Chastity In William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing

I have concluded that after reading William Shakespeare’s story of Much Ado about Nothing, that the women’s worth in the play was based on chastity because of the way they were seen as property. The critics I analysed shared these opinions and highlighted the need for a shift in perspective. The critics being Mary C. Williams and Nikki Leibbrandt also focused on different points of the play, emphasising their main themes in a way that founded mine.

Mary C. Williams (1984) stated that, “For Hero, chastity is not just anything or something, but very nearly everything”. Highlighting that for Hero in particular, as a woman had a simple, meaningless role to play. Her only value or worth was to stay pure as once accused of infidelity had, “to turn

Williams also explores the idea of their being Petrarchan lovers in the play. However, suggests, “For Benedict and Beatrice, of course, petrarchanism is a hopelessly unserviceable model”. Supporting my idea that although disguised, the feelings shared between Beatrice and Benedict were sexual, conflicting with the need for women to be innocent. However, Claudio may be an exception as his Romeo persona and melodramatic love for Hero is suggestive of Petrarchan love conventions. On first encounter alone Claudio had claimed to be madly in love, “In mine eye she is the sweetest lady that ever I looked on.” Being the cliché that on first appearance and looks alone, he was bewitched and immediately taken by her. Putting her on a pedestal before getting to know and trust her, leading to his opinion of her to be easily tainted by false set ups. Pointing out that he may not be hero’s so loyal Romeo, who stood by Juliet, after all. It was the height of the pedestal he put her on that meant the fall was too great. Leaving her only hope to gain importance back to be

For Hero it was her father, governor of Messina and respected, elderly nobleman, Leona to. His fault of letting others guide him with their opinions was Hero’s downfall. Hero is the only heir to her family and once accused of promiscuous behaviour is basically disowned by her Father. Infidelity is the ultimate betrayal according to Claudio and to may even the readers of the play however, no one considers the betrayal of Leona to towards his daughter. It really emphasises the importance of chastity if once it comes into question your own flesh and blood start to doubt you. This begs the question should worth really be based on chastity? If it degrades women to the point where death is the best option and tears families apart should it even be considered as a variable? I believe a woman’s integrity and opinions should be considered. Not based on her looks, sexuality or wealth but by the depth of her