How does Shakespeare explore the nature of love in Much Ado About Nothing

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How does Shakespeare explore the nature of love in Much Ado About Nothing

‘Much Ado About Nothing’ is a comedy about love and marriage, where a quick relationship nearly becomes a disaster, and a slow progressing one that is a success.

In ‘Much Ado About Nothing’, Shakespeare presents the audience with some sharply contrasting notions of love. In this world, Claudio and Hero are the very models of proper young aristocrats, and their love is presented very differently to that of Benedick and Beatrice. Claudio and Hero are both seen as two young people basing their love on a physical attraction.

To the audience it is clear that their love is ‘love at first sight’. Shakespeare’s presentation of Claudio and Hero is very stereotypical. This is clear to the audience through the use of conventional romantic language. “Can the world buy such a jewel?” Because of Shakespeare’s use of romantic language, it clearly shows that Claudio only uses the metaphoric word ‘jewel’ to describe Hero, based more on her appearance rather than her personality. This shows that in their type of relationship there are no ‘true love feelings’ as we are only shown that their love is based on looks.

Throughout the play the audiences are introduced more about the personality of the characters. Claudio, for example, is shown to take things at face value. This is shown in Act 3, 2 when Don John tells Claudio about Hero’s unfaithfulness. Claudio having heard the news believes him and becomes very angry at Hero and is prepared to call off the wedding. “Far, she has been too long a talking of, the lady is disloyal”.

Shakespeare does this in order to make the audience see that in Claudio’s and Hero’s relationship there is a lack of trust and honesty and this makes their love to be fragile and becomes easily to break down. This again proves that Hero’s and Claudio’s love is more about looks than actual true feelings.

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In Act 4, 1, during the wedding day of Claudio and Hero, it is clear to the audience that Claudio is more concerned with his male honor and his image. This is shown when Claudio criticises Hero on her unfaithfulness to him. He uses words such as ‘rotten orange’ to show his anger and rage, which leads to terrible shaming of an innocent victim- Hero. “There, Leonato, take her back again; Give not this rotten orange to your friend”. By the use of harsh words that Claudio uses in this Act, shows a big contrast in the passion and ...

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