"Claudio does not deserve Hero." Do you agree?
"Claudio does not deserve Hero." Do you agree? When we first meet Claudio he enters with Don Pedro, Benedick, Balthasar and John the Bastard who have just returned from the war, where Claudio had won much honour in the fighting. Claudio is discussing Hero, the daughter of Leonato, with Benedick. He asks Benedick to speak the truth about his opinion of Hero. ".... No, I pray thee speak in sober judgement" Benedick does speak the truth and tells Claudio ".... she's too low for a high praise, too brown for a fair praise, and too little for a great praise...but as she is, I do not like her." Claudio sticks with what he has said about Hero and later on in the conversation says "...in mine eye, she is the sweetest lady that ever I look'd on." Hero and Claudio represent an idealised love. Claudio says of Hero, "...Can the world buy such a jewel?" Where as Benedick refers to Beatrice as "...my dear Lady Disdain!" Claudio and Hero whisper sweet nothings into each other's ears, Benedick and Beatrice bicker and row incessantly. I feel that the play ultimately shows that Benedick and Beatrice's relationship is the more genuine of the two. In Act One, Scene One Claudio and Don Pedro are in discussion and Claudio asks Don Pedro "...hath Leonato any son, my lord?" this could be an innocent question yet it suggests that he is finding out whether she will inherit all of Leonato's wealth
Claudio-'a man of honour betrayed'?
In order to understand the presentation of Claudio, it is necessary to consider him as 'a man of honour betrayed.' In Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing' honour is very important to all the gentil characters. To know Claudio's character and his cruel treatment of Hero, it is important to understand the honour code. Specific to aristocracy, honour meant reputation, status and respect. A man's honour was earned through conduct in battle and the virtue of a wife and daughter. Contemporary audiences would not approve of Claudio's manner towards Hero, whereas Renaissance audiences would understand Claudio's behaviour towards Hero. This is because honour was regarded very highly in their social class, which would suggest why audiences would see Claudio as 'a man of honour betrayed'. Throughout the play, even when the truth of Hero's chastity comes out, Claudio is a respected character who is not disliked by other characters, such as Benedick and Don Pedro. Audiences in the renaissance periods believed honour was everything. Claudio's 'dishonouring' would not only act as a threat to his reputation, but also undermine the social structure, as honour was an important tool of social cohesion. The Renaissance era believed that honour was synonymous with order. It is important to emphasize this concept to understand that Claudio is 'a man of honour
Compare the audiences' reaction to Claudio and Benedick.
Compare the audiences' reaction to Claudio and Benedick The audiences reactions to Claudio and Benedick and very different but the audiences reaction nowadays and in the 16th century when Shakespeare wrote this are not that different. The modern and 16th century audiences first impressions of Claudio are that he is the perfect gentleman we get this impression from the conversation between Leonato and the messenger when Leonato says, "He hath bestowed much honour on a young Florentine called Claudio." (1.1.10) And the messenger says, "He hath bourn himself beyond the promise of his age, doing in the figure of a lamb, the feats of a lion." (1.1.13) Just these two quotes prove that they think that he is this perfect gentleman because he is a good soldier and good looking. The two audiences reaction to Benedick are slightly different the 16th century audience think that he will be the entertainment because this is a comedy the has to be some kind of person who is stupid and is the entertainment in the play the modern audience think he is an idiot a lot of the words and quotes that prove this are said by Beatrice she says things like, "Signor Mountanto?" (1.1.28) "And a good soldier to a lady." (1.1.50) "He hath every month a new sworn brother." (1.1.66) "If he hath cough the Benedick, it will cost him a thousand pound ere 'a be cured." (1.1.82) So what Beatrice is
First impressions of Helena, Claudio, Benedict, Hero and Beatrice
First impression essay ‘Much Ado about Nothing’, written in the late sixteenth century, intimates the expectations of men and women in this very patriarchal society despite Queen Elizabeth being on the throne. Shakespeare conveys characters with both traditional and atypical behaviours and views in this play. While the main plot of Much Ado revolves around obstacles to the union of two young lovers (Claudio and Hero), the plays sub-plot, the "merry war" of the sexes between Beatrice and Benedick, is much more interesting and entertaining by comparison, just emphasizing the use of contrast Shakespeare presents. Beatrice is a very untraditional woman, who outwardly expresses her opinions with clever wit and humour which contradicts the idea that all women should be modest and reserved as Beatrice is quite the opposite. Beatrice develops preconceived notions of Benedick, undermining his skills as a soldier as well as insulting his reputation, as he is not there to defend himself and only the messenger present to support him. Whilst Beatrice and the messenger engage in this ‘skirmish of wit’ Beatrice insults Benedick's stature calling him a ‘valiant trencherman’, this insinuates that he has no skill other than consuming the food that nobody else wants. We also learn of his reputation as a philanderer when she cleverly twists the messenger’s words to retaliate with
Compare and contrast the characters of Benedick and Claudio in
Compare and contrast the characters of Benedick and Claudio in "Much Ado About Nothing". The play, "Much Ado About Nothing" was written by William Shakespeare about two couples being married, first of which are Claudio and Hero, and the second are Benedick and Beatrice. A summarization of the play begins with Claudio and Benedick return home from a war. Claudio asks to marry Hero, but is asked to wait a week upon doing so. In this week, Benedick gets deceived that Beatrice actually loves her, while the same trick is placed upon Beatrice, but in reversal. Don John then decides to make Hero appear to entertain men and stop the marriage between Hero and Claudio. He frames Hero with the help of Borachio, making Claudio believe that Hero is the one entertaining the man. Claudio is then ruthless in the wedding ceremony, bringing to light what he has found out. Hero then pretends to die of shame due to the public humiliation. Benedick now shows some maturity in calming Beatrice down and assessing the situation. The guard then capture Don John's henchmen and they tell them everything that's happened, and that Don John was behind it all. The guard then tells Don Pedro of this and Claudio then grieves over Hero, who he believes to be dead. Claudio then agrees to Leonato's punishment of marrying Hero's cousin, which turns out to be Hero herself. They then marry and Beatrice and
Compare Shakespeare's Presentation of the Contrasting Relationships between Beatrice and Benedick and Claudio and Hero
Compare Shakespeare's Presentation of the Contrasting Relationships between Beatrice and Benedick and Claudio and Hero In 'Much Ado About Nothing' Shakespeare presents two contrasting relationships. Claudio and Hero's relationship is a conventional, idealistic courtship of the time. Principally Hero and Claudio are apt to declaim in verse throughout the play as their relationship is based on this expected decorum of courting. Their relationship is impetuous and emotionally painful as they lack a true understanding of each other. The deception featured within the play tries the strength of the relationship and only the endeavours of the other characters and discovery of the truth that allows their relationship to continue. Benedick and Beatrice understand each other on an intellectual level and use their skills with words to banter and create friction between them. The two characters take longer to acknowledge their feelings for each other and their friends provide catalyst to awaken these feelings. Benedick and Beatrice usually communicate in prose to reflect the unpretentious relationship. Different personalities of characters result in their contrasting relationships. Beatrice and Benedick are independent and they both exemplify a negative attitude to love and marriage. Claudio and Hero however, are naïve which explains how their love for each other is more
Much ado about nothing exploring the relationships between Claudio and Hero & Benedick & Beatrice!!!
Examine the ways in which Shakespeare presents the relationship between Benedick and Beatrice and Claudio and Hero? Shakespeare gradually during the play changes our perception of Benedick and Beatrice's and Claudio and Hero's relationship through; dramatic irony, verbal irony sudden plot twists and other dramatic devices that build up tension and ignite the audience's interests. First, looking at verbal irony, this is most apparent in the scene between Beatrice and Benedick, where the character Beatrice uses metaphorical language to describe Benedick 'no less than stuff'd man'. Beatrice implies that Benedick is a coward, a man of no substance or worth, a hollow man with no feelings. This suggests to the audience that Beatrice has been hurt by Benedick in the past. Similarly, Benedick, on his arrival, greets Beatrice with an insult. After she says to him 'nobody marks you', Benedick responds with mockery 'my dear Lady Disdain is you yet living'. he calls Beatrice 'disdain', a scornful woman who looks down on others, Benedick goes on to say that he is 'loved of all ladies' except Beatrice but claims that he 'loves none'. Beatrice responds that women everywhere 'ought to rejoice'. Their war of wits reaches climax when Benedick calls Beatrice 'a rare parrot-teacher' a speaker and repeater of empty words. Beatrice responds 'a bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours'
Compare and contrast the romance of Hero and Claudio and Beatrice and Benedick.
Compare and contrast the romance of Hero and Claudio and Beatrice and Benedick. In the play Much 'Ado' about nothing (Ado meaning fuss), relationship is the key subject throughout the play. As a comedy it is known in Shakespeare's time to have misunderstandings, confusion and end in a wedding. Much Ado does the exact of the conventions of a comedy, full of mixed up events and confused identity. Shakespeare has used Much Ado to show two different presentations of love via Claudio and Hero, and Beatrice and Benedick. There is evidently a contrast between the love of Claudio and Hero and Beatrice and Benedick, as there is in their characteristics and attributes. Claudio and Hero's relationship being simply conventional and apparent where as Beatrice and Benedick's based on their wit and deeper feelings. Claudio himself being respected by Messina, a traditional solider and a character in which talks in blank verse show us as an audience his importance in the play. A perfect match for Claudio would therefore be a character such as Hero. As she herself is a character well respected, modest, virtuous and talks in blank verse. It is important that we remember that in Shakespearean time, individuals of the same status would wed. This is why we conclude that Claudio and Hero's love is somewhat conventional. Benedick too is valued, however in contrast to Claudio, is not customary
Discuss Shakespeare's presentation of Claudio and the intentions behind the main plot in Much Ado About Nothing
GCSE English Coursework Let every eye negotiate for itself And trust no agent; for beauty is a witch Discuss Shakespeare's presentation of Claudio and the intentions behind the main plot in Much Ado About Nothing "Let every eye negotiate for itself And trust no agent; for beauty is a witch" Claudio, Act II, i, lines 134-5 In William Shakespeare's romantic comedy, Much Ado About Nothing, the character Claudio is a young duke from Florence, commended for his proficiency in battle with Don Pedro's army, and a man quick to choose his love; his first line in the play, which happens to be to Benedick, is about his new love. Whilst he falls for Leonato's daughter Hero, we see his poor qualities flourish - he is naïve, even for his age, rash and gullible, but the nearest parallel to his friend, Benedick there is in the play. Compared, Claudio seems extremely similar, yet without Benedick's superior maturity or academic qualities. Claudio occasionally finds himself out of place, (for instance, in act I, scene I, he waits from line 71 to 118 to speak, as the most upper class members of society there meet and greet each other) as he might do with many high ranking and gifted men along side him, especially in the town of Messina where language is seemingly used as a force, or a weapon, and not just for simplistic communication. The first meeting between Beatrice and Benedick is
The critic A. D. Lang said of Claudio that "he behaves as a hateful young cub throughout". Evaluate the validity of this reading of Claudio, taking contexts in account. How do you interpret his character?
The critic A. D. Lang said of Claudio that "he behaves as a hateful young cub throughout". Evaluate the validity of this reading of Claudio, taking contexts in account. How do you interpret his character? 'The figure of a lamb the feats of a lion' is Claudio described by the messenger in Act I Scene I, being young is a key defence for why he provokes hate in the audience. He is not yet experienced in life as those older than he is. A lamb is young and a lion ferocious, if you combine them they are the dispositions of a 'young cub'. However the messenger is referring to Claudio at war whereas A. D. Lang refers to him being this way throughout. A. D. Lang also calls him as 'hateful'. Hateful in this sense does not mean Claudio is full of hate but he provokes hate in the audience. The first thing Claudio asks Benedick is if he noticed 'the daughter of Signior Leoanto?' this is a very respectable way to refer to Hero and appropriate because in context, a woman was her father's property until she was married. However, it could be looked upon in a different way Claudio might be concerned with position and her fathers' status rather than Hero. Although in context the upper class did marry upper classes and they were concerned with wealth and status and this was acceptable. Claudio did not have to get to know Hero; people in those days did get married without knowing each other.
