King Charles I changed the name of, “Much Ado About Nothing,” to “Beatrice and Benedick,” in his personal copy of the play. “Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare is a comedy set in Messina, Italy, when the men are returning from battle. As the reader follows Claudio, Don Pedro, Don John, Benedick, Hero, Beatrice, Leonato, and a few others through this story, the reader will find that the most unusual of relationships can blossom. William Shakespeare is a well-known author of many plays, sonnets, and poems from the Elizabethan Era. In “Much Ado About Nothing” by William Shakespeare, Beatrice is a foil to Hero because of their contrasting emotions, opposite personalities, and differing actions.
To begin with, Beatrice and Hero have
…show more content…
Hero is very obedient, kind, and easygoing.. At the start of the masquerade ball, Leonato tells Hero to accept if Don Pedro were to propose as Leonato said he would. Soon afterward, Hero says to Don Pedro, “So you walk softly, and look sweetly, and say nothing, I am yours for the walk; and especially when I walk away” (Shakespeare 20). While saying this, Hero is being kind, giving compliments, and obeying what her father had told her. She has a positive attitude and an uplifting spirit. Beatrice, however, is completely different. She is very particular and bossy. She likes things a specific way and isn’t afraid to point out others’ flaws. In Act 2, Scene I, Beatrice speaks of her vision of the perfect man, all the while dissing both Don John and Benedick. She says, “He were an excellent man that were made just in the midway between him and Benedick. The one is too like an image and says nothing, and the other too like my lady’s eldest son, evermore tatting” (Shakespeare 17). Beatrice complains that Don John doesn’t talk enough, and Benedick talks too much. So, while Hero is sweet, obedient, and points out the good qualities in others, Beatrice is picky, cruel, and points out others’ flaws. Because of these completely opposite traits, their personalities make them foils of each …show more content…
While Hero and Beatrice both experienced relationships in the play, the way they each went about them were completely different. Beatrice felt the need to show her love for Benedick by acting as if she hated him. She constantly makes snide remarks and bickers with him. In Act I, Scene I, Beatrice said, “... He wears his faith but as the fashion of his hat; it ever changes with the next block” (Shakespeare 3). This is a prime example of Beatrice’s cynical remarks. She puts all of her energy into making sure he notices that she hates him, all the while hoping he loves her back. Hero decides to handle her relationship quite differently. She constantly tries to show her love for Claudio, true or not. In Act 5, Scene 4, Hero says, “And when I liv’d I was your other wife; And when you lov’d, you were my other husband” (Shakespeare 100). In this quote, Hero clearly displays her affection toward Claudio, showing that she never ceased loving him. Their actions, and how they handle certain circumstances definitely contribute to Hero and Beatrice being foils of each
Shakespeare represents Beatrice as a very feisty, cynical and sharp woman during the play. We can especially see this when she uses her wit to shock the messenger saying, in act one scene one, that ‘he is no less than a stuffed man.’ This is exceedingly disrespectful to fashion such a rude comment about a man who is just about to arrive back from war. One thing Shakespeare clearly shows us is that Beatrice would not be the ideal woman for most men. To emphasize this he contrasts Beatrice with a weak and quiet character such as Hero who acts upon every mans instruction, we can see this when Beatrice says to Leonato that its her ‘cousins duty’ to say ‘father as it please you.’ Shakespeare makes such a clear contrast between the two women to the extent that Beatrice steals most of Hero’s attention from the other male characters in the play. Furthermore he shows us how Beatrice is perhaps a threat to the patriarchal society at the time, we can see this on page fifty-nine where she implys that it is her duty to please herself, whether or not her father consents. This is unlike Hero, who cannot do anything unless a man is fighting her corner, however Beatrice is willing to
“And when I lived, I was your other wife, And when you loved, you were my other husband(Shakespeare 60).” In the beginning of the play it was overwhelming, steeped in love at first sight between Hero and Claudio, until Don John’s evil-manner took a role in ruining the love between them. And because of this a conflict developed between them, but was resolved when their vigorous love for one another overcame the conflict. In Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare, Hero serves as the foil character of Claudio because of Hero’s dignified, well-mannered, eminent reputation is illuminated through Claudio’s insecure, accusing, and doubtful weakness; thereby, interminably influencing the conflict in the plot.
The difference between Beatrice,Benedick,and the other two Claudio and Hero though is that, these two are very headstrong characters with a different outlook on love, but have very much love for one another. Benedick believes in just being a bachelor and spending the rest of his life messing with as many women as he pleases, well as for Beatrice she believes there is no man good enough and willing to show her the love she wants so she much rather be left alone. But the fact that they honestly want to believe what they say is what makes this get way more interesting. What they don’t know is that they are going to soon become curious trying to figure out what they truly feel for one
Don Pedro and his men return from the war and visit the house of Leonato and his brother, Antonio. This sudden meeting reunites Beatrice with her archrival, Benedick, and it is here that Claudio and Hero fall in love.
When Benedick hears that Claudio has fallen in love for Hero, he is enraged. He thought that Claudio would live a bachelor’s life like him. Benedick tells him that men who are in love are not masculine. Near the end of Act IV, Benedick’s complete change is evident when Benedick chooses love over friendship. Benedick challenges Claudio, previously his closest friend in the world, to duel to the death over Claudio’s accusation as to Hero’s unethical behavior. After Beatrice complains to him about Claudio’s mistake, Benedick gives in, “Enough, I am engaged. I will challenge him.” At this point, there is no doubt that Benedick has switched his allegiances entirely over to Beatrice. But then again, Benedick was relieved that Hero was proved guilty so he would not have to fight his close friend Claudio.
Shakespeare’s introduction of the other couple in question is in stark contrast to the way in which Beatrice and Benedick were introduced. Claudio and Hero are amorously receptive to one and other from the very start. Upon laying eyes on Hero, Claudio remarks of her to Benedict “is she not a modest young lady?” (1.1.125). Clearly, by having Claudio express his fondness of Hero to Benedick, the playwright directly compares the older and more cynical to the more young and naive, allowing the reader to see the contrasting personas of the two men. This is reinforced by Benedick, who after finishing listening to Claudio’s rhetoric on the charms of the young Hero (“in m...
Beatrice asks, Does it make any sense to write and tell him I love you when I have always treated him with scorn?” (2.3.31-34). In this quote all Claudio was saying was that Hero had told him that Beatrice had confessed to her that she was in love with Benedick but was not sure how to let him know That all changed when family and friends helped them both realized they have always been in love with one another. As for Claudio and Hero they are a couple who see eye to eye knowing they are perfect for one another. Even though they had an antagonist that did not want to see them happily married such as Don John, they were able to let it pass and end up happily
However, despite Claudio's questionable motives for marriage, his genuine affection for Hero is made known through his eloquent speeches and jealous behavior. After his betrothal to Hero, Beatrice taunts him for his lack of speech, to which he replies: Claudio. Silence is the perfectest herald of joy. I were but little happy if I could say how much. Lady, as you are mine, I am yours.
the audience as having a terrible secret that they just cannot keep. needs to tell somebody, because then Beatrice will think it is a. secret and not a plan to get her and Benedick together. I would show this by making her seem shady, like looking around her all the time. and being very aware of what's going on around her. Hero wants her cousin to be happy and she knows that Benedick is the person to make her happy.
The author portrays Beatrice as being very dominant and strong woman. I believe she protects her cousin and her family from the accusation that has been projected towards Hero as this has insulted not only Hero but also her family. When she is in the tabernacle with Benedict and confessing her love for him....she shows her demanding nature by essentially forcing Benedict to choose between the brotherly love of men and the loyalty of a man to his wife. Beatrice knows that she must destroy Benedict's former male bonding. Her order is therefore a command for Benedict to support her against Claudio, and represents the only way for them to have a mature relationship. Although being quite intelligent, Beatrice does manage to appear gullible when she overhears Hero and another woman discussing Benedict and Beatrice's relationship. So this can be seen that Beatrice does have a softer side as well.
Beatrice's courtship with Benedick greatly contrasts with the courtship of Hero and Claudio. Hero gladly and willingly submitted to marriage, and she accepted the role of the relatively powerless woman. In contrast Beatrice chose her submission after openly criticizing the institution of marriage.
This may seem to be a harsh and pessimistic outlook on life, but the way Shakespeare brings this character to life portrays Benedick as a funny and caring man who really is not that certain about what he wants for the future. Benedick’s counterpart in the play is Beatrice, who is an independent woman with a quick tongue. Benedick and Beatrice despise and cannot stand each other because it is seemingly impossible for them to have a conversation without arguing and angering each other. The two of them provide some of the more amusing scenes of the play with their word play and mocking of each other. In reality though, they have much in common that they have yet to realize.
Beatrice and Hero are both wonderful and intriguing characters. They develop in interesting ways and they represent two extremely different views of society and what it was like to be a woman in those patriarchal times.
... heart in the marketplace.” (A4; S1; L 315-321). When Hero was wrongly accused is when Beatrice showed this the most. She believed that because of what he had done, Claudio deserved to be dead. She wanted no bad deed to go unpunished and what she seen fit was for Benedick to challenge Claudio to a dule and she didn’t want Benedick to stop until he was dead.
Shakespeare makes sure that Beatrice comes off as a woman who is not afraid to speak her mind to anyone. This is portrayed in the beginning of act one, when the mail messenger comes to announce that the soldiers are on their way to Messina. They start a conversation about Benedick and he tells Beatrice that Benedick is a "lord to a lord, a ...