Claudio

• 'Can the world buy such a jewel.'(A1, S1)


  
  

  • Hyperbole - Presents Hero as a goddess
  • Jewel is a beautiful adornment and seen as decorative (Also multifaced)
• “Tis certain so, the Prince woos for himself… Let every eye negotiate for itself” (A2, S1)

  Claudio jumps to conclusion that Don Pedro has wooed Hero for himself and you should not let friends deal with work and love affairs.
• "If I see anything tonight why I should not marry her, tomorrow in the congregation, where I should wed, there will I shame her."(A3,S2)

  Claudio instantly loses all trust, exclaiming that in matters of love every man is for himself. Claudio is so easily swayed that he believes Don John’s lie without question, displaying inability to think for himself, as well as inherent suspicion of even his closest friends.
• “Give not this rotten orange to your friend” (A4, S1)

  • Orange is seen as a refreshing fruit
  • Juxtaposed with 'rotten' gives the sense that Hero is seen as worthless as she has no purity- cause that was important
  • Also shows Hero being referred to as an object by Claudio, showing how he only wants her for benefits
• "Done to death by slanderous tongues Was the Hero that here lies. Death, in guerdon of her wrongs, Gives her fame that never dies." (A5,S3)

  • Leonato forces Claudio to read an apology at Hero's funeral
  • As a punishment for 'killing her'
  • Aware now of his mistake, but still at the mercy of the nearest authority figure, Claudio dutifully carries out his punishment.
• "Give me your hand before this holy friar. I am your husband, if you like of me." (A5,S4)

  • Claudio offers his hand in marriage to a new bride who is essentially a replacement Hero.
  • At this point, we question whether Claudio truly has any convictions: as he blindly follows the words of other people
  • Hero in disguise is barely a happy ending, given what we now know about Claudio’s morals