Table of ContentsIntroductionChallenging Gender Roles in Much Ado About NothingMuch Ado About Nothing: Representation of WomenConclusionWorks CitedIntroductionThe theme of gender is one of the central themes of the play , highlighting the complexity of gender roles in Much Ado About Nothing. Shakespeare challenges the conventional role of women in a patriarchal society in which men are expected to be dominant while women are oppressed. In the play, Shakespeare creates the character of Beatrice in such an unusual way in order to subvert the traditional role of women; silent, passive, gentle and submissive. And comparing her to Hero, the differences between the traditional woman and the ideal woman are clearly depicted. The double standards when it comes to gender roles are evident. In those days, reputation was the most important thing a woman could have. In the play, Hero's reputation has been sullied by Don John. Her reputation was so damaged that she pretended to be dead to hide her embarrassment. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Challenging Gender Roles in Much Ado About Nothing When Borachio and Dohn John were planning a scheme to ruin Cladiou's marriage, they decide to defile Hero's virtue since being virtuous was all that 'a woman could have in those days. Borachio pretended to have sex with Hero and as a result, everyone turned their backs on Hero except Beatrice and Benedick who did not believe in Don John. On the other hand, Claudio, although he was considering marriage, suddenly changed his mind because he believed that she was not a virgin. Claudius is there to represent a patriarchal society in which women were not allowed to have sex before marriage. Furthermore, he decided to humiliate her in front of everyone on the wedding day; ''O Hero! What hero would you have been if half of your external graces had been placed. About your thoughts and the advice of your heart! But good luck, very despicable, very fair, goodbye. You, pure impiety and unholy purity. For you I will close all the doors of love, And on my eyelids will hang conjectures. Transforming all beauty into thoughts of evil. And never will it be more gracious” (IV.i.98-106). Claudio executes without due process, because losing his virginity meant losing his innocence for him. Now Hero was a woman without honor (sparknotes.com). Furthermore, even her father turned his back on her and wanted her to die to get rid of the shame she caused him; ''I value her, why she, oh she, fell. Into a well of ink, which the vast sea has dropped too little to wash it again, and too little salt that could season its sullied shine!'' (IV.i.145-150). Much Ado About Nothing: Portrayal of WomenShakespeare presented two different female characters, Beatrice and Hero. In the play, Beatrice represents non-traditional women while Hero represents the ideal women of that period. Hero obeys the patriarchal rules of society, obeys her father, accepts Claudio even though she was not asked questions and even she agrees to marry Claudio after he publicly humiliates Beatrice is fesity, cynical, full of wit and sharp but Hero is polite, rather, respect and obedience (bartleby.com). Hero is the perfect woman who embraces the patriarchal society she lives in; She is pretty, enjoys a high social status, and is her father's only heir. However, she is an independent woman, she is so obedient to her father that even who she marries is her father ?/5/.