A young lamb hiding in the shadow of a lion, a predator in the game of war, and prey in the game of love, wages a new battle in foreign territory. William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing is a play in which its characters are defined by their respective reputations. On one hand, are Leonato and Don Pedro: the leaders of two politically powerful families, whose desires are of the utmost priority for those surrounding them. On the flipside, characters like Don Jon and Dogberry are not given respect due to their lack of wealth and wit among other traits. What instigates the plays points of conflict, and acts of deception, are how these characters deal with maintaining, or adjusting their reputations on an internal level. Claudio, finds himself
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Possessing a reputation that precedes him before arriving at Leonato's mansion, it is implied to the audience that Claudio is a young and powerful war hero, when Leonato's messenger states that, “he hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age, doing in the figure of a lamb the feats of a lion.” (1.1.13-15) Claudio’s first mention in the play sees the messenger metaphorically describing the war hero stepping into the shoes of a lion where other boys his age assume the role of a lamb, illustrating that he is accomplished beyond his years. Where the audience typically looks towards a characters first line to get the best sense of their initial characterization in a play, Claudio’s first mention creates an initial impression that is later opposed through his first line of true dialogue which paints him as a young and innocent romantic; fitting the billing of a lamb far more than a lion. After introductions between families and “war of wits” that sees neither Claudio nor Hero speak, Claudio immediately follows this conversation by asking his confidant Benedick, “didst thou note the daughter of signior Leonato?” (1.1.158) The abrupt nature of this observation and the proclamation of love that follows, humanizes the youthful Claudio, while raising questions of what he sees in Hero that goes beyond her external qualities. This pronouncement is giving context when Claudio asks Don Pedro: “hath Leonato any son my lord?” (1.1.288) in a likely effort to note how much money he could be inheriting through a potential marriage. Claudio’s inference alludes towards an objective for him to gain a reputation that extends beyond his triumphs at war, and Hero’s marriage provides the perfect opportunity, even if Claudio does not feel genuine affection towards
Possessing a reputation that precedes him before arriving at Leonato's mansion, it is implied to the audience that Claudio is a young and powerful war hero, when Leonato's messenger states that, “he hath borne himself beyond the promise of his age, doing in the figure of a lamb the feats of a lion.” (1.1.13-15) Claudio’s first mention in the play sees the messenger metaphorically describing the war hero stepping into the shoes of a lion where other boys his age assume the role of a lamb, illustrating that he is accomplished beyond his years. Where the audience typically looks towards a characters first line to get the best sense of their initial characterization in a play, Claudio’s first mention creates an initial impression that is later opposed through his first line of true dialogue which paints him as a young and innocent romantic; fitting the billing of a lamb far more than a lion. After introductions between families and “war of wits” that sees neither Claudio nor Hero speak, Claudio immediately follows this conversation by asking his confidant Benedick, “didst thou note the daughter of signior Leonato?” (1.1.158) The abrupt nature of this observation and the proclamation of love that follows, humanizes the youthful Claudio, while raising questions of what he sees in Hero that goes beyond her external qualities. This pronouncement is giving context when Claudio asks Don Pedro: “hath Leonato any son my lord?” (1.1.288) in a likely effort to note how much money he could be inheriting through a potential marriage. Claudio’s inference alludes towards an objective for him to gain a reputation that extends beyond his triumphs at war, and Hero’s marriage provides the perfect opportunity, even if Claudio does not feel genuine affection towards