Claudio And Benedick In Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing

When a person is faced with a problem, he or she will either trust in the advice of those closest to them or trust in those they immaturely believe are dependable and true. In William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, Benedick and Claudio, young soldiers, are suitors to cousins Beatrice and Hero, respectively. Claudio wishes to marry Hero, the daughter of Leonato, upon his return from war, but his plans are upset when he is tricked by Don John, the brother of the Prince, into believing that Hero has been unfaithful. Meanwhile, Benedick and Beatrice are fooled by their friends and family into admitting they love one another. Claudio comes to realize that he was in the wrong, but believes Hero is dead as she has faked her death. He agrees

Benedick does not question Beatrice's judgement and trusts in her:

BENEDICK. Think you in your soul the Count Claudio hath wronged Hero?

BEATRICE. Yea, as sure as I have a thought or a soul.

BENEDICK. Enough, I am engaged; I will challenge him. I will kiss your hand, and so I leave you. By this hand, Claudio shall render me a dear account. As you hear of me, so think of me. Go, comfort your cousin: I must say she is dead: and so, farewell. (4.1.343-50)

Benedick and Claudio are dear, if not best, friends, and Benedick is a righteous man who would never wrongfully accuse anyone, let alone his friend. He is hesitant to believe that Claudio is the one to blame for Hero's defamation, but he trusts completely in Beatrice and her judgement. Benedick agrees to challenge Claudio not out of love for Beatrice, but because he knows her and he knows that she has excellent powers of reasoning. Don John tells the Prince and Claudio that Hero has been unfaithful:

DON JOHN. I came hither to tell you; and, circumstances shortened, for she has been too long a-talking of, the lady is disloyal.

CLAUDIO. Who,

I will not think it.

DON JOHN. If you dare not trust that you see, confess not that you know. If you will follow me, I will show you enough, and when you have seen more and heard more, proceed accordingly.

CLAUDIO. If I see anything tonight why I should not marry her, tomorrow in the congregation, where I should wed, there will I shame her. (3.3.95-100,110-18)

Claudio does not question the harmful information he is presented with, nor does he even ask for proof, and yet he immediately jumps on the opportunity to think the worst of Hero and makes the decision to publicly shame Hero in front of everyone she knows and holds dear. Claudio is understandably hurt by Hero's possible disloyalty, but he rushes to the conclusion that Don John's information is accurate instead of trusting in Hero's character and morals. Claudio has a deep lack of trust in those closest to him, especially in that of Hero, the woman he claims to love, while Benedick takes the judgment of those around him to heart, especially Beatrice's who he knows has a moral conscience and a good judgement of