Comparing Men And Women In Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing

Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing depicts the relationship between men and women during the Elizabethan Age. For centuries, many people have questioned the title of the play and claim it has to do with everyone making commotion about tragedies which turn out to be false, therefore nothing. Looking further into the play, the reader will notice that Shakespeare successfully exposes the dark, ugly truth about gender roles and inequality of his time. Viewing the play today contrasts the roles between men and woman from the past to present. Nevertheless, Shakespeare being a feminist and his complex view of love is what allowed him to create the greatest romantic comedies of his time. Shakespeare compares and contrasts the value of love through
two interesting couples. Amongst these obscure group of couples comes true love that is often questioned between the characters in the play. Shakespeare's use of dramatic irony and misconception's brings humor into his romantic comedy and expresses the unique love between the couples. Shakespeare emphasizes that one couple's path is not better than the other simply because the two couples end up being happily ever after. Throughout time, the relationship between men and woman has changed immensely. In “Much Ado About Nothing”, Shakespeare uses his young lovers as a comment on the meaning of love and relationships. Shakespeare compares flirtation and young love compared to a developing, teasing and playful love. The significant pair of lovers, Claudio and Hero, are attracted to each other at first site. The story’s main theme of deception is established when Don John, Benedict’s brother, creates a scenario in which Claudio is mislead to think Hero cheats on him. Shakespeare emphasizes that a relationship must have strong individual connections, but uses Claudio and Hero to illustrate the contrary. While every character is deceiving one another Claudio finally comes to the conclusion that Don John wants Hero for himself. Claudio says, “Tis certain so, the Prince woos for himself. Friendship is constant in all other things. Save in the office and affairs of love. Therefore all hearts in love use their own tongues. Let every eye negotiate for itself ”(8). Hero and Claudio’s relationship signifies the day to day struggles of a “love at first site” relationship. The moment they first see each other and their wedding is a short period of time and therefore there was no time to create a thorough relationship. This allows the audience to understand why Claudio was so easily deceived by Don John. The more important couple, Benedict and Beatrice, contain a love/hate relationship which acts as a vital element in Shakespeare’s play. The playful and witty couple develop love for one another throughout the play and announce their love towards the end. Beatrice is internally a sweet hearted lady, but only shows her true interior when her friends fool her. The major difference between the two couples is that Benedict and Beatrice must have had a past relationship. In the beginning of the play Beatrice says, “I pray you, is Signior Mountanto returned from the wars or no?”(2). After all, the audience knows they have a past together but what makes this couple hysterical is the denial of marriage and love. This is Shakespeare’s clever use of irony; they constantly deny marriage yet they are easily deceived by their community to think one loves the other. This occurrence is what causes them to admit their love to each other in the climax of the play. The couples represent entirely different types of love and relationships that are shared amongst the characters in “Much Ado About Nothing”.
From a historical standpoint woman used to be treated with little importance. From the Elizabethan period to today’s society the role of woman, the definition of true love, and marriage has all changed exceptionally. Beatrice represents what all women should be, independent and self-assertive. Many years have past and the individuals who have seen “Much Ado About Nothing” can easily contrast and compare the Elizabethan society to today’s. Balthasar a musician sings, “Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more, Men were deceivers ever, One foot in sea and one on shore, To one thing constant never. Then sigh not so, but let them go”(2.3 lines 64-71). What he is basically saying is that the ladies ought to accept men as deceivers and that men will always be horrible. Beatrice understands this concept quite well but ironically still marries Benedict. For Hero it is a different story, she fakes her death to embellish the feeling of remorse into Claudio but states that, ”One Hero died defiled, but I do live, / And surely as I live, I am a maid” (Act 5, Scene 4). Hero’s fake death was used to simply purify her name which goes to show just how different society was back
then. Despite the tragedies and deceitfulness throughout the play, the circle of four main characters learn to understand what true love is during their time. Shakespeare’s use of wit and irony is what makes “Much Ado About Nothing” one of his most renown romantic comedies. Exemplifying the differences and similarities of love and romantic relationships, Shakespeare shows how these emotions are a relevance that exceeds time itself. What the play really does come down to is the friends of these two couples, it is them who prompt the two into falling in love with each other. Whether it be between Hero and Claudio, or Benedick and Beatrice, Shakespeare successfully uncovers the daily struggles of any relationship but shows how the persistent love between the two is what leads the play to an overall happy ending.