Relationships Among Men in Shakespeare’s Plays
Unlike allegorical characters prevailing in mystery plays before the Renaissance (the most popular example being Everyman), Shakespeare’s characters effectively illustrate the emotions that define individuality in his plays. The result, realistic characterization, makes the fictional figures three dimensional, allowing the audience to better relate to the characters and creating more interest for the story. One intriguing phenomenon that exemplifies this realistic characterization is the platonic homosocial interaction among men that persists in many of Shakespeare’s plays. In Merchant of Venice, the love between Bassanio and Antonio puts Antonio in a “bond,” creating the tense situation which climaxes in Act 4.1. Bassanio had already postponed his and Portia’s wedding, and in this scene, announces that he would sacrifice all for Antonio, who competes with Portia for Bassanio’s love. Another instance occurs in Much Ado About Nothing, when Claudio feels betrayed in Act 2.1. He loves and trusts Pedro too much, allowing Pedro the chance to hurt him even more by taking his Hero. In Henry V, similar relationships occur in Pistol, Nim, and Bardolph and in Henry and his subjects: their love for one another both conflicts with and aggravates the more natural tendencies toward male competitiveness with exceptions and in contrast to the female relationships in the play.
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