The Character Of Claudio In William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing

All throughout the beginning of the play, both Beatrice and Benedick use sarcasm and hide their true feelings for each other, which is the first example of tricky in their relationship. Both of them have vowed never to marry anyone; Benedick stating: "Because I will not do them the wrong to mistrust any, I will do myself the right to trust none; and the fine is, for the which I may go the finer, I will live a bachelor." (1.1.232–35), while Beatrice says, "No, uncle, I'll none. Adam's sons are my brethren, and truly I hold it a sin to match in my kindred." (2.1.59–60.) Their friends see that they are the perfect match for one another, and plan to trick them into confessing their love for each other. When Benedick is in the orchard, he overhears Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato talking about how Beatrice is in love with him but is afraid he will mock her if she tells him. Benedick believes them, saying, "This can be no trick." (2.3.217.) He then goes on to say, "I will be horribly in love with her." (2.3.230–31.) Later, Beatrice hears Hero and Ursula talking about how they can't tell her that Benedick loves her because she is a scornful person. After Hero and Ursula leave, Beatrice states:

On the other hand Benedick and Beatrice’s relationship is different; their relationship is not superficial but deeply rooted within them. They enjoy insulting each other as Benedick says to her ‘what my lady disdain! Are you yet living?’

Here, Beatrice compares Benedick to a fool; someone who makes his living by entertaining others. As well, she describes him as a dull and unpleasant person who is disliked by men. These lines truly depict Beatrice as a nasty and cruel character but in reality, she is deceiving Benedick and herself of her true feelings toward him in order to protect herself. However, this deception seriously hurts Benedick because although he will not admit it, he truly cares about her opinion. This is demonstrated when he complains to the Prince about the verbal abuse he received during the masquerade party: “She speaks poniards, and every word stabs (2.1. 244-245)”. However, Beatrice is not who she appears to be. Although she treats Benedick with utter disdain and contempt, she has strong feelings for him which she hides. This is seen when at the beginning of the play, she suddenly interrupts Leonato to inquire about Benedick's safety: “I pray you, is Signior Mountanto returned from the wars or no? (1.1.30-31)” This symbolizes her interest in him and her genuine feelings toward Benedick. Though she certainly comes off as a malicious and hurtful person, Beatrice does not want to be vulnerable again and we learn this from a reference made about a past relationship. When

Claudio’s love for Hero appeared very suddenly and many of his actions show that he is very quick to let her go. For example, when Don John tricks Claudio into thinking Don Pedro wooed Hero for himself, Claudio said, “Farewell therefore Hero!” (Shakespeare 23). Rather than defending his relationship he is fully capable of parting ways immediately. It is safe to assume that if he truly loved her, he would have fought for her affection, or at the least, have a formal break up. Another example is when Leonato says, “My brother hath a daughter, Almost the copy of my child that’s dead, And she alone is heir to both of us” (Shakespeare 90-91). At this point, he believes that Hero is dead and this is when Leonato informs Claudio about another person he can marry that is similar to her. He accepts the

            This banter between the men is consistent with the notion that all Shakespeare men want to marry a pure, socially benefiting woman and avoid cuckoldry.  Claudio also does not seem to know much about Hero, thus explaining why he is asking Benedick and Don Pedro about her.  He not only wants to know that his budding feelings are justified, but he wants to make sure that his choice of lady is indeed worthy of his honor.  Even if Hero is fair, if she will not compliment Claudio’s social status, he will not marry her (Ranald 74).

This theme of appearance versus reality is common throughout the play in the number of times deception is used among the characters. Deceit, and misinterpretation of the events causes tension among Claudio and Don Pedro (Act 3 Scene iv). After Claudio fell in love with Leonato's daughter Hero, Don Pedro woos the young lady for him. As Don Pedro does this jealousy arises in Claudio thinking his love is being taken away by the Prince.

In his attempts to find public acceptance, Claudio proves to be easily fooled into believing anything he is told despite obvious lack of proof of what he is being

If Claudio and Hero can be accepted as the perfect models of courtly love, than Beatrice and Benedick's love is easily proven as a flawless example of true love both through an understanding of their characters as well as their interaction.  Benedick, a young lord of Padua, is, like Claudio, a gallant gentleman, but this is where their similarities cease.  Benedick is baffled by the emotions which seize him

The humiliation caused to Hero in the event would be inconceivable to an audience at the time, being accused of adultery would no doubt ruin a woman’s reputation and therefore create difficulty for her when finding a husband; especially for a woman of high status such as Hero. Claudio is being presented as a potential threat at this part in the play, contrasting with the gallant war hero we were first introduced to. This emphasizes how bitter and sinister Claudio has turned, consequently reminding the audience by irony that is he only interested in wealth and status when marrying Hero. Claudio’s shallow fickleness plays into the villain’s hands. Shakespeare uses the threat of Claudio to generate further anxiety in the audience and concern for Hero’s welfare. This scene shows the men of the play coinciding with each other in their response to the defamation of Hero. Don Pedro personally insults Hero during the commotion of this scene, “to link my dear friend to a common stale,” he suggests here that he believes her status has been lowered by what she has supposedly done and rendered her ‘common’. This personal attack on Hero which has come from someone who shouldn’t really be involved advocates the idea that she is isolated in a patriarchal society in which men group together to defend male interests. Hero’s reputation is being publicly ruined here, and at the time this would have ruined Hero’s life and her

In this Shakespearean comedy ‘Much Ado about Nothing’ two similarly obstinate characters of Beatrice and Benedick are presented between the rather normal relationship of characters Hero and Claudio. Shakespeare presents Beatrice and Benedick’s obstinacy towards the rather obligatory act of marriage and also their particularly similar personalities that cause reason for their familiar act of squabbling; he does this whilst also presenting two characters that are completely interested in marriage and who are hardly intellectually capable of squabbling in a similar manner. As the play unfolds both characters remain combative with one another but as love becomes the better of them, they begin to reveal that somewhat secretive sensitivity

Benedick proudly exclaims his love for Beatrice after being tricked into thinking that Beatrice is madly in love with him by his friends.

Claudio is one of the major characters in the play, and through his actions and speech one can see how he is deceived due to his mistrust of those around him, which in turn causes him to deceive others. In Henze’s article, he describes the deception which occurs as “double in nature” (196). Claudio himself is distrustful of those around him, as is evident when he thinks that Don Pedro is wooing Hero for himself as well as how

At the beginning of the play the audience see Claudio as a heroic and brave man. When the messenger appears at the start of the play he says ‘I find here, that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honor on a young Florentine called Claudio.’ As you go through the play you notice that Claudio is not courageous, fierce and loyal man. Although, we notice that he is extremely gullible, as Don John had fooled him twice. He acts extremely immature.

Like many of Shakespeare's other heroes, Benedick has a comic and serious side. I think he combines everything Shakespeare seems to like in a character; he is amusing (his witty banter with Beatrice is where most of the humour in this play revolves around) and he is also able to laugh at himself- he takes in good humour like the teasing of his friends about his cynicism about matrimony. He is loving too, (an example of this is his poem to Beatrice) and also deadly serious is his love for her- he renounces his male comradeship to "kill Claudio" as she demands- he is prepared to give up his current, enjoyable way of life for her. He is also loyal to the prince, in that he despises Don John, but he is most loyal to the one he loves, something the majority of Shakespearean heroes personify (even those who go astray eventually return to their love- Romeo never wavers from his purpose in loving Juliet). His relationship with Beatrice is another ideal held up to us by the playwright. Beatrice chooses Benedick, she pleases herself, not her family, and as a result, their relationship is much more equal and evenly balanced. It is this relationship, and not the other, quite stereotypical romance, which Shakespeare makes the main thread of this drama.

Much Ado about Nothing predominately revolves around the endeavours of two couples, the younger of which in more distinction; Claudio and Hero. As many could say that another element of Shakespearean comedies could be love, it would seem a more defined term is the love between two younger people, this young couple in particular then faces hindrances that are thrown their way, eventually working through them. Whereas there is still Beatrice and Benedick who work to overcome their egomaniacal ways and eventually initiate a romance, it would seem Claudio and Hero’s complications seem to have more significance to the storyline of the play. This is also due to the fact that the elements of comedy and key plot points are in relation to their complications, such as being the younger couple and facing the mistaken identity ordeal. Nevertheless, Hero and Claudio, being the young couple, face a string of tribulations in which define them as a couple, the majority of these, come from Don John’s