In Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, Leonato gives a long monologue in Act 4 Scene 1 after his daughter, Hero, faints from her fiancé’s accusations that she was seen with another man the night before their wedding. The words Shakespeare choses Leonato to say in that moment are telling about how women’s purity, trust of nobility, and honor were treated during the Elizabethan era. One of the first things to note is the way Leonato speaks about Hero recovering. He says, “Do not live, Hero, do not ope thine eyes” (line 119). Meaning he hopes she would die as opposed to waking up, this is a dramatic response to the events that occurred, and a modern audience would find this sort of response very unexpected. While this initially shows Leonato
…show more content…
Before the accusation that Hero has been with other men, all of the characters are considered ones of honor, especially the nobility (Don Pedro and his crew) who have come to stay with Leonato. Much Ado About Nothing does not specifically focus on honor, but instead – in these final acts – focuses on the lack/opposite of honor – shame. The shamed and honored dynamic is displayed by Leonato’s monologue. Despite having raised his daughter and lived with her for years, Leonato immediately believes the men’s version of the story instead of taking Hero’s side. He concludes his monologue saying, “oh she is fallen / Into a pit of ink, that the wide sea / Hath drops too few to wash her clean again, / And salt too little, which may season give / To her foul tainted flesh” (lines 135-139). Shakespeare makes Leonato’s belief that she is truly dishonored when he compares her to being doused in ink that could not be scrubbed off and as “tainted flesh” or meat left to rot. These images paint an unchangeable picture – dead, rotting meat cannot be brought back to life and in Leonato’s mind, Hero’s honor cannot be restored. With the few lines said by honored nobility, Hero’s honor can be taken away. This also implies there is honor dynamic that places nobilities honor as higher than Hero’s since even her father does not believe
Before the accusation that Hero has been with other men, all of the characters are considered ones of honor, especially the nobility (Don Pedro and his crew) who have come to stay with Leonato. Much Ado About Nothing does not specifically focus on honor, but instead – in these final acts – focuses on the lack/opposite of honor – shame. The shamed and honored dynamic is displayed by Leonato’s monologue. Despite having raised his daughter and lived with her for years, Leonato immediately believes the men’s version of the story instead of taking Hero’s side. He concludes his monologue saying, “oh she is fallen / Into a pit of ink, that the wide sea / Hath drops too few to wash her clean again, / And salt too little, which may season give / To her foul tainted flesh” (lines 135-139). Shakespeare makes Leonato’s belief that she is truly dishonored when he compares her to being doused in ink that could not be scrubbed off and as “tainted flesh” or meat left to rot. These images paint an unchangeable picture – dead, rotting meat cannot be brought back to life and in Leonato’s mind, Hero’s honor cannot be restored. With the few lines said by honored nobility, Hero’s honor can be taken away. This also implies there is honor dynamic that places nobilities honor as higher than Hero’s since even her father does not believe