exploration of love in Much Ado About Nothing as portrayed in the relationships of Hero Claudio
An exploration of love in Much Ado About Nothing as portrayed in the relationships of Hero-Claudio and Beatrice/-Benedick At the most basic level the Hero-Claudio plot Shakespeare aims to destroy a relationship and the Beatrice-Benedick plot Shakespeare aims to make a relationship. However, there are many differences in the relationships between the characters. In their relationship Claudio’s attraction towards Hero is purely physical. Although he hasn’t even spoken to her he feels he can confess his love: ‘In mine eye she is the sweetest lady that I ever looked on’ The couple then unite in a very formal relationship. An example of this formality is how Claudio consults Leonato initially over his approval of the union. The relationship is also highly public: the first encounter of the pair is at the ball surrounded by family and friends and, Hero’s supposed infidelity is revealed in front of a large crowd of people. ... Yet is not the case that Benedick does appreciate Beatrice’s beauty but that, unlike Claudio’s attraction to Hero, it is not enough to make him love her: ‘Were she not possessed with a fury exceeds her as much in beauty as the first of May doth the last of December’ This kind of attraction ensures that the pair have a very strong union, even from the start of their courtship. Another major difference between the couples is the time period that is takes to fall in love. Claudio is infatuated with Hero as soon as he sees her – some people think he encountered love at first sight however, upon deeper analysis it is interesting to consider the fact that Claudio has just come back from a war. A sceptical view of Claudio could be that because men have surrounded him whilst at war he has become highly sexually frustrated and wants to marry as soon as possible. ... When talking about the relationship between the pair Leonato says: ‘There is a kind of merry war betwixt Signor Benedick and her; they never meet but there’s a skirmish of wit between them’ This is very true. ... It is not until Act 4, Scene 1 that in a demonstration of comic irony the couple actually admit their love for each other. Benedick firstly admits that: ‘I do love nothing in the world so well as you; is not that strange? ... The audience probably will sense the romantic potential between the couple and, extending the declaration of love between them, prolongs anticipation and effect. This concept links in with the fact that Beatrice and Benedick are so seemingly blind and oblivious to their love for each other that they require the help of a third party to help them admit their feeling for each other. Benedick overhears Claudio, Leonato and Don Pedro talking and is tricked into believing Beatrice is in love with him and so, falls in love with her. A similar scenario happens with Beatrice-she is tricked by Hero, Margaret and Ursula.