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Pride In Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing

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Pride is an important theme in Much Ado About Nothing. The characters in this play often have their pride wounded, each in different ways. Benedick and Beatrice are moved to fall in love with each other when they are accused of being too prideful. Claudio’s pride is wounded when he almost marries a woman that he believes to be disloyal. Hero and Leonato’s pride is extremely damaged when Hero is publicly shamed by Claudio. The pride in these characters either brings together relationships or tears them apart.
“But it is certain I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted; and I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart, for truly I love none.” (Shakespeare, 6). Benedick is obviously prideful that so many women love him.

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