Reflection
So far in the play Much Ado About Nothing we have picked up how the characters, Beatrice and Benedick, are foils (character that act the total opposite from other characters such as the protagonist/main character(s)) of Hero and Claudio. People would have noticed how Beatrice and Hero are foils by the definition of a good women in society from their time period. "A good women does not speak, she is silent." Hero fits perfectly in the category of a good women because(I.i) she has only said ONE line during the whole conversation with the messenger. After the class read the whole scene, Mrs.Whitley asked us who were the people in scene one, we named Leonato, the prince, Benedick, Claudio, and Beatrice. All of 12N forgot all about Hero being in the scene. In the play later on, Claudio was one of the many people to notice her "in" the conversation, but Hero through her silence(I.i). Claudio has even said"Silence is the perfectest herald of joy." (I.i), proving my point of a "good women" in their time. At first Claudio is COMPLETELY certain he had found his wife, but once Don John started putting stuff in Claudio's head making Hero seem promiscuous and unfaithful he says "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 and trust no agent, for beauty is a witch. . .(II.i)" I thought about what he had said and it seems as though he would choose his friendship over someone he "loves". Claudio uses the "Bro code" which is "Bros before ___". Also, "beauty is a witch" I took that as "Beauty is the Beast". Beatrice would represent Hero's foil quite well for mainly speaking without "permission". In Elizabethan/ Shakespearean time what society viewed as a "bad women" was someone who spoke without permission and they were considered monsters."By my troth, niece, thou wilt never get thee a husband if thou be so shrewd of thy tongue."- Leonato (II.i), her own uncle even tells her that she won't be suitable to get a husband because she is so talkative and her words are harsh.
Now with Claudio and Benedick what makes them a foil will have to be their views/opinions on marriage. Benedick doesn't want to get married because he doesn't trust women at all.Men are shamed by their women being promiscuous. Once a women cheats on her man, then he would "become" a cuckold due to her committing adultery/ being unfaithful. It's funny how to reason's for two people to become a couple is related to tricking each of them. Don john tricks Claudio in to thinking Hero is sleeping around when she is not. The prince and Balthazar just to stick it to Benedick's pride by saying that he couldn't compare with Beatrice. In the process of he FINALLY realizes he actually loves her.
I think it's pretty amazing how Claudio doesn't even question Hero's faithfulness. Men, back then, were so cynical and suspicious of women that if they heard allegations about their wives cheating, they'd probably believe it on the spot. I also think it's funny how as Hero and Claudio's relationship begins to crumble, Beatrice's and Benedick's starts to blossom. It's part of the whole "foil" usage, I guess.
ReplyDeleteWhen one compare and contrast the two couples, there are many observations and hypotheses that can formulate. I think Beatrice and Benedick are the epitome of what true love and marriage is. Even though it took someone to trick both of them to push the love forward they already had. They acknowledge each others positive and negative characteristics. They even went as far as to joke about them to each other. Claudio fell in "love" with a girl her did not know. If Claudio would have built the connection like Benedick and Beatrice, he would not have turned away from love so fast. You can not build a friendship with someone you do not speak to. How will you know the character of someone if they are always quiet?
ReplyDeleteI feel like at some point Benedick's life someone hurt him or he observed someone in his life get hurt. I feel this way because this anti-marriage and unwillingness to trust women has had to come from personal experience because this seems too personal. Also, I think Benedick loves Beatrice from a distance is because he's afraid to put himself in that position. It seems like that is vulnerable part of him that he is unsure if can share with Beatrice. That would explain him always being rude to her.
ReplyDeleteIt really upset me how Claudio could just turn on Hero. It just shows that he didn't know her at all or loved her. Claudio did not defend Hero or even try to hear her side, Don John did not even have to put much effort in his lie for Claudio to believe. I think if it were Beatrice in the situation Benedick wouldn't have jump to conclusion.
ReplyDeleteIt upsets me at how women were seen during this time. It also upsets me that Claudio does not take the time to ask Hero with the accusations are true. To me trust and communication are major factors in a healthy and stable relationship. Clearly Claudio is not madly in love with Hero if he is so quick to switch sides on Hero. How can you marry someone you do not trust? Claudio clearly needs couple therapy!
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