Much Ado About Beatrice: The True Hero of Messina In the short play Much Ado About Nothing, William Shakespeare focuses on the social position and role of women in Europe 16th century. The play's female protagonist, Beatrice, understands the restrictions imposed by society and how these restrictions should limit her as a woman, but she relentlessly escapes by refusing to succumb to the unifying hand of marriage. Throughout the play, Shakespeare shows his deep respect for women as independent individuals, fully capable of making their own decisions and suffering the consequences. Through the plot, it proposes the idea that women who move away from the passivity that society expects of them achieve a more active role in determining their future. In contrast to 16th century women's roles, Shakespeare's portrayal of Beatrice's independence is symbolic of his stance on the progression and transformation of women's reputations in society. Shakespeare undoubtedly creates a consistent distinction between Beatrice and Hero, the two main female characters, in a way that allows the audience to irrefutably notice their different dispositions. Hero, "a voiceless face" (Cook 8), is characterized by her passivity and inability to assert herself, while Beatrice, whose speech "might seem [like] a grave violation of Messina's gender conventions" (Cook 7), she is characterized by her witty and unconventional independence that ultimately delineates the sure separation between her and the women of 16th-century Europe. Almost immediately, one can observe Beatrice's harsh behavior towards one of the main male characters, Mr. Benedick. As the messenger informs Beatrice... in the center of the paper... itations and expectations placed on 16th century women and uses many characters, such as Beatrice and Hero, as means of presenting his position on the advancement of women's roles. Beatrice's refusal to be controlled by men and Hero's submission carry echoes of modern feminism. Comparing this novel to contemporary society, women have made significant progress in terms of gender roles. It is women like Beatrice, and many others who choose to challenge the expectations placed on us by society, who help us progress towards a more utopian civilization. This novel can be read by future generations to reflect on how much we have changed and how much we have progressed, not only as women, but as human beings in general. Furthermore, this play also stands as one of the world's greatest odes to the single life known to man.