Leonato’s daughter, Beatrice’s cousin, and the beloved of Claudio. On the night before her wedding, Hero is unknowingly impersonated by Margaret and framed for being unfaithful to the groom, Claudio. She is publicly shamed at her wedding, and her father Leonato hides her away, pretending she is dead until the slander has been discredited. Hero is one of the characters who participates in the scheme to bring Benedick and Beatrice together.
Hero Quotes in Much Ado About Nothing
The Much Ado About Nothing quotes below are all either spoken by Hero or refer to Hero. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Act 2, Scene 1
Quotes
Act 3, Scene 1
Quotes
“…of this matter
Is little Cupid’s crafty arrow made,
That only wounds by hearsay.”
Related Characters:
Hero (speaker)
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act 4, Scene 1
Quotes
“But mine , and mine I lov'd , and mine I prais'd,
And mine that I was proud on, mine so much
That I myself was to myself not mine,
Valuing of her; why, she— O! she is fallen Into a pit of ink…”
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Related Literary Devices:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire Much Ado About Nothing LitChart as a printable PDF.
Hero Character Timeline in Much Ado About Nothing
The timeline below shows where the character Hero appears in Much Ado About Nothing. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 1, Scene 1
...on behalf of everyone. Privately, Claudio tells Benedick that he has fallen for Leonato’s daughter Hero, and asks him what he thinks. Benedick replies that he “looked on her,” but “noted...
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...what they are being so secretive about. Benedick instantly tells him about Claudio’s love for Hero. Claudio attempts to deny it, but Benedick's teasing and Don Pedro’s sympathetic interest bring it...
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...honestly about his love. He explains that before he left for war, he looked at Hero with “a soldier’s eye,” (1.1.297-298) but now has more delicate feelings for her. To help...
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Act 1, Scene 2
...one of his men has overheard something interesting: that Don Pedro is in love with Hero, and intends to propose that night at the dance. Leonato is suspicious of the news,...
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Act 1, Scene 3
...(a kind of tapestry), Borachio learned of Don Pedro’s intention to disguise himself and woo Hero for Claudio. Don John complains that Claudio “has all the glory of [his] overthrow,” (1.3.67)...
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Act 2, Scene 1
Antonio, Leonato, Beatrice and Hero discuss Don John’s bad attitude, comparing him with Benedick. Beatrice says that Don John talks...
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...dance begins. Don Pedro, masked and assumed to be Claudio, goes off to propose to Hero. She wants to see his face, but he charmingly deflects her request. Benedick, also masked,...
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...trust no agent.” (2.1.177-178) When Benedick arrives to tell him that Don Pedro has wooed Hero for him, he refuses to believe it, and mopes away. Alone, Benedick complains about Beatrice’s...
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Just as Benedick is speaking of her, Beatrice arrives, along with Claudio, Leonato and Hero. Benedick and Beatrice begin arguing bitterly. A remark Beatrice makes seems to imply that she...
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Act 2, Scene 2
Don John has heard that Claudio and Hero are going to be married. Borachio proposes a plan to ruin it. Since he is...
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Act 3, Scene 1
The female characters prepare a similar ambush. Hero sends Margaret to fetch Beatrice, instructing her to say that she has overheard Hero and...
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Act 3, Scene 2
Don John comes to tell Claudio and Don Pedro that Hero has been disloyal and is, in fact, “Every man’s Hero.” (3.2.106) Refusing to say anything...
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Act 3, Scene 3
...Don John has given him a thousand ducats for convincing Claudio and Don Pedro of Hero’s betrayal. For reasons which are unclear to Conrade, Borachio begins speaking about fashion, comparing it...
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Act 3, Scene 4
Margaret helps dress Hero for her wedding, complimenting her on her fashion and teasing her about soon being the...
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Act 4, Scene 1
Claudio is about to be married to Hero in the church. When asked by the Friar if anyone has any objections, he stops...
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Hero revives. Leonato seems upset she is still alive, crying out that she should have died...
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The Friar comes up with a plan: Leonato will pretend that Hero has died, and meanwhile investigate the truth of Claudio’s accusations. If they are true, he...
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...anything for her, she asks him to kill Claudio for what he has done to Hero. When Benedick refuses, she claims she will be unable to love him unless he does....
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Act 4, Scene 2
...the important matter in the case—that Claudio and Don Pedro have been tricked into doubting Hero’s faithfulness—Dogberry becomes obsessed with minor matters. Throughout the interrogation, Dogberry comically misuses language: meaning to...
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Act 5, Scene 1
Antonio cautions his brother Leonato not to be so upset about what has happened to Hero. Leonato responds that the advice of those who are not suffering themselves means absolutely nothing...
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Leonato and Antonio reenter, and Leonato forgives Claudio on the condition that he will admit Hero’s innocence, put an epitaph on her tomb, and marry Leonato's niece. Claudio, filled with gratitude...
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Act 5, Scene 2
...arrives and tells them the good news: that Don John’s tricks have been uncovered, and Hero’s name cleared.
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Act 5, Scene 3
Don Pedro accompanies Claudio to the tomb of Hero. Claudio reads out an epitaph for her, and attendants sing a dirge. The two men...
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Act 5, Scene 4
...at the church for Claudio and Don Pedro. Everyone is happy that the slanders against Hero have been discredited, and that Don John has fled from Messina. Benedick takes the opportunity...
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Claudio and Don Pedro arrive, and two masked women—Beatrice and Hero—are brought forward. Claudio, noticing that Benedick is nervous, teases him about becoming a married man,...
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...and did not initially love each other after all. At the last minute, Claudio and Hero bring out two love poems: one written by Benedick for Beatrice, and one written by...
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