Marriage, in Elizabethan times was more of a business than actually falling in love, and Hero is expected, and it is her duty to accept any proposal that comes her way, “Well niece, I trust you will be ruled by your father” (2:1:43-44). Society doesn’t protect or benefit women, it is controlled by men who sometimes see love and marriage as a business arrangement.
When Claudio asks to marry Hero, (referring specifically to Act 2 scene 1) she is unable to answer for herself. Her father tells her to accept any proposal. During that scene Hero only speaks once, and even then not about Claudio. I think this shows that she is not as infatuated with Claudio as he is with her. When the proposal happens, Hero does not speak and it is left up to Beatrice, a stronger more assertive character, to tell her what to do. Therefore on first impressions, the partnership between Claudio and Hero is a true match of two romantic lovers. Yet the fact remains that Shakespeare doesn’t allow Hero much dialogue. Shakespeare could be saying that this is an example of how an ideal woman should behave in a relationship, but also that a stronger relationship would need more communication.
Therefore, at first we think that the relationship is based on true romantic ideals, loves young dream. However there is further doubt cast on this view when, on the wedding day, Claudio behaves with immaturity, publicly shaming Hero. He instantly believes a rumour from Don John that “The lady is disloyal” (3:2:92-93), without even a thought to defend Hero. This is just one example of his naivety and impulsiveness. His mind has changed several times in the first part of the play, that the audience may begin to question his love for Hero. To what extent does he actually love Hero? During his dialogue with Don John, he did not once say that he trusted Hero, and instantly believes Don John’s declaration. If the audience examines Hero’s character she is very traditional, and ‘loyal’, and therefore it would be doubtful that she would betray Claudio. However, Claudio believed Don John without much persuasion. This shows that he obviously does not know Hero very well and he trusts Don John more than he trusts his fiancée. Their love is a fantasy, not deep or enduring.
The marriage deal benefits Claudio and he may receive money or land, which would give them high external status and respect from the society. Is Claudio marrying for love or for status and money? Claudio will marry Hero, whose father is the Governor of Messina, but their relationship is not the strongest due to lack of communication and confidence. When Claudio, at Leonato’s instruction, agrees to marry ‘Hero’s cousin’ believing that Hero is dead, again the audience question his intentions. He instantly agrees to marry a girl who he has never spoken to, without even thinking about the implications of a marriage between two strangers. He agrees to marry ‘Hero’s cousin’, out of respect for Hero, but he also receives a second dowry for this marriage. Does he respect Hero, or is he marrying for a double dowry?
To sum up, Shakespeare has shown a traditional romantic war hero wooing a passive loyal woman. But in my opinion, Shakespeare gives hints that their love might not be as genuine as it first appears. Claudio’s conversation with Don John also leaves the audience questioning if his love will last. Hero’s love seems to be based on duty and on the traditional women’s role; it is unclear whether she shows true feelings for Claudio. Therefore, is Shakespeare trying to say that a traditional romantic relationship is not a realistic view on marriage?
In “Much Ado About Nothing”, Benedick and Beatrice deliberately provide a complete contrast to Claudio and Hero. Claudio is quiet, immature, and inexperienced, whereas Benedick is talkative and witty. Hero is traditional and loyal, whereas Beatrice is confident and is not afraid to speak her mind.
Both Benedick and Beatrice dislike the thought of marriage – they declare confidently that they would never do it. They are serious, defiant and angry in what they say about marriage. “You have no intent to turn husband, have you” (1:1:172-173), Benedick asks Claudio. He doesn’t want him to get married; neither does he want to get married himself. Similarly Beatrice’s hostility to marriage is shown when she says “Just, if he send me no husband; for the which blessing I am upon my knees every morning and evening” (2:1:24-26). They both seem to share similar views, yet they are at war with each other for the majority of the play.
Benedick, though, shows hints from the start, that he still has feelings somewhere for Beatrice. For example, when he speaks to Claudio about how he feels about Hero, he compares her to Beatrice: “There’s [Hero’s] cousin an she were not possessed with a fury, exceeds her as much beauty as the first of May doth the last of December” (1:1:170-172). Similarly, this is shown when we first meet Benedick and Beatrice together: “ I know you of old” (1:1:129-130). These comments are a complete contrast to what Claudio and Hero say about each other. Beatrice and Benedick’s relationship is based on knowing each other and understanding feelings, whereas Hero and Claudio’s is based on ‘love at first sight’, beauty, and maybe money. Claudio and Hero’s relationship starts happily, where everything is perfect, yet it ends with unhappiness and mistrust. Beatrice and Benedick start off arguing and insulting each other, yet end with a strong, tightly bonded, marriage.
Other characters have to interfere in order to make them realise they would be a perfect match, and if not for deception they may never have ended up together. When they both realise and finally admit they have feelings for each other they instantly seem notably happier, thoughtful, and more mature. As they have had several arguments in the past, each of them understands the other’s point of view. This has made the relationship between them stronger and both of them would be equal within the partnership.
Therefore, Shakespeare could be trying to show us that Claudio and Hero’s relationship will suffer as the infatuation dies, whereas Benedick and Beatrice’s relationship suggests to the audience that it would last, and you can imagine that they would grow old together because of the mutual respect and understanding they have for each other. I believe Shakespeare could be trying to say that women need to be more outspoken and assertive to find real love in a relationship.
In “Much Ado About Nothing”, Shakespeare has shown two very contrasting relationships. He has shown the traditional, idealistic look on love (where neither partner knows or recognises each others faults), and a more contemporary style partnership, where both the male and female speak their minds, and understand and accept the faults in the relationship. It is still within the confines of the system, but more equal and modern. Both relationships show that have romantic ideas in them (Benedick and Beatrice’s romance comes later in the play) and shown that love should change us for the better.
In addition to romantic love, Shakespeare makes several comments about parental love with the characters of Leonato and Hero. With her father, Hero is similarly as dutiful and subservient as with Claudio. She accepts commands from her father, doesn’t answer back, and doesn’t speak her own opinions. She is told who to love by Leonato and accepts that. “Daughter, remember what I told you. If the Prince do solicit you in that kind, you know your answer” (2:1:57-58). The relationship revolves around status and power, as a younger female there would be no question that she would disobey his wishes.
From their first appearance, the audience sees that their relationship, again, is very traditional. Leonato is the respected, commanding father, and Hero, the idealistic, dutiful daughter. Unfortunately, this relationship mirrors Claudio and Hero’s relationship. At the climax of the play, when Hero is accused of being immoral, Leonato, like Claudio, doesn’t think to defend Hero’s honour; he willingly believes that she was in the wrong. In my opinion this is not the action of a loving father. What’s more, the declaration from Leonato that she should die shows that he is far from an ideal father: “Death is the fairest cover for her shame” (4:1:115). Leonato is clearly aware that this accusation is the worst possible imaginable for a woman with Hero’s status. Yet, I believe that he didn’t want his family to be disgraced, and therefore wishes Hero’s shame to be hidden by her death. This is certainly not the actions of an ideal father in today’s society.
Likewise, is Hero really an ideal daughter? On one hand she is loyal and consistent, but is this really a good thing? If not for the intervention of Beatrice who is a strong and feisty woman and a complete contrast to Hero, it is unclear what would have happened to Hero and what kind of future she would have had. Beatrice thinks of Hero’s happiness and not her social status. Shakespeare implies that women appear to care more for each other’s happiness and well being than men do. What’s more, Shakespeare shows how it is the assertiveness of Beatrice that prevents Hero from an unknown fate. If it was left up to Hero she might never have proven her innocence.
In conclusion, Shakespeare is urging us to see that the most successful relationships are ones where there is genuine communication and mutual respect. In this way his attitudes are very modern. Hero merely allows events to happen to her; not communicating and having her own opinion could well have lead to her downfall. Her silence is being questioned by Shakespeare, is it the best way to be? Her undamaged love for her father, even after all he put her through, suggests to the audience that she would be unable to stand up for herself if it were to happen again. In “Much Ado About Nothing”, Shakespeare has shown us many different varieties of love, the most successful of which is when the woman is more assertive, and an equal partner.
Parental love is given a similar importance and is a significant theme in the novel “Silas Marner” by George Eliot. Yet in contrast to Leonato and Hero, this relationship between Silas and Eppie is based on love, mutual respect and understanding. Without Eppie, Silas was unfriendly, taciturn, and unsociable. Yet with the arrival of a child he undergoes a metamorphosis, she replaces his money as is shown by the symbolism of her golden hair being mistaken for his gold coins. This shows how previously his gold was his life and now Eppie becomes his world. He begins to depend on Eppie, as he depended on his gold.
As Eppie grows, she respects and loves Silas, and needs him for support, there is no other father figure for her, and he is the most important thing in her life. Leonato and Hero don’t have this kind of relationship, it is less warm, and they don’t seem to support each other in the same way. Leonato and Hero have a more distant relationship, whereas Eppie and Silas are completely happy with each other’s company spending many hours in the garden together working and talking.
When Godfrey offers to adopt Eppie, she has her own thoughts and speaks her own mind at the right time. If Hero was in her position, she may have drifted along and agreed to live with a man who she hardly knows. Eppie’s closer relationship with her father is not based on power or status and reflects women’s changing attitudes and position in society.
As in “Much Ado About Nothing”, in “Silas Marner” there is a relationship where there is an inability to communicate, giving a failed relationship. At Lantern Yard, where Silas was a respected member of the community, he was engaged to Sarah, a member of the same religious sect. When Silas was accused of stealing money from the dying friar, Sarah left it up to God to decide, rather than confronting Silas herself. There is no evidence in the text that they communicated at all, and similarly to Claudio and Hero, Sarah instantly accepts Silas’ guilt. This is not the action of a trusting partner, and again, the lack of communication leads to a failed relationship.
In contrast, the happy, loving relationship between Eppie and Aaron is based on friendship, mutual respect and communication. I suspect that they will have a happy future together, as they are a true partnership in a similar manner to Beatrice and Benedick. Therefore, George Eliot shows a relationship that lacks communication, a true partnership and an unbreakable father and daughter bond. I believe that the most successful pairings are those when there is an equal balance of communication and respect. As with “Much Ado About Nothing”, when there is an unequal balance of power the relationship fails.
In conclusion, in both “Much Ado About Nothing” and “Silas Marner” there are many examples of relationships and partnerships. Both authors make many subtle comments about what makes a successful relationship.
To sum up, on first appearance, Hero and Claudio are an ideal and romantic couple, but on closer examination, many questions are raised about whether the relationship would work in reality and if they really are in love. On the other hand, despite at first being enemies, Beatrice and Benedick are in an equal partnership, due to Beatrice’s assertiveness and the ease in which they communicate with each other. An imbalance of power is shown in Leonato and Hero’s father-daughter relationship. Her love for her father is questionable, and her silence may have lead to her downfall.
Above all, Shakespeare shows how love changes us all for the better and that it is a driving force in our lives. Interestingly, Don Jon is without a partner or any love in his life and, as a result, he is an unfriendly, hated, nasty and bitter character.
In “Silas Marner”, the relationship between Silas and Eppie shows an unbreakable strong bond. They communicate well and respect each other and contrast with the cold, distant relationship between Hero and Leonato. In Lantern Yard, Silas' relationship with Sarah had a lack of communication similar to Hero and Claudio's, and as a result, the relationship failed. In contrast, George Eliot shows us how Eppie and Aaron have an equal status; they communicate well and therefore have a happy relationship.
Therefore, in answer to the question, I believe that both Shakespeare and George Eliot are trying to tell us that women need to be assertive for a loving relationship to work. Communication is the key to a caring partnership. When in one of these relationships, it changes you for the better and makes you a happier, warmer person.
