Attitudes Towards Hero In Much Ado About Nothing

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“Much Ado About Nothing” assesment

How do the attitudes towards Hero change throughout “Much Ado About Nothing”?

William Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing”, is a comedy. It was thought to be written in 1598 and 1599, as Shakespeare was approaching the middle of his career. The play is set in the 16th century, in Messina, Italy.

Throughout this Shakespearean comedy, Claudio falls in love with Leonato’s daughter, Hero. A wedding is arranged, but Don John wants to spoil it. He manages to convince Don Pedro, his brother, and Claudio that Hero has been unfaithful before she is wed. Don John did a great job to convince Claudio, considering how crazily in love he was. The ceremony is a heart-tearing, dramatic whirl, and surely changes many
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Shakespeare used a very obvious technique to demonstrate Claudio’s passion. By repeating similar lines, where Claudio shows the irrefutable love, it proves that he really means it. Claudio gives Hero a lot of compliments, but doesn’t actually give them to her. He compliments her to his friends. I believe that by telling others, it’s proving that Claudio isn’t ashamed of who he loves. Claudio thinks Hero is the best girl in the world, JUST by looking at her. On line 116 Claudio says “In mine eye, she is the sweetest lady that ever I look’d on.” I chose this bit of evidence because he’s complimenting her in a way, that shows he’s never seen anyone better looking. Firstly, calling her the “sweetest” is suggesting that she is number one, and there isn’t anyone sweeter/prettier. This proves my earlier point about Claudio thinking she is the best in the world, and there isn’t anyone better looking. And by using the infinitive “look’d/looked” it gives the impression that Claudio pays attention to Hero. Nevertheless, I am under the impression that the fact Claudio just likes someone for their looks, is a bit fake. Being attracted to somebody’s looks is obviously okay, but on different lines, he calls it love. You can’t really judge your love for somebody by their looks. He hasn’t fully got to know her, and he never knows what she could really be