Claudio
English Lit: AQA GCSE Much Ado About Nothing, topic 9.1.11
Claudio
Claudio refers to Hero as a "jewel", which to modern audiences may seem to objectify women.
Key line
- CLAUDIO: Can the world buy such a jewel?
The “problem plays”
- Towards the end of his life, Shakespeare wrote three plays (All's Well That Ends Well, Measure for Measure and Troilus and Cressida) that have come to be known as the “problem plays”, so called due to them not always following the established conventions of comedy or tragedy.
Established conventions
- Whilst Much Ado About Nothing has not been labelled in the same manner, the treatment of its female characters by their male counterparts does not always sit comfortably with a modern audience.
A compliment?
- In simple, contemporary (Elizabethan) terms, Claudio is paying Hero a compliment by comparing her to a “jewel”.
- It suggests she is beautiful and, as shown through his question, that her beauty surpasses all others and that she is priceless.
Objectification?
- However, a modern - especially feminist - interpretation could regard this line as being both materialistic, as shown through the imagery of an expensive jewel, and objectifying towards women.
- Claudio is attracted to Hero because of her physical attraction, nothing more.
Female restrictions
- This problematic interpretation is sustained through Benedick’s response: “Yea, and a case to put it into”.
- Again, initially it is likely this was intended by Shakespeare to demonstrate Benedick’s preference for Beatrice.
- However, the idea of men limiting women’s freedom by keeping them in cases is not an image modern audiences would feel entirely comfortable about.
Claudio
CLAUDIO: Tis certain so. The Prince woos for himself [...] beauty is a witch.
Key line
- CLAUDIO: Tis certain so. The Prince woos for himself [...] beauty is a witch.
Definitive language
- Claudio’s language here is definitive (“Tis certain”) showing just how easily he can be manipulated by Don John.
Social standing of women
- It also reflects the inferior social standing of women at the time as even the illegitimate Don John (with whom Claudio was at war not so long ago) is believed over Hero.
Deception and appearances
- The use of the metaphor “Beauty is a witch” relates again to the theme of deception and appearances.
- Claudio feels he has been duped by Hero’s attractiveness, as though she has lured him by casting a spell over him.
Witchcraft
- The misogyny of a patriarchal society is no better illustrated through the persecution of women who were accused of witchcraft in the 16th and 17th century.
- Many innocent victims were burned at the stake, drowned or stoned to death simply because they were accused of being witches and were unable to provide evidence to the contrary.
Test yourself on Claudio
Who says Can the world buy such a jewel?
Which is NOT one of Shakespeare's “problem plays”?
Why have three of Shakespeare's later plays become known as the “problem plays”?
In Act 2, Scene 1 what does Claudio claim "beauty is"?