Much Ado About Nothing: Beatrice, Portia and MarriageHero and Claudio represent the Elizabethan standard of marriage. Claudio is a shrewd and stubborn fortune hunter and Hero is the modest maiden of conduct books and marriage manuals, a docile young woman. It is important to note that Claudio is more concerned with advancement in Don Pedro's army than with love. Therefore, Shakespeare illustrates to the reader, through the near-tragedy of mistaken identity, that Claudio must learn that marriage is more than a business arrangement and become worthy of Hero's love and affection . Source: Ranald, Margaret Loftus. "As marriage binds and blood breaks: English marriage and Shakespeare". Shakespeare Quarterly. Vol 30, 1979: 68-81. Additionally, this relationship illustrates the fear of “cuckolding” which is very relevant to Shakespeare's time. Claudio is easily led to believe Don John's fabrications about Hero's infidelity. Since women were considered property, this infidelity is the ultimate betrayal and a mortal wound to Claudio's self-esteem. In reality, Hero remained the chaste and virtuous model of the Elizabethan woman. Source: Hays, Janice. “These “sweet and delicate desires”: Much noise and distrust of women.” Lenz, Carolyn Ruth Swift, Greene, Gayle and Neely, Carol Thomas Ed., The Woman's Part: Feminist Criticism of Shakespeare. University of Illinois Press: Chicago, 1980. Beatrice and Benedick Throughout the play, the characters make many comments and jokes about marriage. “Benedick the Married Man”. (Act I. Sc.1.) "I have a good eye, uncle; I can see a church by daylight." (Act II. Sc. 1.) "Some Cupid kills with arrows, others with traps." (Act iii. Sc. 1.) Feminist critics of Much Ado About Nothing, such as Sylvia Townsend Warner, praise Beatrice for being “free and uninhibited” (“Women as Writers,” Warner, 272). Beatrice is a strong female character who only marries after stating her disapproval of women's traditionally voiceless role in marriage and romantic relationships in the 16th and 17th centuries. Beatrice is a fearless verbal warrior and Benedick is her greatest challenger. Their verbal banter serves to showcase each of their strengths and opinions, and together they glory in the challenge of their upcoming duel. Beatrice's courtship with Benedick contrasts greatly with Hero and Claudio's courtship. Hero willingly and willingly submitted to marriage and she accepted the role of a relatively helpless woman. On the other hand, Béatrice chose her submission after openly criticizing the institution of marriage..