Instead, he humiliated Hero at their wedding. In Act IV, Scene I, the harsh events that followed Hero`s humiliation were all because of Claudio`s unintelligent choice to believe Don John, the obvious villain. In Claudio`s defense, he might have been drunk while Don John was deceiving him. However, this is no excuse for his false accusation of
William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing” has long been lauded as an excellent comedy about deceit and romance. However, throughout the play there is undercurrents of reputation and a need for acceptance. This is especially demonstrated through the characters Don John and Claudio. In “Much Ado About Nothing,” Shakespeare uses Claudio and Don John to show how a desire for a good image and to be wanted can affect morals and skew judgment. Claudio begins the play obsessed with appearances.
His plans to interfere in the relationship between Claudio and Hero led to devastating results and of course the embarrassing weeding ceremony. Another point turning deception is Hero’s death. If it was not for this deception her virtue would not be restored and wouldn’t be reunited with Claudio. Also we might question the necessity of some of the deception in the play like the conversation between Don Pedro and Beatrice at the ball. In my opinion deception in this play creates mixed messages and it is up to the characters as well the audience what to consider of those mixed and sometimes confusing messages.
For example, love and masquerade play a large role in the play. Every step in romance takes place by masquerade. Also, love is the positive and more serious part of Much Ado About Nothing. Second of all, wit and warfare is a main theme in the play. They include aspects of the military and combine it with features of love.
Once again Leonato tries to make Claudio show any sign of guilt over having killed Hero. He even tries to play with Claudio’s idea of honor by saying that he has not only ruined Hero’s dignity, but that of her entire
Throughout the play Iago tries to ruin Othello to steal Othello’s job and gain more power. Since Iago’s lies have gotten the attention of Othello, there has been changes in Othello’s behavior that makes Lodovico question, “Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate/ Call all in all sufficient? Is this the nature/ Whom passion could not shake? Whose solid virtue/ The shot of accident nor dart of chance/ Could neither graze nor pierce?” (4.1.259-263). Due to Lodovico questioning Othello’s behavior, Shakespeare shows how Iago has gotten Othello stuck with only one side of the story changed Othello’s behavior that some are questioning whether Othello should rule or not.
Last but not least, they didn’t communicate with each other. According to (iv.i 105-113), “O Hero, what a Hero hadst thou been If half thy outward graces had been placed About thy thoughts and counsels of thy heart! But fare thee well, most foul, most fair. Farewell, Thou pure impiety and impious purity. For thee I’ll lock up all the gates of love And on my eyelids shall conjecture hang, To turn all beauty into thoughts of harm, And never shall it more be gracious.” This is what happen when Hero and Claudio didn’t communicate with each other.
Once her father hears these accusations, he commands to “let her die” as a result of the crimes she committed (IV.i.163). These incidents in the play illustrate Hero’s sacrifice of her angelic and pure character. Hero does little to convince others of her innocence. Moreover, clinging to the traditional views of women, men are unlikely to listen to what women have to say. Shakespeare portrays women 's ranking in relation to men by illustrating Hero’s great sacrifice, and how her closest mentors refuse to help support her.
Love in Much Ado about Nothing William Shakespeare presents love very differently in his play, Much Ado about Nothing. There is paternal, philia, innocent and romantic relationships; all that are key in the plot of the story. In 1 Corinthians 13:4-5, love is described to be and not to be many things; however, two descriptions really connected to Much Ado about Nothing. Leonato’s paternal love for Hero proves itself to not be lovable because of the biblical definition of the emotion; in fact, one of the only true loves, in my opinion, that Hero experiences is her philia with her cousin Beatrice. Leonato’s fatherly love for Hero seems to be proud and purely seeking the best for his child; however, this desire grows prideful and selfish.
She is not an assertive character. Although Hero is an appealing character, her decisions and inability to stand up for herself reflect that she is not a role model to follow. Hero’s inability to be verbally assertive is shown by her actions throughout the play, especially by her weak response to Claudio’s accusations. Throughout the play, Hero is acted upon rather than acting herself, which reflects a flaw in her character. An example of this is seen at the beginning of the play, when Margaret, Hero, and Ursula plan to gossip about Benedick, and Hero directs Margaret to fool Beatrice, “Whisper her ear and tell her I and Ursula/ Walk in the orchard…”(III.I.65-70), instead of doing it herself.