Shakespearean presentation of attitude much ado by

1. Claudio embodies the stock character of the courtly lover, conveying contemporary attitudes towards love and relationships, as seen through his relationship with Hero

falonhill — 2025-02-04 12:09:57 UTC

3. Through Hero's character, Shakespeare exposes and criticises the significance placed upon honour and reputation that ultimately limits and oppresses females.

elliotallen — 2025-02-04 12:10:01 UTC

“Speak low, if you speak love.”

2025-02-04 12:12:27 UTC

Hero is the innocent and obedient daughter of Leonato.

2. Hero is seen to be unfairly shamed at her wedding, reflecting contemporary male anxieties and the elements of misogyny present in Elizabethan society

mylesbaker2 — 2025-02-04 12:13:09 UTC

This is shown when Claudio says ‘But as brother to sister, showed Bashful Sincerity, and comely love. This is a simile, it implies that their relationship was not sexually romantic.

falonhill — 2025-02-04 12:15:20 UTC

“Not to knit my soul to an approved wanton.”

mylesbaker2 — 2025-02-04 12:17:01 UTC

A “wanton” is a whore and to be called that at your wedding is very shaming and is saying she lost her chastity before being married

"In mine eye she is the sweetest lady that ever I looked on."

2025-02-04 12:18:20 UTC

Hero is so beautiful that Claudio falls in love with her at first sight.

“That rage is savage sensuality.”

mylesbaker2 — 2025-02-04 12:19:07 UTC

Describes her as a beast and extremely sexually active dehumanising and shaming her.

"I talk'd with no man at that hour, my lord."

2025-02-04 12:19:48 UTC

When Claudio accuses her of being with another man, he uses elaborate language. However, Hero responds with simple, quiet truth.

“To link my dear friend to a common stale.”

mylesbaker2 — 2025-02-04 12:22:09 UTC

A “Stale” is a prostitute meaning she is payed to have intercourse and it’s a very shameful and thought down upon job

"Yes, faith; it is my cousin's duty to make curtsy and say 'Father, as it please you."

2025-02-04 12:22:58 UTC

Beatrice tells Antonio that her cousin always does what her father asks. the words "duty", "curtsy" and "please" to emphasise Hero's obedient nature.

“Rotten orange.”

mylesbaker2 — 2025-02-04 12:25:23 UTC

Oranges where seen as very valuable and exotic in Elizabethan times to to call her a rotten orange is to say she’s a ruined Beaty and it dehumanises her saying she’s an orange.

3.

elliotallen — 2025-02-04 12:27:28 UTC

Attitude toward Hero displayed when Claudio says "you seem to me as Dian in her orb" the god of chastity, but now he sees she is unfaithful and Hero is compared to "Venus", the god of love, beauty, desire and sex. Here Claudio speaks in verse to emphasise the romance that once was.

“She knows the heat of a luxurious bed.”

mylesbaker2 — 2025-02-04 12:33:06 UTC

It means she’s had intercourse before marriage and she knows what it’s like being in the bed after intercourse

Claudio says ‘Can the world buy such a jewel’. Referring to Hero, this objectifies her and shows Claudio’s views on women. It dehumanises Hero and shows his lack of respect for Hero and for Women.

falonhill — 2025-02-04 12:34:59 UTC

“Beauty is a witch”

elliotallen — 2025-02-04 12:38:32 UTC

“Hath Leonato any son, my lord”

falonhill — 2025-02-04 12:49:53 UTC