Much Ado About Nothing Characters

Characters In The Play:

Beatrice:

• Cousin to Hero, niece to Leonato 
• Strong minded, independent 
• Confident, witty
• Uninterested in marrying/men

Her intention to stay single is clear but perhaps suggests that she is angry, jealous or angry. "I would rather hear a dog bark at a crow then a man swear he loves me" (a friendly/flirtatious war)

There is a clear attraction to Benedick right from the start, her words and feelings are always focused on him and he is the target of her 'cruel' comments. She also comes across frustrated with him, fed up, why does he always leave her with a joke? "you always act with a jade's trick"  this also shows that she is not afraid to stand up to men "it's a man's office, but not yours" 

Leonato: "a merry war betwixt signor Benedick and her" 

Benedick believes that Beatrice doesn't always mean as she says, she repeats empty words, "a rare parrot teacher"

She has no father to be controlling, she is a strong woman in a male dominated world. He chides Hero for being too submissive - instead of saying "Father. as it please you" she should say "Father, as it please me" 

She is frustrated by the superiority of men and the customs that control women’s lives, "I cannot be a man with wishing, therefore I will die a woman with grieving" but is really to challenge these attitudes "I would not he should do me, lest I should prove the mother of fools"

She is presented as a good and loyal friend, she is the first to declare her belief in Hero’s innocence and frustration that she cannot challenge Claudio due to being female, "Oh God that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the market place"

Hero:

• Leonato’s daughter. - only daughter, he is protective/controlling.
• Reserved/quiet/submissive
• Conventional 
• Beautiful
• Innocent

She is dominated by men and is quiet, accepting and submissive around them, she does as her father says and accepts Claudio’s charge of infidelity rather than fights back. eg. when accused at the wedding she questions "Is my lord not well?"but does not get angry and defend herself.

However, when she is in company of her ladies she plots to bring Beatrice and Benedick together, "devise some honest slanders to stain my cousin with" 

She is beautiful and loved by Claudio due to beauty, "she is the sweetest lady that I ever looked on" 

There isn't much depth to her character by she is given a symbolic role, ‘Hero’ was taken from greek mythology, a beautiful, innocent young woman who couldn't live without her lover, Leander. 

She has very few lines, representing her role in society, she stands back as other debate and plan her future e.g. marriage, rebirth. "I am yours for the walk" - she is a follower

Benedick:

• Womaniser 
• Carefree
• Uninterested in marrying (committed bachelor)
• Witty, sharp

There is a clear attraction to Beatrice as her words hurt him. "every word…