ingent 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.g."she is too curst" This shows that older men didn't hold a woman's opinion in much value, which might be the reason for Hero's reluctance to offer her opinion in front of men. Beatrice championing this view of female choice, not Hero, only further serves to distinguish the positions of the two women in relation to male power. On first view, Hero is the obedient female character, while Beatrice is the abrasive character. However, this position is challenged by Hero's firmness in dealing with other women "my cousin is a fool, and so are you". Indeed, both men and women have much more different patterns of behaviour when outside each other's company. Hero is covert, silent and publicly unassertive in front of men, because she doesn't believe that she will be listened to. Beatrice is the only female character who Shakespeare presents as unconstrained by this restriction. However, the only male character that seems to listen to her is Benedict, which only magnifies the uniqueness of the two characters, both as a couple and as individuals, in that Beatrice is not tamed by male power, and Benedict acknowledges female wisdom.
             In Hero's character, Shakespeare demonstrates the traditional values of an Elizabethan maid, as Claudio says "a modest young lady". As such her relationship with other men reflects this ideal woman, by showing her submissive behaviour. Although Claudio and Leonato wronged her by th
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