Much ado about nothing
How does Shakespeare dramatically present power and authority in the relationship between men and women in Much Ado about Nothing?One of the key explorations of power and authority in "Much Ado About Nothing" is the relationship between Hero and Leonato as father and daughter. The play was written in Elizabethan England, and social attitudes of the period, together with long standing tradition, influence Shakespeare's portrayal of the "proper" relationship between father and daughter, and duty they owed to each other. In "Much Ado About Nothing" it is very much a patriarchal society, where rank and position rule supreme and women are submissive position to men, whether fathers or husbands. This "male dominance" is most acutely represented by the nature of arranged marriage. When the suspicion that the Prince wants to woo Hero is born, Leonato instructs her in what she must do. Indeed, Antonio believes that Hero "will be ruled by your father". He automatically assumes that Leonato has the right to command Hero. He decides who she will marry, amply demonstrated again, when after Claudio's denunciation of her he still gives her to him in marriage. Even stranger, to us as a modern audience, is Hero's passive acceptance of what her
Beatrice's statement that she would "rather hear a dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me" illustrates women's distrust. This dramatic irony is used to reflect Shakespeare's own attitude on what a relationship should be, which is amplified by Benedict's humorous statement that he and Beatrice are "too wise to woo peaceably". Benedict, for the sake of his love of Beatrice, agrees to challenge Claudio and fight for the truth of Hero's fidelity. It is clear from the play that Shakespeare criticises the existing customs and advocates that a courtship in which couples communicate would be a far more preferable way, and which would prevent the mistakes of perception evident in Claudio. Their conflict is based upon perceptions of male and female shortcomings, and it is those perceptions that make Claudio so susceptible to regard Hero as "sinful". However, in contrast, male fidelity is considered as a passing thing, never to truly be expected by any women. In patriarchal society , especially since the play was set in machoistic Italy, such shaming would be unbearable to any man. She challenges authority that men traditionally have over women, and in her Shakespeare indicates another power a woman may have, the power of language. This demonstrates that while women may influence men, they still must surrender to their authority in order for a "harmonious" society. Shakespeare is ambivalent in his representation of love. Here Shakespeare shows than a women's influence on a man can be greater than any other power. The difference between the two relationships is demonstrated by the fact that in Act 1, Scene 1, Claudio uses formal, romantic language, when describing Hero, "in my eyes she is the sweetest lady my eyes ever looked upon on" while Benedict and Beatrice use the informal language of the prose, to challenge each other. However, while Beatrice does publicly denounce the more stringent aspects of arranged marriage, and displays herself as a thinking character, there is an indication in the play that both Leonato and Antonio dismiss her view e. They are portrayed as absolute equals.
Common topics in this essay:
Leonato Antonio,
Don Pedro,
Claudio Leonato,
Beatrice Benedict,
Foul Fair,
Lady Hero,
Elizabethan England,
Benedict Act,
Leonato Hero,
Benedict Beatrice,
power authority,
male power,
1 scene,
act 1,
benedict beatrice,
scene 1,
act 1 scene,
1 scene 1,
patriarchal society,
claudio leonato,
act 2 scene,
rank position,
position doesn't,
language describing hero,
curtsy father please,
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Acceptance Essays
