Hero and Desdemona

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Hero and Desdemona

In Othello and Much Ado about Nothing by William Shakespeare, the leading female characters are quite similar. Desdemona is married to Othello (Othello), and Hero is engaged to Claudio (Much Ado about Nothing). Both men accuse their betrothed as being unfaithful to them. Both men also start out with loving words toward their sweethearts; for example, when Othello and Desdemona meet again after having been separated for a period of time. Othello says to her “It gives me wonder great as my content to see you here before me. O my soul’s joy!” (2.1.199-200). These beautiful and loving words are soon changed to hostility and rage with the thought of Desdemona’s betrayal. Both Desdemona and Hero are accused of being unfaithful through presented “ocular proof”, they are both disgraced by the leading male role, and they are young and inexperienced in the ways of love and both women are extremely forgiving after they have been mistreated by their suitors.
Much Ado about Nothing was written by William Shakespeare as a comedy, but it could have very well been turned into a tragedy comparable to Othello. In Othello, Desdemona becomes a leading part of Iago’s plot to take down Othello for not giving Iago the job that he wanted. At first Iago insinuates and makes innuendos to Othello that Desdemona is having an affair with Cassio, and Othello doesn’t believe Iago. Othello says “Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore, Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof; or, by the worth of mine eternal soul, thou hadst been better have been born a dog than answer my wak’d wrath”(3.3.360-364). Desdemona accidentally drops a handkerchief that Othello had given her. This becomes crucial because Iago uses this handkerchief as the ocular proof that Othello had demanded. The ocular proof given to Claudio in Much Ado about Nothing is only anticipated and recalled in the
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