MatchingRules $matchingRules)
     {
         $this->content = $content;
         $this->matchingRules = $matchingRules;
diff --git a/src/Definition/Consumer.php b/src/Definition/Consumer.php
index 26c17f8..afab2de 100644
--- a/src/Definition/Consumer.php
+++ b/src/Definition/Consumer.php
@@ -25,6 +25,11 @@ public function toArray(): array
         ];
     }
 
+    public function name(): string
+    {
+        return $this->name;
+    }
+
     private function __construct(string $name)
     {
         $this->name = $name;
diff --git a/src/Definition/Provider.php b/src/Definition/Provider.php
index b3c2559..2a72fe5 100644
--- a/src/Definition/Provider.php
+++ b/src/Definition/Provider.php
@@ -25,6 +25,11 @@ public function toArray(): array
         ];
     }
 
+    public function name(): string
+    {
+        return $this->name;
+    }
+
     private function __construct(string $name)
     {
         $this->name = $name;
diff --git a/src/Message/Message.php b/src/Message/Message.php
index 5df5907..5da704f 100644
--- a/src/Message/Message.php
+++ b/src/Message/Message.php
@@ -8,18 +8,15 @@
 
 final class Message
 {
-    private string $body;
+    private array $body;
     private array $headers;
 
     public static function fromMessageDefinition(MessageDefinition $messageDefinition): self
     {
-        return new self(
-            $messageDefinition->body()->content(),
-            $messageDefinition->metadata()
-        );
+        return new self($messageDefinition->body()->content(), $messageDefinition->metadata());
     }
 
-    public function body(): string
+    public function body(): array
     {
         return $this->body;
     }
@@ -29,7 +26,7 @@ public function headers(): array
         return $this->headers;
     }
 
-    private function __construct(string $body, array $headers)
+    private function __construct(array $body, array $headers)
     {
         $this->body = $body;
         $this->headers = $headers;
diff --git a/src/PactBuilder/JsonPatternBuilder.php b/src/PactBuilder/JsonPatternBuilder.php
index 8392c78..c91a2ae 100644
--- a/src/PactBuilder/JsonPatternBuilder.php
+++ b/src/PactBuilder/JsonPatternBuilder.php
@@ -31,12 +31,10 @@ public function build(): Body
         $matchers = new MatcherCollector();
         $content = self::extractRecursiveMatchingRules($this->content, '$', $matchers);
 
-        return Body::fromArray(
-            [
-                'content' => \json_encode($content, \JSON_THROW_ON_ERROR),
-                'matching_rules' => $matchers->generateMatchingRules(),
-            ]
-        );
+        return Body::fromArray([
+            'content' => $content,
+            'matching_rules' => $matchers->generateMatchingRules(),
+        ]);
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/src/PactBuilder/MessageBuilder.php b/src/PactBuilder/MessageBuilder.php
index 80358a9..6352d03 100644
--- a/src/PactBuilder/MessageBuilder.php
+++ b/src/PactBuilder/MessageBuilder.php
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ public function withJsonBody(callable $callable): self
     public function build(): Message
     {
         $body = $this->bodyBuilder === null
-            ? ['content' => '', 'matching_rules' => []]
+            ? ['content' => [], 'matching_rules' => []]
             : $this->bodyBuilder->build()->toArray();
 
         return Message::fromArray([
diff --git a/tests/Definition/BodyTest.php b/tests/Definition/BodyTest.php
index a5cac3b..68845db 100644
--- a/tests/Definition/BodyTest.php
+++ b/tests/Definition/BodyTest.php
@@ -17,19 +17,21 @@ final class BodyTest extends TestCase
     public function testItWillCreateFromPerfectPayload(): void
     {
         $body = Body::fromArray([
-            'content' =>  '{"some_json_value": true}',
+            'content' =>  [
+                'some_json_value' => true,
+            ],
             'matching_rules' => [
                 '$.some_json_value' => PayloadExample::matchingRule(),
             ],
         ]);
 
-        Assert::assertSame('{"some_json_value": true}', $body->content());
+        Assert::assertSame(['some_json_value' => true], $body->content());
         Assert::assertNotEmpty($body->matchingRules()->toArray());
 
         $payload = $body->toArray();
 
         Assert::assertArrayHasKey('content', $payload);
-        Assert::assertSame('{"some_json_value": true}', $payload['content']);
+        Assert::assertSame(['some_json_value' => true], $payload['content']);
 
         Assert::assertArrayHasKey('matching_rules', $payload);
         Assert::assertIsArray($payload['matching_rules']);
@@ -52,13 +54,15 @@ public function testItWillThrowWithInvalidPayload(\Exception $expectedException,
     public function invalidPayloadProvider(): iterable
     {
         $perfectValues = [
-            'content' =>  '{"some_json_value": true}',
+            'content' =>  [
+                'some_json_value' => true,
+            ],
             'matching_rules' => [
                 '$.some_json_value' => PayloadExample::matchingRule(),
             ],
         ];
 
-        yield from ValueObjectPayloadAssertion::string($perfectValues, 'content');
+        yield from ValueObjectPayloadAssertion::array($perfectValues, 'content');
         yield from ValueObjectPayloadAssertion::array($perfectValues, 'matching_rules');
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/Definition/ConsumerTest.php b/tests/Definition/ConsumerTest.php
index a451b53..9fd6647 100644
--- a/tests/Definition/ConsumerTest.php
+++ b/tests/Definition/ConsumerTest.php
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ public function testItWillCreateFromPerfectPayload(): void
 
         Assert::assertArrayHasKey('name', $payload);
         Assert::assertSame('test', $payload['name']);
+        Assert::assertSame('test', $consumer->name());
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/tests/Definition/MessageTest.php b/tests/Definition/MessageTest.php
index f390ea7..a2b9a80 100644
--- a/tests/Definition/MessageTest.php
+++ b/tests/Definition/MessageTest.php
@@ -20,14 +20,16 @@ public function testItWillCreateFromPerfectPayload(): void
             'description' => 'test',
             'provider_states' => PayloadExample::providerStates(),
             'body' => [
-                'content' => '{"some": "value"}',
+                'content' => [
+                    'some' => 'value'
+                ],
                 'matching_rules' => [],
             ],
             'metadata' => ['some' => 'value'],
         ]);
 
         Assert::assertSame('test', $message->description()->value());
-        Assert::assertSame('{"some": "value"}', $message->body()->content());
+        Assert::assertSame(['some' => 'value'], $message->body()->content());
         Assert::assertSame(['some' => 'value'], $message->metadata());
 
         $payload = $message->toArray();
@@ -56,7 +58,9 @@ public function invalidPayloadProvider(): iterable
             'description' => PayloadExample::description(),
             'provider_states' => PayloadExample::providerStates(),
             'body' => [
-                'content' => '{"some": "value"}',
+                'content' => [
+                    'some' => 'value'
+                ],
                 'matching_rules' => [],
             ],
             'metadata' => ['some' => 'value'],
diff --git a/tests/Definition/PayloadExample.php b/tests/Definition/PayloadExample.php
index 19010c4..9dc3f0d 100644
--- a/tests/Definition/PayloadExample.php
+++ b/tests/Definition/PayloadExample.php
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ public static function headers(): array
     public static function body(): array
     {
         return [
-            'content' => '{"some_json_value": true}',
+            'content' => ['some_json_value' => true],
             'matching_rules' => [
                 '$.some_json_value' => [
                     'matchers' => [
@@ -163,7 +163,9 @@ public static function message(): array
             'description' => self::description(),
             'provider_states' => self::providerStates(),
             'body' => [
-                'content' => '{"some": "value"}',
+                'content' => [
+                    'some' => 'value'
+                ],
                 'matching_rules' => [],
             ],
             'metadata' => ['some' => 'value'],
diff --git a/tests/Definition/ProviderTest.php b/tests/Definition/ProviderTest.php
index 5482214..beb00ce 100644
--- a/tests/Definition/ProviderTest.php
+++ b/tests/Definition/ProviderTest.php
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ public function testItWillCreateFromPerfectPayload(): void
 
         Assert::assertArrayHasKey('name', $payload);
         Assert::assertSame('test', $payload['name']);
+        Assert::assertSame('test', $provider->name());
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/tests/Generator/PactFileGeneratorTest.php b/tests/Generator/PactFileGeneratorTest.php
index 4fa1e1f..fecca3f 100644
--- a/tests/Generator/PactFileGeneratorTest.php
+++ b/tests/Generator/PactFileGeneratorTest.php
@@ -55,7 +55,9 @@ public function testItGeneratesMessagePactFile(): void
                     'description' => 'test alpha',
                     'provider_states' => [],
                     'body' => [
-                        'content' => '{"some": "value"}',
+                        'content' => [
+                            'some' => 'value',
+                        ],
                         'matching_rules' => [
                             '$.some' => [
                                 'matchers' => [
@@ -71,7 +73,11 @@ public function testItGeneratesMessagePactFile(): void
                     'description' => 'test beta',
                     'provider_states' => [],
                     'body' => [
-                        'content' => '{"some": [{"deep": "value"}]}',
+                        'content' => [
+                            'some' => [
+                                'deep' => 'value',
+                            ],
+                        ],
                         'matching_rules' => [
                             '$.some[*]' => [
                                 'matchers' => [
@@ -104,7 +110,9 @@ public function testItGeneratesMessagePactFile(): void
                [
                    'description' => 'test alpha',
                    'providerStates' => [],
-                   'contents' => '{"some": "value"}',
+                   'contents' => [
+                       'some' => 'value',
+                   ],
                    'metaData' => [],
                    'matchingRules' => [
                        'body' => [
@@ -121,7 +129,11 @@ public function testItGeneratesMessagePactFile(): void
                [
                    'description' => 'test beta',
                    'providerStates' => [],
-                   'contents' => '{"some": [{"deep": "value"}]}',
+                   'contents' => [
+                       'some' => [
+                           'deep' => 'value',
+                       ],
+                   ],
                    'metaData' => [],
                    'matchingRules' => [
                        'body' => [
diff --git a/tests/Message/MessageTest.php b/tests/Message/MessageTest.php
index 59f3b6f..bca4352 100644
--- a/tests/Message/MessageTest.php
+++ b/tests/Message/MessageTest.php
@@ -19,7 +19,9 @@ public function testItCreatesFromDefinition(): void
     {
         $messageDefinition = MessageDefinition::fromArray(\array_replace(PayloadExample::message(), [
             'body' => [
-                'content' => '{"some": "value"}',
+                'content' => [
+                    'some' => 'value',
+                ],
                 'matching_rules' => [],
             ],
             'metadata' => ['metaAlpha' => 'data'],
@@ -27,7 +29,7 @@ public function testItCreatesFromDefinition(): void
 
         $message = Message::fromMessageDefinition($messageDefinition);
 
-        Assert::assertSame('{"some": "value"}', $message->body());
+        Assert::assertSame(['some' => 'value'], $message->body());
         Assert::assertSame(['metaAlpha' => 'data'], $message->headers());
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/PactBuilder/JsonPatternBuilderTest.php b/tests/PactBuilder/JsonPatternBuilderTest.php
index abe45dc..c13cf59 100644
--- a/tests/PactBuilder/JsonPatternBuilderTest.php
+++ b/tests/PactBuilder/JsonPatternBuilderTest.php
@@ -23,10 +23,9 @@ public function testItBuildsMessage(): void
 
         $body = $builder->build();
 
-        Assert::assertSame(
-            '{"some":"value"}',
-            $body->content()
-        );
+        Assert::assertSame([
+            'some' => 'value',
+        ], $body->content());
 
         Assert::assertSame([], $body->matchingRules()->toArray());
     }
@@ -49,11 +48,11 @@ public function testItGeneratesWithSimplePattern(): void
 
         $body = $builder->build();
 
-        Assert::assertSame(\json_encode([
+        Assert::assertSame([
             'some' => [
                 'deep' => 'value',
             ],
-        ], \JSON_THROW_ON_ERROR), $body->content());
+        ], $body->content());
 
         Assert::assertSame(MatchingRules::fromArray([
         ])->toArray(), $body->matchingRules()->toArray());
@@ -68,9 +67,9 @@ public function testItGeneratesWithTypePattern(): void
 
         $body = $builder->build();
 
-        Assert::assertSame(\json_encode([
+        Assert::assertSame([
             'some' => 'value',
-        ], \JSON_THROW_ON_ERROR), $body->content());
+        ], $body->content());
 
         Assert::assertSame(MatchingRules::fromArray([
             '$.some' => [
@@ -90,9 +89,7 @@ public function testItGeneratesWithExpressionPattern(): void
 
         $body = $builder->build();
 
-        Assert::assertSame(\json_encode([
-            'some' => 'value',
-        ], \JSON_THROW_ON_ERROR), $body->content());
+        Assert::assertSame(['some' => 'value'], $body->content());
 
         Assert::assertSame(MatchingRules::fromArray([
             '$.some' => [
@@ -114,9 +111,7 @@ public function testItGeneratesWithArrayPattern(): void
 
         $body = $builder->build();
 
-        Assert::assertSame(\json_encode([
-            'each_like' => [1],
-        ], \JSON_THROW_ON_ERROR), $body->content());
+        Assert::assertSame(['each_like' => [1]], $body->content());
 
         Assert::assertSame(MatchingRules::fromArray([
             '$.each_like' => [
@@ -143,11 +138,11 @@ public function testItGeneratesWithObjectPattern(): void
 
         $body = $builder->build();
 
-        Assert::assertSame(\json_encode([
+        Assert::assertSame([
             'each_like' => [
                 ['value' => 1],
             ],
-        ], \JSON_THROW_ON_ERROR), $body->content());
+        ], $body->content());
 
         Assert::assertSame(MatchingRules::fromArray([
             '$.each_like' => [
@@ -185,7 +180,7 @@ public function testItGeneratesWithPaths(): void
 
         $body = $builder->build();
 
-        Assert::assertSame(\json_encode([
+        Assert::assertSame([
             'array' => [
                 1,
                 2
@@ -200,7 +195,7 @@ public function testItGeneratesWithPaths(): void
             ],
             '"' => 1,
             "'" => 1,
-        ], \JSON_THROW_ON_ERROR), $body->content());
+        ], $body->content());
 
         Assert::assertSame(MatchingRules::fromArray([
             "$.array[0]" => [
diff --git a/tests/PactBuilder/MessageBuilderTest.php b/tests/PactBuilder/MessageBuilderTest.php
index e87c667..1d59bde 100644
--- a/tests/PactBuilder/MessageBuilderTest.php
+++ b/tests/PactBuilder/MessageBuilderTest.php
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ public function testItBuildsMessageWithEmptyBody(): void
             ->expectsToReceive('test description')
         )->build();
 
-        Assert::assertSame('', $message->body()->content());
+        Assert::assertSame([], $message->body()->content());
     }
 
     public function testItIsImmutable(): void