This week in class we were continuing to analyze Much Ado About Nothing. We watched the wedding scene where one of the characters, Claudio, falsely accuses Hero of cheating and calls her a "rotten orange." When we watched the movie, Claudio makes a whole dramatic scene by throwing Hero back at her father aggressively and continuously tarnishing her name in front of everyone like a madman. Claudio never once bothers to ask Hero her side of the story. He is so quick to turn on the woman he claimed he loved. Hero's own father Leonato doesn't believe in his only daughter, and he'd rather Hero be left to die. Leonato punches Hero and drags her across the floor telling her to die. Both when I read and watched this scene, I just could not believe how much he trusts Claudio and the Prince over his own flesh and blood. Leonato, instead of being concerned with how Claudio just disgraced his daughter in public, is more concerned with their reputation being tarnished.
I know comedies are supposed to end with everyone being happy except the villain, but I just cannot understand why Leonato would even want Hero back with Claudio. Why would you want your daughter with someone who was so willing to humiliate her publicly, flip chairs and throw her around? That sounds like an abusive relationship to me, I would not want my daughter to be with a man who would lose his temper like that. Claudio doesn't deserve Hero. Through this whole play she has done nothing wrong. Hero is like the perfect Elizabethan women.
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Hero and Claudio's relationship isn't even real to me. It's an agreement. He initially loved her because she was beautiful and quiet. Hero didn't have much of a personality, so unsurprisingly, Claudio treated her like an object. She didn't deserve it and Leonato should have stood up for Hero, too.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you Taina. I honestly don't understand how Leonato would let Claudio and Hero be together after all. However, as a father I believe he wants his daughter to be happy and if Claudio is what makes her happy (regardless of what he did to her) then he'll let them be together.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 100 percent Taina. I would never allow my daughter to marry someone who embarrassed her and ruined her reputation because of a lie. I know Claudio was fooled by Don John, but sheessh he went a little too far. If I was Leonato I would have told Claudio to find himself a real hoe because Hero is too much of a woman for him.
ReplyDeleteI have never read the play but this sounds like how in Hamlet Polonius uses his daughter Ophelia as bait to find out what Hamlet was doing. Polonius had no regard for his daughter's feelings and merely used her as a pawn. What is up with the father's in these comedies. They need to get it together.
ReplyDeleteBecause when you are a second class citizen and an object to be owned, your feelings and thoughts are irrelevant.
ReplyDeleteI believe that Leonato wanted his daughter to marry a man of his status no matter how badly he treats her. I think Leonato was being selfish and was only looking out for his name. I feel like Leonato is poor dad because he was so quick to believe Claudio instead of believing his daughter.
ReplyDeleteI think alot of abuse that happens now is derived from the Elizabethan time. Claudio and Lenato are a prime example of possessive men which is why I believe part of our society is the way it is. Not only physical but verbal abuse as well. Even in the work force, there is silent abuse of men always being superior to women.
ReplyDeleteDuring these times women were often abused because when things such as abuse happened in the home because women did not speak out about these things. Abuse was often seen as a family matter and it was kept in the family for fear of bringing disgrace to the family. It reminds me of how Polonius was only concerned about his daughters reputation because it was a reflection of him. He was never really concerned about the well-being of his kids, he was only concerned about his reputation.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with you! It angers me that men think it's okay to lay hands on a women. Does that make them feel more like a man? The fact that they use their force to be in charge. However, it clearly shows how much of a coward they really are. Throughout the whole play Claudio quickly jumps into assumption without even questioning Hero. I'm sorry but I would never marry a man who trusts a "villain's" word over mine. Once again this couple needs couple therapy!
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