A Hero and A Villain in Much Ado About Nothing

If you review online attitudes to Hero in Much Ado About Nothing, you might assume that she is merely a weak woman who highlights the sexist attitudes of Elizabethan society.

Indeed I seem to recall that a made-for-TV update of the story a few years back, featuring Billy Piper, actually played around with the ending of the story.  It sought to make Hero appear stronger and less willing to forgive Claudio for his uncompromising  words at the altar.  As if no self-respecting woman could possibly forgive and forget such slander without a long period of grace.

Not only does this overlook Claudio’s repentance at Hero's tomb, but it misses the point of Hero altogether.

Claudio’s repentance matters because it is an overt reference to the Christian tradition: repent and you shall be saved.  He has been duped by the Devil (Don John) and he has seen the error of his ways.  Now he must, and does, repent.  And his repentance allows both him and the play to resume movement towards a happy outcome.

But who will forgive him his sins?

Hero, of course.

Hero is the only one who can forgive him because she is the one who is falsely accused, dies and then - shortly afterwards - rises from the dead.

Remind you of anyone?

It's quite deliberate.

Hero is the sacrificial lamb in this story and, just like her counterpart in the bible, she suffers for the good of others and still finds it in herself to forgive - selflessly. 

Without her death this play could not end as a comedy; without her selflessness this play could not conclude with a happy-ever-after; without her unconditional forgiveness of Claudio, no-one else could forget and move on.

In short, Hero is the epitome of a true Christian.  She is essentially the saviour, to Don John’s Devil.

One might almost imagine her saying of her accusers in the church ‘forgive them father for they know not what they do’.  While, in counterpoint, Don John revels in everyone’s distress for no better reason than he enjoys spreading torment. 

And this is the crux of the issue. 

Because, contrary to appearances, Don John and Hero are the true protagonists of this drama: Don John is the personification of Evil, and Hero is the personification of Good; Don John is the Villain of the piece and she is, unequivocally, the Hero.

For the record, the rest is largely much ado about nothing.