Leonato Compare Contrast Essay

The three father figures in much ado about nothing are Leonato the Governor of Messina, Don Pedro the Prince of Aragon, and Antonio the brother of Leonato. While the three father figures in King Lear are King Lear, the King of Britain, Earl of Gloucester, and Earl of Kent. Leanoto and King Lear are both biological fathers and persons of authority in their different roles. However, all the fathers differ significantly in their distinguish roles as a father figure and the way they treat their children. Hence their differences have a significant impact on their judgment of character.

Leonato is the biological father of Hero in the play much ado about nothing and he demonstrates it in so many ways. He has involved in Hero’s life throughout the

play such that Hero appears almost in every scene Leonato appears in during the play. This shows that he has a relationship with his daughter. He is concern about Hero and what happens to her. He influences her decision to marry Claudio even though he thinks it is Don Pedro that has an interest in her. He gives her a benefit of a doubt when she is accused of infidelity. He loves his daughter, and out of compassion, he agrees to help prove her innocence. He proudly shows her off and expresses his love for Hero always. He confronts Claudio and tells him he could die for the honor of his daughter.
Don Pedro is a father figure to Claudio.

Even though Don Pedro is a friend to Claudio, and they are from a different city as seen in the movie, he acts more like a father figure to Claudio. He influences Claudio’s political and social circle because he is politically and socially powerful. He encourages Claudio to woo Hero when he professes his love for her. He woos Hero for Claudio and speaks on behalf of Claudio to Leonato to allow Claudio to marry Hero. Don Pedro supports Claudio’s decision to shame Hero by dumping her at the altar on their wedding day, due to the rumor and false witnesses that she has been having an affair with another man. As a father figure, Don Pedro and Claudio plead with Leonato after they find out that the rumor about Hero is not true. Don Pedro supports Claudio moral decision to atone for the part he played in the supposed death of Hero by placing flowers on her

grave.
Furthermore, Antonio the uncle of Hero and brother to Leonato is a father figure in the pay much ado about nothing.

Even though Antonio is an uncle to Hero, he watches out for her interest in the play. When he heard the Don Pedro offering to assist Claudio to woo Hero. He thinks Don Pedro is interested in marrying Hero and told his brother Leonato about. This gives Leonato heads-up that his daughter might soon be getting married. Therefore, he prepares his daughter on how to behave and what to say if Don Pedro woos her. When Claudio dumps Hero on the Altar, Antonio persuades his brother not to jump to conclusion that Hero is having an affair but should take the advice of the priest to find the truth of the matter. Antonio shows concern as a father to Hero and believes in her as a father should.

However, even though King Lear is the biological father of his three daughters Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia. Unlike Leonato, he could not identify the real love of his daughter Cordelia from the flattery his other daughters are giving him as love. He is not compassionate with his daughters. He treats them based on how they could flatter him. King Lear is only concern about himself as a King and does not care about himself as a father to his daughters. He realizes the consequence of his choices when it is too late. This lead to the death of himself and daughters on the same

day
The Earl of Gloucester is the biological father of two sons, Edgar and Edmund in the play King Lear. Edmund is a bastard son of Gloucester. Gloucester seems to love his children but has could not decide which one of them to trust. He trusts Edmund which cost him his position as an Earl and Cornwall blinding his eyes. As a father, even though he has impaired judgment of children, he later realizes his wrong and but killed himself for what he has done wrong.
The Earl of Kent is a loyalist to king Lear in the play King Lear. Who is a father figure to Cordelia. Apparently, he knows that Cordelia truly loves King Lear. Therefore, when the King disowned her, out of compassion for Cordelia he speaks up when the king disowned her for not flattering him. As a father figure, he is protective of Cordelia and concern about her well-being. He is not afraid to lose his position as Earl even after the king banishes him from the city. When Edmund captures capture the king and Cordelia send them to be executed.