Much Ado About Nothing Honour Analysis
The Establishment and Defence of a Gendered Honour in Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing
William Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing is a timeless dramatic comedy that establishes a number of Victorian gender norms as well as their relation to honour through the two main romances in the play, that of Claudio and Hero and Beatrice and Benedict. The relationship between Beatrice and Benedick is completely different to the more traditional relationship between Hero and Claudio, who’s relationship portrays the more conservative ideals of honour during the time the play was set. This essay will analyse the ways in which males and females in the play defend their honour through the analysis of the expected gender norms and ideals of the time. …show more content…
Woman’s honour was generally associated with purity, chaste and virginity. Loss or questioning of these could potentially permanently damage a woman and her families reputation and could in some cases even result in the death of the accused. If a woman had been accused of slander it was extremely difficult to regain her and her families honour, despite whether the accusations were true or not. Mens honour was more associated with bravery, nobility and loyalty. If a mans honour was questioned, it was only through a duel or battle that it could be restored. Many of the actions and activities in Much Ado about Nothing, can be linked to these honourable expectations.
Women during this era were expected to behave in an honest, respectable and modest way, much like how Hero is portrayed in the play. Hero, is getle, kind and soft spoken, and is regarded by Don Pedro as the ideal woman. In the play, Hero establishes her honour by accepting Claudio’s advances with …show more content…
Hero is effected so badly after being confrunted in front of so many people, that she faints. In an attempt to regain her honour, Hero is announced dead, in the attempt to supposedly resurrect after being proven innocent, and re-establish her deserved honour. Enraged by the false acusations directed at her cousin, Beatrice urges Benedict to challenge Claudio to a duel in order to defend Hero’s honour. Beatrice is so enraged that she wishes she could perform the duty herself, “O God that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the market place”
William Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing is a timeless dramatic comedy that establishes a number of Victorian gender norms as well as their relation to honour through the two main romances in the play, that of Claudio and Hero and Beatrice and Benedict. The relationship between Beatrice and Benedick is completely different to the more traditional relationship between Hero and Claudio, who’s relationship portrays the more conservative ideals of honour during the time the play was set. This essay will analyse the ways in which males and females in the play defend their honour through the analysis of the expected gender norms and ideals of the time. …show more content…
Woman’s honour was generally associated with purity, chaste and virginity. Loss or questioning of these could potentially permanently damage a woman and her families reputation and could in some cases even result in the death of the accused. If a woman had been accused of slander it was extremely difficult to regain her and her families honour, despite whether the accusations were true or not. Mens honour was more associated with bravery, nobility and loyalty. If a mans honour was questioned, it was only through a duel or battle that it could be restored. Many of the actions and activities in Much Ado about Nothing, can be linked to these honourable expectations.
Women during this era were expected to behave in an honest, respectable and modest way, much like how Hero is portrayed in the play. Hero, is getle, kind and soft spoken, and is regarded by Don Pedro as the ideal woman. In the play, Hero establishes her honour by accepting Claudio’s advances with …show more content…
Hero is effected so badly after being confrunted in front of so many people, that she faints. In an attempt to regain her honour, Hero is announced dead, in the attempt to supposedly resurrect after being proven innocent, and re-establish her deserved honour. Enraged by the false acusations directed at her cousin, Beatrice urges Benedict to challenge Claudio to a duel in order to defend Hero’s honour. Beatrice is so enraged that she wishes she could perform the duty herself, “O God that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the market place”