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Treatment of love in Shakespearean plays
Shakespeare's relationships
Treatment of love in Shakespearean plays
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With almost eight billion people in the world, it is possible that many have faced the wrath of deception. Humans use mischief and deceit to gain what they desire from those around them. Other times, it is used as a path to escape troubles they cause. Much Ado About Nothing, one of the many plays written by the famous William Shakespeare, presents a world full of drama and treachery to the reader. As he allows the characters to bring two couples together, the evil Don John uses the events to plot his revenge against Claudio. The villain uses many forms of trickery on the characters of the play and disrupts the beautiful courtship that could have been. Shakespeare’s inclusion of deception is significant to the meaning of the work, exemplifying …show more content…
After Claudio makes a detraction about Hero, she faints and worries everyone. Knowing that her reputation is demolished, Friar Francis creates a plan to fix what is lost. He convinces Leonato to go along with this plan by saying, “She, dying, as it must so be maintained upon the instant that she was accused shall be lamented, pitied and excused ...Then shall [Claudio] mourn, if ever love had interest in his liver, and wish he had not so accused her” (4.1, page 9-10). Friar Francis believes that the best way to bring Hero back is to lie to everyone by telling them, especially Claudio, that Hero dies from the actions Claudio takes at the wedding alter. Leonato agrees and pretends to challenge Claudio for ruining his daughter’s reputation. At first, Claudio and Don Pedro disparage him since they don’t care about Hero and still believe she is a horrible person. However, once they learn the news that they is dead and innocent, Claudio instantly feels very guilty, which Friar Francis and Leonato predict. In order to get Claudio to marry Hero unknowingly, Leonato lies to Claudio again by guilt-tripping him into writing and singing a poem to “Hero’s” grave and marrying Hero’s cousin the next day. Claudio decides to acquiesce to Leonato’s terms of reparation and is grateful for his kindness. At the wedding, the ladies wear masks and Hero comes up to Claudio as her cousin. As the plan unravels he says, “Give me your hand before this holy friar. I am your husband, if you like of me...Another Hero!” (5.4, page 4). When Claudio finds out that he is marrying Hero, he is very giddy and excited. Not only is Hero alive, but he marries the love of his life. If it hadn’t been for Friar Francis and Leonato’s plan of duplicity to bring the two love-birds together, Claudio and Hero would still have been separated,
Hero is resembled by Claudio as a “well-mannered young lady” who is content with her own unchangeable, elegant personality. This quote shows Hero is matron, and consistent of her elegance throughout the book and it is because of her personality that causes Claudio to be drawn to her. Claudio on the other hand, admits to Don Pedro that he is “hasty in (his) emotions”, which resembles his skeptical and uncertain personality when it comes to actually admitting his love for Hero. This evidence supports how Claudio is unsure of himself, and because of Claudio’s doubtful and unsure qualities he is quick to believe Don John when he says Hero has been unfaithful. Nevertheless, Claudio and Hero’s differences in the play it stirs up the plot and conflict, but it is their similarities and strong willed love that draws them together in the
In was in Act 2 Scene 3, when Don John came up to both Claudio and his brother Don Pedro to discuss what he saw, Hero “supposedly” cheating on Claudio with another man the night before their wedding. Even though Claudio is naturally very gullible and naive, he first trusted Don John, who is known as the “Bastard,” when he was told that Hero was cheating on him and not Hero, herself. Also, in Act 4 Scene 1, the actual wedding day is when Claudio confronted her in front of an entire audience when Hero clearly states that what he speaks is completely false information given by Don John. Hero said, “I talk’d with no man at the hour, my lord.” (85) The non-exist amount of trust and loyalty they have for each other is unimaginable
...ce Borachio confesses about his and Don John's plot, everyone lays their grudges and challenges aside. Claudio still marries Hero while Benedick and Beatrice also wed together.
Firstly, one of the two major tragic flaws of Claudio is his Passion of love for Hero. Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing says, “Sweet Hero, now thy image doth appear In the rare semblance that lov’d it first” (Shakespeare pg. 89). This quote shows how Claudio loves Hero once again when he hears Hero’s innocence. This quote also shows how Claudio’s passion of love for Hero is not as deep as it should have because he loved her again after overreacting and judging things too
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.
In this world rumors and dishonesty happen to be everywhere, no matter where you are. Nowaday people start rumors just to hurt and insult people’s feelings that later on lead to dramatic events. In the story “Much Ado about Nothing”, we encounter different scenes that lead to rumors and deception. One scene that we encounter is when Don John, the bastard brother spreads rumors about Hero being disloyal to Claudio and Don Pedro to corrupt Claudio’s and Hero’s relationship. Another scene that we run into is when Ursula and Hero have a talk in the garden about how Benedick has love affection towards Beatrice. Later on, these two scenes play a huge role and become dramatic elements of the story. We will encounter on how rumors and dishonesty can destroy and corrupt not just one person, but many.
The title of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing has sparked scholarly debates about its meaning for centuries. Some say it is a play on the term “noting”, revolving around the theme of all sorts of deceptions by all sorts of appearances (Rossiter 163). Others claim it has more to do with everyone making a fuss about things that turn out to be false, therefore, nothing (Vaughn 102). Regardless of these speculations, there is something rather profound going on in the play that is worth making a big deal about: four characters in the play learn about love, and eventually, how to love.
It is reported to Don John by Borachio that “…The Prince should woo Hero for himself, and having obtained her, give her to Count Claudio.
William Shakespeare attained literary immortality through his exposition of the many qualities of human nature in his works. One such work, The Merchant of Venice, revolves around the very human trait of deception. Fakes and frauds have been persistent throughout history, even to this day. Evidence of deception is all around us, whether it is in the products we purchase or the sales clerks' false smile as one debates the purchase of the illusory merchandise. We are engulfed by phonies, pretenders, and cheaters. Although most often associated with a heart of malice, imposture varies in its motives as much as it's practitioners, demonstrated in The Merchant of Venice by the obdurate characters of Shylock and Portia.
Hero and Claudio represent the Elizabethan norm in marriage. Claudio is the shrewd, hardheaded fortune hunter and Hero is the modest maiden of conduct books and marriage manuals, a docile young woman. It is important to note that Claudio is more concerned with advancement in Don Pedro's army than he is with love. Therefore, Shakespeare illustrates to the reader through the near tragedy of mistaken identity that Claudio must learn that marriage is more than a business arrangement and become worthy of Hero's love and affection. Source: Ranald, Margaret Loftus. "As Marriage Binds, and Blood Breaks: English Marriage and Shakespeare". Shakespeare Quarterly. Vol 30, 1979: 68-81.
By illustrating the negative effects of deception in relationships in the play Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare shows how important honesty is in
Hero is asking Claudio why is starting to act really weird and say weird things. “Hold on , friar. Father , are you me your daughter freely? Claudio is confused what to do now because he does not know
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).
The main problem is young Count Claudio. He is immature when it comes to matters of love, and it shows when he hints of his growing feelings for Hero when he asks Benedick what he thinks of her (I.i.161). Claudio cannot come out and just say that he has feelings for Hero, he has to seek approval from his male counterparts first. While talking to both Benedick and Don Pedro, Claudio describes his feelings as passion first (I.i.219-220), and then he says, “That I love her, I feel” (I.i.228), indicating that he knows he feels something for Hero, but he is unsure of exactly what his feeling...