Society of Shakespeare and Much Ado About Nothing

Within Shakespearean times, the society was very different to the 21st century in which we currently live. The constraints of their society was much more vast and strongly enforced. Men and women as well as social classes had set roles well outlined, that they were expected to emulate. The expectations were set by biblical example, morals and strengths.
Women in this society were not considered as vital as men. With respect to men, they were to portray a calm and respectful character; to be obedient and somewhat of service to their men. Women were the weaker sex not just because of physical strengths, but for emotional strength aswell. Hence it was important for them to always be protected. Not only this, it was important for them to have grace and humility, being the inferior gender. Their backgrounds and history were very important though, for example, she was always expected to be a virgin and pure in her ways. Women were to be seen and not heard, they were to nurture and encourage. The women were really only expected to be mothers and hosewives, or part take in domestic occupations. Consider their role to be 'behind the scenes'. This role was played well by Hero, the daughter of the governor, her character, in the presence of her men is consistantly quitet, graceful and pleasant. She does not object to orders and at times, she is heard softening the statements of her cantankerous cousin; Beatrice.
In these times, the society was patriarchal; men were viewed as superior, particularly to the importance and upholding of society. They were given the tasks of going to war, or parttaking in voting or business careers. According to the laws of inheritance, a father always wished for a son even though daughters were loved just the same. A man would take his father's position and provide for a family and take a wife. He had the upper hand in terms of command and demand over his wife. All rights were his to chastise her. As the breadwinner of his houshold many pressures lay with him. He was expected to have a credentail background. If he did not, he was not deemed worthy of a woman who's father had great honour. As a father, he had all powers to choose who his daughter could or could not marry. A man always had to prove himself to the father and brothers or the woman he wished to wed. He also needed status and financial stability, seeing as how women always needed protection. Don Pedro displayed strong qualities and confidence. He, on behalf of Claudio, wooed Hero and used his connection with Leonato to gain Claudio a wife. He was respected and had status as a prince and being successful in the war. The role of a pan is played out well through Don Pedro's character.
Don John was a bastard. Being illegitemate, he was constrained in society. Illegitimate children were looked down upon with scorn. It was a shame to be brought into being without there being a legal and binding relationship between parents. It went against God's will and therefore, man's. This being so certain a child of this fate, was not afforded certain privileges. People constantly were convicting and bringing them down even though the child itself was not at fault. This being Don John's fate from his very beginning, Shakespeare may be accused of plaguing him as doomed to be evil from his birth. It may be because of the beliefs that went with children being born in illigitemacy, that they were of the devil or out whatever was not Godly, or it could be Don John became evil because of the pressures and scorns he endured for his life, being known as the Prince of Arragon's bastard brother.
Beatrice and Don John are two characters which went against their set roles in society. Beatrice went against everything a woman was set to be. Soft, quiet, obedient and respectful, on the contrary, Beatrice was talkative, rude, sarcastic, objective and unpleasant. She did not feel the need to be taken care of, but rather, believed in women carrying their own rights and having no need for love. It was never her intention to meet a man, and, unusually, she looked down upon men, saying as she felt and saying that there was none suited for her.
Don John went against his set role because he assumed a leadership role in the novel. He has two servants who report and scheme with him to bring others down. While he is better, and coniving, he goes against his role because bastards like him were to simply fall back in society and be grateful for the kindness he was shown. He was bitter and ungrateful.