The Value and Typology of Friendship in 'Much Ado About Nothing' Anonymous 12th Grade

In 'Much Ado About Nothing', friendship is personified as the male bond (shared by Claudio, Don Pedro, and Benedick), female friendship (among Hero, Margaret, and Beatrice), and cross-gender friendship (between Benedick and Beatrice). It is noteworthy that in the patriarchal society of the Elizabethan era, male friendships were considered as the single true form of friendship since they were legally superior. In addition, men could not befriend women as they were thought little of. Yet in ‘Much Ado about Nothing’, Shakespeare explores a modernist role reversal, where male friendships seem insignificant compared to female ones and where even cross-gender friendships exist. This gives rise to the discussion of whether Shakespeare illustrates friendship as being the strongest bond in the Elizabethan era.

In the opening scene of the play, the audience observes the value of friendship as being the strongest bond through the delineation of the dramatis persona aligning with Aristotle’s notion of friendships being vital. We witness a camaraderie born upon the battlefield among Claudio and Benedick - Benedick “Who hath done good service in war” and Claudio “who have better bettered expectations”, which is emphasized with the use of...