Introduction
Honor is the highest respect or reputation that a person has among others. In Shakespeare’s times, honor had a great significance since it determined how a person was treated by society, and it was vividly depicted in the poet’s play, Much Ado About Nothing. In this comedy, Shakespeare managed to demonstrate the code of honor followed by English people in the Elizabethan era. The concept of honor was gender-biased, and the differences between male and female honor became the basis for the conflict between the characters. This paper aims at exploring the significance of honor in comedy and how male honor was different from that of women. In the end, it will be argued that, in the sense that it was used back then, honor did more harm than good because it was based on allegations and gossip rather than people’s deeds.
The Significance of Honor
In Much Ado About Nothing, honor is one of the main themes, which drives the plot and motivates the characters’ actions. The audience is introduced to the motif of honor at the beginning of the play: “I find here that Don Pedro hath bestowed much honor on a young Florentine called Claudio” (Shakespeare 18). Leonato says these words even before he meets Claudio, which suggests that a person’s reputation can reach far ahead of its owner. These lines also show how honor is attributed to a person. Claudio seems to have gained Leonato’s respect not by his deeds, but by what Don Pedro said about him. The same is seen later in the comedy when Hero is dishonored not because she did the wrong thing but because Claudio and other people believe she did it.
Honor is easily bestowed, but it is even more easily ruined, and some characters in the play use this fact. Don John wants to destroy Claudio’s marriage and chooses Hero’s honor as the target for his malevolent intentions. A few words to Claudio and a rigged scene of infidelity appear to be enough to convince Claudio of his bride’s dishonor. Claudio, in his turn, also attacks Hero’s honor in an attempt to avenge her disloyalty. He made his decision regarding Hero after he was informed of her alleged infidelity: “If I see anything tonight why I should not marry her, tomorrow in the congregation, where I should wed, there will I shame her” (Shakespeare 60). Instead of quietly canceling the wedding, Claudio chose to deal a severe blow to Hero’s honor. Later, Claudio’s honor was threatened by Benedick, who urged him to accept the duel. If Claudio had not agreed to it, he would have become a coward and damaged his reputation. Overall, the comedy shows that honor is both significant and vulnerable, so it is often manipulated.
Honor for Women
A marked characteristic of honor in the play is that it is gender-differentiated. For a woman to gain honor in Shakespeare’s times, she had to be chaste and obedient. Chastity and fidelity were of the utmost importance for a woman to be honorable. Thinking of marrying Hero, Claudio asks Benedick, “Is she not a modest young lady?” (Shakespeare 23). Thus, Claudio shows his concern about his potential wife’s chastity, and it was common among men in the Elizabethan era. The reason for such an emphasis on women’s purity lies in the fact that men needed to be sure that they were biological fathers of children born to their wives (Wilson 61). Yet, men could rely only on their wives’ words as to the paternity of their children, which is evident from a conversation between Don Pedro and Leonato:
- PEDRO. I think this is your daughter?
- LEONATO. Her mother hath many times told me so. (Shakespeare 21)
Thus, the importance of chastity for women’s honor seems to be justified. Although it was unjust toward women, establishing strict societal norms regulating female sexual behavior was essential for men to ensure that their family line would continue.
Since chastity determined female honor, women could lose their honorable status if they were suspected of infidelity. Hero’s story shows that a woman did not have to be engaged in adultery; a mere rumor was enough to label her as unfaithful. Being accused of infidelity dishonored a woman and made her an unworthy marriage partner. It is seen in how harshly Claudio rejects presumably unfaithful Hero on the wedding day in front of the public: “There, Leonato, take her back again. Give not this rotten orange to your friend. She’s but the sign and semblance of her honor” (Shakespeare 69). Perhaps, the worst part was that women had no means of regaining their honor since they were obliged to obey the men’s authority (Wilson 63). For this reason, Beatrice had to ask Benedick to challenge Claudio to defend Hero’s honor, and Hero had to fake her death to purify her name.
The comedy also introduces the audience to an alternative concept of female honor, embodied in the character of Beatrice. While Hero represents an ideal woman of the Elizabethan era since she is highly obedient, chaste, and willing to marry, Beatrice is quite the opposite. Beatrice hates to obey and opposes marriage because it threatens women’s “integrity” (Wilson 64). As a consequence, Hero’s and Beatrice’s views of honor differ: Hero sees it in “marriage and submission,” while Beatrice regards it as “maintaining her individuality” (Pifer 7). Thus, in Shakespeare’s times, an alternative attitude toward women’s honor already existed; yet, people adhering to those views were in the minority.
Honor for Men
In contrast to women, men’s honor was not defined by their sexual behavior. Moreover, men’s infidelity was not regarded as something unacceptable or dishonorable (Wilson 62). Instead of marital fidelity, men were bestowed with honor for their ability to create and maintain a respectable appearance among other people, which was often attained by military achievements. For example, Beatrice questions Benedick’s honor by asking, “I pray you, how many hath he killed and eaten in these wars?” (Shakespeare 18). However, men’s respectable appearance did not always conform to reality. This is seen in the case of Don John, who is a villain involved in many plots and willing to ruin Claudio’s marriage, but others respect him in most of the play (Wilson 60). Thus, men had more opportunities to win honor than women did, but their honor might be only seeming and not supported by noble deeds.
Men’s honor depended on the honor of their women, such as brides, wives, or daughters. A women’s promiscuity cast a shade on her man’s reputation; therefore, society was ill-disposed toward unfaithful women. Don John uses this fact to convince Claudio to cancel the wedding: “Go but with me tonight, you shall see her chamber window entered, even the night before her wedding day. If you love her then, tomorrow wed her. But it would better fit your honor to change your mind” (Shakespeare 60). Hero’s supposed infidelity also dishonors her father, so he suggests death as a fair punishment for her misdeed: “Death is the fairest cover for her shame That may be wished for” (Shakespeare 72). In contrast to women, men were capable of defending their honor. Therefore, Leonato purifies his dishonor by faking his daughter’s death, and Claudio has to defend his reputation by accepting the duel from Benedick.
Honor: Harm or Benefit?
The play shows that honor, as it was perceived in Shakespeare’s times, did more harm than good. It was based on appearances rather than actions, which is confirmed by Beatrice’s words. When she hears that Benedick is a man “stuffed with all honorable virtues,” she remarks, “But for the stuffing – well, we are all mortal” (Shakespeare 19). It means that everyone is capable of both good and evil, so it is necessary to pay attention to people’s actions to determine if they are honorable.
Deriving honor from allegations rather than deeds may lead to deplorable consequences. Since Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy, it does not end with Hero’s actual death, so she is capable of re-birth, which allows her to purify her reputation and live on (Wareh 285). However, given the significance of honor in the Elizabethan era, as well as its reliance on claims not supported by strong evidence, such stories as the one that happened with Hero could end tragically. Honor in this play does not motivate people to commit noble deeds; instead, it serves as an instrument for manipulating others.
Conclusion
Honor plays a significant role in Much Ado About Nothing. It is the basis of the conflict in the play since Don John aims at ruining Hero’s female honor, which, in turn, damages the male honor of Claudio and Leonato. Shakespeare managed to show the difference between female and male honor. To be honorable, men had to maintain their appearances in society, while women had to be chaste and faithful. Honor in this play is depicted as harmful because it relies on allegations, making it easy for villains to ruin it.
Works Cited
Pifer, Stacy. “Fallen Angels, New Women, and Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing: Modern Stereotypes in the Elizabethan Era.” Monarch Review, vol. 3, 2016, pp. 3-7.
Shakespeare, William. Much Ado About Nothing: A Comedy in Five Acts. Walter H. Baker & Co., 1916.
Wareh, Patricia. “Honorable Action Upstaged by Theatrical Wordplay in The Faerie Queene 2.4 and Much Ado about Nothing.” Modern Philology, vol. 114, no. 2, 2016, pp. 264-285.
Wilson, Christa. “‘Father, As It Please You’: The Problems of Patriarchy in Much Ado About Nothing.” CLA Journal, vol. 5, 2017, pp. 59-71.