Much Ado About Nothing Social Norms Quotes

The Status Quo During this time, there was a hierarchal system built on rank and seniority. The premise being that if someone outranked you then you bowed to them, while someone of equal rank who had held that rank for less time bowed to you. ‘Bowing’ in this case meaning to curry favor with. This system applied to the upper classes, the monarchy and aristocracy. These upper classes constantly navigated the court theatre with the goal of increasing their status through marriage or flattery, whatever means necessary. In Much Ado About Nothing there are aberrants that choose not to follow these social norms. For women, there were two ways that they could bring honor to their parents and household. The first was by marrying someone of equal or greater status to build up family wealth and connections. Hero does this by attracting and agreeing to marry Claudio, who has close ties to the

Joking and teasing are abundant in male friendships. The prank goes so far as to include Hero and a servant to thicken the ruse, pulling Beatrice into the mix by allowing her to ‘overhear’ a conversation about how mad Benedict is for her. It is elaborately simple and the men enjoy watching the two make doe eyes at each other from the sidelines, waiting for the cataclysmic collision that never comes. Don Pedro and Claudio call Benedict to come and spend time with them after finding out that Hero is dead and brushing her father off as a decrepit old man when he comes to defend her honor. Rather than lifting their spirits, as they had hoped he would, Benedict renounces them as friends and offers to duel them in place of Leonarto. Contrary to social norms, Benedict gave up his position and declares himself morally against the Prince. He could have chosen to play along with their game to stay in their good graces but decided against it out of loyalty to Beatrice and