study and discussion question

Jealousy is a big part of the play, where no one seems to respect one another up to a point. Just like women, a man’s honor and emotions are just as important are greatly affected by the different rumors of untrustworthiness and unfaithfulness. Example being when Don Pedro disguises himself to propose to Hero, making Claudio uneasy and untrustworthy of those around him all in the name of love. Benedick’s emotions and love for Beatrice is also fragile, even when she continues to insult him but because of the amount of care he has for her throughout the play. Sexual fidelity, in my opinion, does not apply to men as it does the women. Women’s sexual fidelity is much delicate in order to keep it pure and honorable before marrying a man. Men, on the other hand, do not have any sexual boundaries. For the male character’s in the play, and in men in general throughout the play, honor and fidelity are everything, especially when it applies to a woman. However, when you have people like Don Pedro who try to corrupt a person’s reputation, it makes the character’s question each other’s fidelity and honor to each other. Shakespeare’s big difference in the way honor and fidelity are portrayed in the play are quite profound. In order for men to be recognized with these high characteristics, they need shown to have good deeds in war and be recognized with a high reputation. For example, in Act 1 Scene 1, Leonato makes a remark, “I find here that…bestowed much on…Claudio.” Women are much different, in order to live to such high standards of honor and fidelity they must preserve their sexual fidelity until being married to a man. Hero is the perfect example because without even being involved in a relationship with another man before marrying Claudio, Don Pedro makes the perfect hoax to demolish that reputation when he used Borachio and Margret into making Claudio believe that Hero is a cheater.