Beatrice and Benedick’s relationship troubles make sense: they’re shy (possibly “once burned”) and can’t stop poking fun at each other long enough to admit they like each other. They’re being dorky, and that’s a fitting subject for comedy.
But Claudio and Hero, on the other hand? Claudio thinks he’s seen Hero getting it on with Borachio, but instead of confronting her privately — or even talking to her father and calling off the wedding — Claudio publicly humiliates her in front of the whole villa. To my values, this would be intolerably abusive behavior even if she actually had been cheating, and it’s really weird that Hero still wants anything to do with him afterward.
Much Ado About Nothing, for instance.
Beatrice and Benedick’s relationship troubles make sense: they’re shy (possibly “once burned”) and can’t stop poking fun at each other long enough to admit they like each other. They’re being dorky, and that’s a fitting subject for comedy.
But Claudio and Hero, on the other hand? Claudio thinks he’s seen Hero getting it on with Borachio, but instead of confronting her privately — or even talking to her father and calling off the wedding — Claudio publicly humiliates her in front of the whole villa. To my values, this would be intolerably abusive behavior even if she actually had been cheating, and it’s really weird that Hero still wants anything to do with him afterward.
And what about The Taming Of The Shrew? Psychological abuse, harassment, and gaslighting, non-violent though it was… and everyone’s happy in the end?