The topic of loyalties and where they lie is a reoccurring theme in Shakespeare’s
Much Ado about Nothing; be it alliances between gender, age or couple groups. In this play we see the effects of loyalty- and the lack thereof- in love through Benedick and Beatrice, as well as Claudio and Hero. Although both pairs claim to be in love at the end, Beatrice and Benedick’s relationship is built on much more solid ground than that of Claudio and Hero, as they had known each other for quite some time and remained loyal to one another throughout the play. Although Beatrice and Benedick often throw about petty insults and sharp words to one another, the fact they have known each other for several years and still are on speaking terms goes to show that …show more content…
Whilst they do playfully insult one another a great deal of the time, there are quite a few hidden compliments in their talk about each other to another audience. An example of this is when Claudio asks for Benedick’s opinion on Hero and he comments back about not liking her that much, however “There’s her cousin, an she were not possessed with a fury, exceeds her as much in beauty as the first of May doth the last of December.”(1.1.154-156). He is saying that if it weren’t for Beatrice’s temper, she would be much more desirable, as she is extremely beautiful especially compared to Hero. Beatrice also does the same sort of thing in act two, scene one when she says that if there were someone with a personality between that of Don John and Benedick, they would be the perfect man. In other words, if Benedick didn’t talk so much they would probably get along better. They both like to joke around and tease one another for their faults, but they recognize their merits too. The fact that they do keep bringing each other up when speaking and that they both referenced the other in comparisons of their ideal partner goes to show that there is something there. Even if they were not willing to say out loud that they are interested in each other, there is definitely a feel that they are not opposed to the concept of being a pair and that they may even want it …show more content…
John hardly gets in to the “evidence” to support his trick before Claudio starts jumping to conclusions and thinking it must be so. Instead of holding out on making a judgment until he has solid proof, he straight away jumps on the revenge wagon, saying “If I see anything tonight why I should not marry her,/tomorrow in the congregation, where I should wed, there/will I shame her.”(3.2.103-105). He never even see’s her when they follow Don John, only hears Borachio talking to someone at Hero’s window. Yet he automatically assumes that it must be her and that the fact they are speaking to one another must mean she is also romantically involved with him. Because of this rush to a judgment on her supposed disloyalty he publically humiliates her in front of half of the village while standing at the altar, even making her father Leonato turn against her, because obviously such an honourable man as Claudio wouldn’t lie about this, therefore she must be a dishonest woman. He is quick to judge and easy to distrust. Although he is questioning her loyalty, the real disloyal one is him; disloyal to their “love” by not confiding in her and giving her a chance to prove her
Much Ado about Nothing; be it alliances between gender, age or couple groups. In this play we see the effects of loyalty- and the lack thereof- in love through Benedick and Beatrice, as well as Claudio and Hero. Although both pairs claim to be in love at the end, Beatrice and Benedick’s relationship is built on much more solid ground than that of Claudio and Hero, as they had known each other for quite some time and remained loyal to one another throughout the play. Although Beatrice and Benedick often throw about petty insults and sharp words to one another, the fact they have known each other for several years and still are on speaking terms goes to show that …show more content…
Whilst they do playfully insult one another a great deal of the time, there are quite a few hidden compliments in their talk about each other to another audience. An example of this is when Claudio asks for Benedick’s opinion on Hero and he comments back about not liking her that much, however “There’s her cousin, an she were not possessed with a fury, exceeds her as much in beauty as the first of May doth the last of December.”(1.1.154-156). He is saying that if it weren’t for Beatrice’s temper, she would be much more desirable, as she is extremely beautiful especially compared to Hero. Beatrice also does the same sort of thing in act two, scene one when she says that if there were someone with a personality between that of Don John and Benedick, they would be the perfect man. In other words, if Benedick didn’t talk so much they would probably get along better. They both like to joke around and tease one another for their faults, but they recognize their merits too. The fact that they do keep bringing each other up when speaking and that they both referenced the other in comparisons of their ideal partner goes to show that there is something there. Even if they were not willing to say out loud that they are interested in each other, there is definitely a feel that they are not opposed to the concept of being a pair and that they may even want it …show more content…
John hardly gets in to the “evidence” to support his trick before Claudio starts jumping to conclusions and thinking it must be so. Instead of holding out on making a judgment until he has solid proof, he straight away jumps on the revenge wagon, saying “If I see anything tonight why I should not marry her,/tomorrow in the congregation, where I should wed, there/will I shame her.”(3.2.103-105). He never even see’s her when they follow Don John, only hears Borachio talking to someone at Hero’s window. Yet he automatically assumes that it must be her and that the fact they are speaking to one another must mean she is also romantically involved with him. Because of this rush to a judgment on her supposed disloyalty he publically humiliates her in front of half of the village while standing at the altar, even making her father Leonato turn against her, because obviously such an honourable man as Claudio wouldn’t lie about this, therefore she must be a dishonest woman. He is quick to judge and easy to distrust. Although he is questioning her loyalty, the real disloyal one is him; disloyal to their “love” by not confiding in her and giving her a chance to prove her