The theme of love and romance is approached through the relationships of two distinctly contrasting couples in Much Ado About Nothing. The unexpected relationship of Beatrice and Benedick juxtaposes the more idealised love between Hero and Claudio. Beatrice, Benedick, Hero and Claudio are the immediate protagonists of the play-a story of how deception interrupts or spurs love between two very different couples.
Young love is a flame; very pretty, often very hot and fierce but still only light and flickering. The love of the older and disciplined heart is as coals, deep-burning, unquenchable, a quotation by Henry Ward Beecher, an American preacher. I feel it relevant to the play Much Ado About Nothing as it illustrates two different kinds of love; young and old-and the vast difference between a young, inexperienced couple, like Hero and Claudio, and an older, wiser and more disciplined couple like Beatrice and Benedick.
William Shakespeare had frequently explored the boundaries of love though his plays and sonnets. Shakespeare uses typical slapstick humour to demonstrate that falling in love is trickery as he tells the story of the two pairs of lovers. The trickery of love plays a proverbial role in Much Ado About Nothing. Beatrice and Benedick, having initially an antagonistic view on marriage, are deceived into loving one another, whilst Claudio deceives himself by allowing Don Pedro to woo Hero for him and by believing Don John the Bastard that Hero had been unfaithful the night before they wed. This portrays young Claudio as passive, flippant and inexperienced.
The love between Hero and Claudio begins almost immediately when the young soldier Claudio returns from war, realising that he is deeply in love with Hero and wants to ask her father for permission to marry her.
It is evident women in the early 1600s had no authority over men as Elizabethan times were very patriarchal. Hero is instructed how to answer the princes offer, as it was the womans duty to agree with a man and respond obligingly, proving that to marry for social betterment and not true love is the norm. Beatrice states, Yes, faith, it is my cousin's duty to make curtsy and say 'Father, as it please you. Defining Hero as weak, passive and accommodating. However, Beatrice herself doesnt conform to Elizabethan manner; not wanting to be controlled by a man she rebelliously declares, I cannot be a man, therefore I will die a woman with grieving. However Hero has to obey her fathers wishes and marry Claudio whether she wished to or not. Does that prove that the marriage between Claudio and Hero was inevitable, and not true love? Antonio also conforms to typical behaviour well niece I trust you will be ruled by your father where it is expected that she will obediently conform to her fathers wishes.
Beatrice and Benedicks love however, grows over a long period. They are presented as equals; equal in intelligence, in wit and in experience. From the beginning, Beatrice shows her feisty character by boldly interrupting the mens conversation. As the principal aggressor, she maintains a merry war of wit with a soldier from Padua, Benedick. Not only does she consistently criticise his manhood and courage in her verbal jousting, but also she suggests Benedick must have been inefficient and cowardly at war. Beatrice calls him Signor Mountanto, a scathing insult big-mouth to which Benedick retorts, She speaks poniards and every word stabs. She aims from the beginning to ridicule and slander the name of Benedick, mocking male vanity. Jibbing at him I wonder that you will still be talking signor Benedick; nobody marks you. Beatrice attempts to demean his presence. I believe her motivation for her hating for Benedick is an emotional scar from the pain of a past rejection by Benedick. We learn little of these two characters pasts but there are some hints to a precedent relationship between the couple. Don Pedro tells Beatrice, You have lost the heart of Signor Benedick to which Beatrice replies, Once before he won it of me with false dice; he lent it me a while and I gave him use for it. The quotation, You always end on a jades trick. I know you of old, suggests their bantering and repartee has been ongoing a long time and Beatrice feels she knows Benedicks flaws. This gives their relationship a depth and credibility because of its historicity and longevity that Hero and Claudios relationship is lacking.
Only an equal in wit would happily tie down Benedick. Thou and I are too wise to woo peaceably. Beatrice and Benedick realise one anothers faults, and accept them as a part of marriage; something they must endure- like Beatrices sharp tongue, because of their deep love for each other.
Beatrice is cynical, sharp and wont submit to the will of a controlling husband, but also appears vunerable-for she weakness upon hearing of Benedicks love for her. She is described as pleasant spirited but too curst. Another similarity between the two is their detestation for marriage. Beatrice shows she is not wanting to be loved in the simile, Id rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me, showing her independence and strength as a woman in a patriarchal society. As Benedick believes women to be deceivers, refusing to marry with the resolute declaration, I will do myself right to trust none; I will live a bachelor. Benedick subsequently contradicts himself, later needing an excuse to marry, rationalising by justifying his feelings for Beatrice, the world must be peopled. When I said I would die a bachelor, I did not think I would live till I were married.
Beatrice talks openly and jestingly with Benedick, a verbal duel, engaging in witty repartee, showing she feels worthy to argue her merits and his weaknesses. However, Beatrice has respect for Don Pedro, for she politely dismisses his proposal, showing she feels unworthy to be his wife. No, my lord, unless I might have another for working days. Your grace is too costly to wear everyday.
The couple Hero and Claudios love is more romantic and idealised. The impulsive Claudio sees Hero as his virgin of pureness, and this feeling is central to his love for her. Claudio conforms to the image of the courtly lover, and appears so besotted by Hero that when asked about when he plans to wed her, Claudio declares that he wishes to do it "tomorrow although he is told by Leonato to wait a while longer. Claudio does not put an immense amount of thought into his choice when he plans to dive headfirst into matrimony.
Claudio speaks with verbose, exaggerated language, Can the world buy such a jewel? making no comment on Heros character, as he is yet to speak to her, in fact few words come between the loving couple. Their love seems more visual Love at first sight In mine eye she is the sweetest lady I have ever looked on. Eye refers to Claudio judging by looks and beauty- and not with his heart. Claudio also has other motives to marry Hero other than her charm. Some that print to his mercenary and strategic nature. Hath Leonato any son my lord? to which Don Pedro replies "No child but Hero. She's his only heir." Claudio is careful to ask if Hero stands to inherit her father's wealth, showing his professed love is shallow and untrue-almost fictional. Throughout the play, Hero and Claudio have no moments of romance or true desire and never speak directly of their love to one another. Claudio speaks in artificial blank verse, signifying emptiness in their relationship.
There is a certain illusion at the beginning of the play because of Benedicks harsh comments, My lady distain compared to Claudio loving Hero, Can the world buy such a jewel? Benedick and Beatrices feelings change dramatically after they are fooled into thinking each loves the other. Their love proves the truer and the more mature, convectional relationship. A self-gratifying relationship, based on mutual respect, honesty, true love and admiration-I do love nothing in the world as so well as you. They are quick to confess their love. This is the ultimate turning point of the play. Beatrice is generous and loving toward Benedick. Beatrice is also quick to follow the path of marriage upon hearing the love Benedick has for her. Contempt farewell! And maiden pride adieuBenedick love on, I will requite thee taming my wild heart into thy loving hand. Beatrice accepts she has been too proud and takes pity by loving Benedick. Each declares their own love in ridiculing the other, for Benedick states, Our own hands against our hearts. Come I will have thee; but, by this light, I take thee for pity! Beatrice replies jestingly I would not deny theefor I hear you were in a consumption. But also Benedick tries to prove his love for Beatrice; Come bid me do anything for thee Beatrice replies, kill Claudio Benedick tells her, Ha not for the wide world! but finally Benedick trusts Beatrices words Think you in your soul the count hath wronged Hero? Enough I am engaged I will challenge him and does as he is told. Love still hasnt weakened Beatrices female solidarity.
Trust in a partner is a valuable asset for a marriage; something I believe Hero and Claudio lack for Claudio is very quick to believe Hero is unfaithful, and to consent to another bride at the end. He is nave, rash to pass judgement and suspicious by nature. Claudio speaks in self-pitying verse when he hears this and hands Hero back harshly to her father, calling her a rotten orange. When his perfect image of Hero is corrupted, his love for her fades very quickly, and before doubting his source, he talks of slandering her publicly, where I should wed, there I will shame her where he said, beauty is a witch admitting he fell for her superficial beauty.
When he found he wronged the dead Hero, and begins to remorse, Claudio appears genuinely in love with her, for the first time since hearing slander of her. There is pathos in Claudio mourning for the death of Hero.
Claudio is altogether very confused with his feelings towards Hero, making their relationship naturally more difficult, before stating, Lady, as you are mine, I am yours. Hero is the victim of the deception as she is forever loyal, sweet and innocent. However Claudio wins Hero's love in the end and she quickly forgives him. Hero says on her second wedding day, "and when I liv'd, I was your other wife; and when you lov'd, you where my other husband.
Claudio and Hero represent romantic love that is flawed, and it is not until Claudio's romantic and idealised perception of love is destroyed, that he learns of the true meaning of love. Their romance almost turns into a tragedy save for the final turn of events.
Benedick and Beatrice are forever happy in their merry war from the beginning when they learned of their love for each other, they both were willing to change their views and accept the other as their partner. I will die a bachelor Benedick insists, as Don Pedro retorts I shall see thee, ere I die look pale with love foreshadows the marriage of Benedick. For when he hears Beatrice is in love with him, he is open to all suggestions Love me? Why, it must be requited and wise, but for loving me a self-deprecating comment. He is still insistent on returning this love; with no negativity he conforms immediately, still knowing he will get humiliated in contradicting his former view on marriage. Love softens Benedicts heart as it hardens Claudios.
The contrast this has with the character Claudio is that he changes the least in character throughout Much Ado About Nothing, as in the end; he is his still his flippant, melodramatic, infatuated self, agreeing with what seems normal, and not questioning his position, in marrying another woman after mourning for his past love Hero.
Despite the shame being lifted on Hero, as she was innocent, the audience can expect Claudio and Heros marriage to be less successful than the marriage of Benedick and Beatrice as their relationship is less trusting and pragmatic.
However, from the beginning, the apparent distaste Beatrice has for Benedick leads the audience to suspect they may eventually marry, through irony. The tension between the two is crucial to the humour of the play. Their merry war of wits proves Benedick and Beatrice perfect for each other, they are equally matched, but not knowing of their love for one another disguises their love for loathing, Beatrices later enraged affection for Benedick.
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