Quiet Hero, Strong Woman - In Defense of Leonato's Daughter
When Don John describes Hero as "Leonato's Hero, your Hero, every man's Hero," (III, ii, 102-103) he suggests that Hero had multiple affairs. But while Don John's allegations are false, many of the characters in Much Ado About Nothing expect Hero to follow their wishes - Hero will be "every man's Hero," by fulfilling her expected duties as loyal daughter and submissive wife. Yet this quiet character is no puppet as she defies the men, exhibits an independent streak, and even has a little fun at her cousin Beatrice's expense.
Claudio's pursuit of Hero gives the audience a sense of what expectations are placed upon her. Although Claudio claims to love Hero, he really is just looking for someone to marry in general - and he expects her to fit the part. Claudio admits that he "look'd upon her with a soldier's eye," before he went to war, but now that "war-thoughts /Have left their places vacant, in their rooms /Come thronging soft and delicate desires" (I, i, 288; 291-293). Claudio understands that after a solider serves his duty, the next step in life is to settle down and get married. But Claudio cannot woo women like Benedick and so settles on Hero, a girl he was attracted to before war broke out. Desperate for a wife, Claudio exaggerates Hero's beauty; the woman who Benedick describes as "too low for a high / praise, too brown for a fair praise and too little / for a great praise" (I, i, 165-167) becomes to Claudio a priceless jewel which he must possess (I, i, 175). But perhaps the most attractive part about Hero is that she is "a modest young lady," who will serve him as a good wife should (I, i, 159). Because Claudio wants to get his new life started quickly, he tells Don Pedro, the Prince of Aragon, about his feelings for Hero. But Don Pedro knows Claudio wants to accelerate his relationship with her. He tells Claudio:
If thou dost love fair Hero, cherish it,
And I will break with her and with her father,
And thou shalt have her. Was't not to this end
That thou began'st to twist so fine a story? (I, i, 298-301).
Thus, Don Pedro agrees to take part in Claudio's game. The prince says he will disguise himself as Claudio and woo Hero with "the force/ And strong encounter of my amorous tale," and as a result "she shall be thine" (I, i, 308-309; 317).
While the men expect Hero to go along with their game, the audience sees a woman who dictates life on her own terms. Admittedly, readers of the play may think Hero is a passive character - she says nothing when her uncle says, "Well, niece, I trust you will be ruled by your father" (II, i, 50). Yet what the reader cannot see - and the audience might - is the look of indignation Hero may give Antonio behind his back. After all, she is told that "the Prince discovered to Claudio that he loved my /niece your daughter and meant to acknowledge it /this night in a dance" and is expected to respond - as Antonio puts it - "accordant" to the situation (I, ii, 10-12; 13). While Antonio identifies the wrong suitor, he hints to Hero that she should marry the Prince because her family would financially benefit. Hero's secret look of defiance mentioned above then foreshadows her behavior during the masquerade. She is dismissive towards the Prince, telling him he walks "softly and look sweetly and say[s] nothing" and that "I am yours for the walk; and especially when I walk away" (II, i, 86-87). She even goes as far to hint the Prince is ugly: "When I like your favour; for God defend the lute / should be like the case!" (II, i, 94-95) she says when he asks her to come with him. One can imagine Leonato and Antonio cringing behind their masks as Hero speaks to him - and then sighing with relief when he manages to drag her away.
While Hero must marry Claudio, one can see she is not in love. Not once in the play does Hero tell Claudio that she loves him - and why would she, considering this is an arranged marriage. Likewise, when speaking to Ursula in the garden, Hero has a slip of the tongue when she calls Benedick "the only man of Italy" but quickly adds "always excepted my dear Claudio" as if she just remembered who she was marrying (III, i, 91-92). Even when Claudio accuses Hero of infidelity, she does not reply with 'I've always loved you my lord' but "I talked with no man at that hour" (IV, i, 85). But while Hero does not love Claudio, she makes sure the marriage happens on her terms. She not only picks her own dress - "I'll wear / none but this" she tells Margaret - but ensures that when she finally ties the knot, her virtue and family's honor are intact (III, iv, 11-12). She goes as far to say Leonato should "Refuse me, hate me, torture me to death!" if she besmirched his name (IV, i,183). Agreeing to Father Francis' plan allows Claudio to realize his fault and then beg for her forgiveness: "Give me your hand; before this holy friar / I am your husband if you like of me" (V, iv, 58-59) he says. His lines are telling - at the moment of their union, it is Hero, not Claudio, who has the upper hand.
One can add another level of complexity to Hero's character by examining her relationship with Beatrice. From the start, the audience sees that Hero must intervene to stop Beatrice from getting out of line. "My cousin means Signior Benedick of Padua," Hero tells a confused messenger whom Beatrice is harassing (I, i, 34). One can picture Hero holding Beatrice back, looking both embarrassed and yet amused at her cousin. However, Hero remains silent while Beatrice rattles on about marriage:
For, hear me, Hero:
wooing, wedding, and repenting, is as a Scotch jig,
a measure, and a cinque pace: the first suit is hot
and hasty, like a Scotch jig, and full as
fantastical; the wedding, mannerly-modest, as a
measure, full of state and ancientry (II, i, 71-76).
Beatrice's words have a mocking tone to them and one can imagine Hero is annoyed by her cousin prattling about an already uncomfortable situation. But Hero shows maturity by allowing Beatrice to speak uninterrupted. However, Hero clearly enjoys getting back at Beatrice when she is setting her up with Benedick. She tells Ursula to make sure they get close to Beatrice's hiding spot so that "her ear lose nothing / Of the false sweet bait that we lay for it" (III, i, 32-33). One can picture Hero trying to hold back a giggle as she speaks loudly about Benedick's supposed love for her cousin. Likewise, when Hero and Beatrice speak before their wedding, Hero hardly says anything while Margaret makes fun of Beatrice's lovesickness. Indeed, Hero's only line during that exchange is, "There thou prick'st her with a thistle" (III, v, 74), which comes after Margaret presents Beatrice with a plant whose name reminds her of Benedick. Hero's comment suggests she is amused at how Beatrice reacts to Margaret's verbal barrage - the talkative cousin has been outtalked by a maid. But these incidents do not suggest that Hero is a malicious character like Don John - they reminds the audience that she is still a young woman who can have fun despite being in a troublesome situation.
Hero faces extraordinary pressure to live up to her name. But while she may not please the men who want her to play a mild housewife, she impresses the audience with her fortitude and integrity. This Hero may not be a warrior, but her desire to live her way makes her someone to look up to - the real definition of a hero.
1,331 words / 4 pages
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