nd let him not speak either.” says Beatrice.Hero is the victim in this play, the loser in a situation she was not a part of, the target of anger directed at her father and fianc. Don John, the only clear villain in the play, sought to upset Leonato and cheapen Claudio’s prize. Hero was the most virtuous amongst the characters but is horribly slandered of being promiscuous on her own wedding in front of everyone she knew. The man that was to be her husband shouted accusations to which she could not defend herself because she was a woman and always suspected of being false. Yet, despite the horror of this wedding ceremony and worse, being scorned by her father whom she had always sought to please, because of those empty words, when told by her father to do so, she happily married her cruel accuser.The exact opposite of Hero in every way is Beatrice, her rambunctious cousin. Beatrice lives in Leonato’s house and shares a room with Hero. While her cousin is the image of an innocent maiden, Beatrice has many of the characteristics of men and qualities that most other women did not have. While Hero was quiet for most of the play, Beatrice dominates most conversations. She appears to be a strong woman and is radically independent, swearing she will never get married in a time when marriage was the most important and consequential aspect of a woman’s life. “Well niece,” said Leonato’s brother. “I hope to see you one day fitted with a husband.” To which she replied, “Not till God make men of some other metal than Earth.” These two very different cousins are very close and more like sisters. Beatrice describes Hero, much like a everyone else does, as a quiet, sweet girl. She appears to be the older cousin and certainly the wisest. Beatrice is very protective of her cousin. After Hero’s abortive when she was declared a “rotten orange” by the misguided Claudio, Be...
