Examples Of Relationships In Much Ado About Nothing

T In Shakespeare’s “Much Ado About Nothing”, the concepts of marriage, love, deception, expectations, and more are challenged. In the play, complex relationships highlight the strict standards of society and marital expectations. In “Much Ado About Nothing”, through the lovers conformity and subversion of societies marital expectations, Shakespeare elucidates the harsh standards placed on women in marriage. In the play there are many complex relationships. Among those include the lovers, Hero and Claudio. Claudio, a young soldier, falls for a beautiful woman named Hero; “ In mine eye she is the sweetest lady that ever I looked on”(act 1 scene 1). Hero is a beautiful woman who follows the social norms and expectations that are expected. Both Hero and Claudio are traditional people who stick closely to the social norms and abide by the expectations of the Elizabethan time period. They have both accept what is expected and do not attempt to question the expectations. In the Elizabethan time period, there are many societal expectations regarding marriage and courtship. Hero faces these expectations as her relationship

Because Claudio never strays from the social norm and remains young and naive, Don John easily deceives him. In his plan to ruin Claudio's happiness, Don John enlists Borachio to help him deceive Claudio into thinking Hero has been unloyal. He states, “I came hither to tell you; and, circumstances shortened, for she has been too long a talking of, the lady is disloyal”(act 3 scene 2). When Claudio believes Hero has been unfaithful, he plans to “shame her” at the wedding(act 3 scene 2). Because Hero is accused of going against the social norm and marital expectations, she is shamed. At the wedding, Claudio confronts her and her father about her loyalty; “There, Leonato, take her back