Chains of Love. In Shakespeares play, Much Ado About Nothing, two couples develop throughout the story, Claudio and Hero, along with Benedick and Beatrice.

        Another strengthening quality in their relationship is the trust they have for each other. Claudio does not trust Hero from the start of their relationship. Before he even saw the “proof” that showed her betrayal, he was planning out how he would get back at her for the crime. He says, “If I see anything tonight why I should not/ marry her, tomorrow in the congregation, where I/ should wed, there will I shame her” (III, ii, 117-119). Benedick, on the other hand, went against what his best friend believed and trusted that Beatrice was telling the truth about Hero. He agreed that Hero was wrongly accused, despite the “proof” and despite his best friend’s word. He chose to trust Beatrice. This shows how amazingly strong their bond is. He stayed to comfort Beatrice and gave up his best friend for her. He showed that she was the closest person to the center of his universe, by trusting her over his fellow soldiers, and best friends. This also represents another important quality.

        The quality that makes their relationship so invincible compared to Hero and Claudio’s, is their devotion for each other. Claudio and Hero show that their devotion goes as far as the words they say. Beatrice and Benedick, however, show that their devotion runs deeper, through actions. Benedick loves Beatrice so much that he agrees to kill his best friend for her. He says that he will do anything for her, and that he is not exaggerating. At the end of the play, it is even discovered that they are writing sonnets for each other. Their every move shows how deeply they love each other. Compare that to Claudio and Hero’s love. When Claudio learns that Hero is dead, he shows no remorse or sympathy for her at all. It does not do so much as phase him, because she is not innocent anymore. He only loves the good things about her, her innocence. Beatrice and Benedick clearly love each other for the good and bad things they each have. They even tell each other this during a particular conversation. Benedick says, “…And I pray thee now tell me, for which of my/ bad parts didst thou first fall in love with me?” Beatrice answers, “For them all together, which maintained so/ politic a state of evil that they will not admit any good/ part to intermingle with them” (V, ii, 57-61). They love all of each other, and that is true devotion. Love is breakable when only the good side is loved, just as Claudio and Hero’s love is clearly not going to last. Benedick and Beatrice have nothing to lose because they stay the same, but surrender to one another.

        The relationship that Beatrice and Benedick have will most likely survive for a much longer time then Claudio and Hero’s. They make up a stronger chain because they are both strong links by themselves. They can survive many rough roads because they have complete trust in one another. They are committed enough to survive because their every word and action shows that they are completely devoted to each other. In conclusion, they have everything necessary in their relationship that none of the links are week. There are no breaking points in the chain. They are a permanent chain of love.