What is the relationship between Hero and Leoneto?

The relationship between Hero and Leonato is a close one. Hero is Leonato's only child; not surprisingly, she is his pride and joy. As with any father of the time, Leonato is very much a creature of the society in which he lives. During the 16th century, fathers were expected to rule their families with a rod of iron, exercising absolute control over their wives and children. And there are moments in the play when...

The relationship between Hero and Leonato is a close one. Hero is Leonato's only child; not surprisingly, she is his pride and joy. As with any father of the time, Leonato is very much a creature of the society in which he lives. During the 16th century, fathers were expected to rule their families with a rod of iron, exercising absolute control over their wives and children. And there are moments in the play when Leonato does indeed act out the role expected of him. For example, Leonato instructs his daughter to respond positively to Don Pedro's overtures of courtship:

"Daughter, remember what I told you.  If the Prince do solicit you in that kind, you know your answer." (Act II Scene I)

Yet Leonato is slightly different in some respects to most fathers of the time. For one thing, he respects Hero's judgement enough to allow her to decide whether or not she'll marry Claudio. But there are limits as to how far Leonato departs from the norm. When Claudio stands up Hero at the altar, accusing her of being unfaithful, Leonato's reaction is fairly typical of a father at that time:

"O Fate! Take not away thy heavy hand!

Death is the fairest cover for her shame

That may be wished for." (Act IV Scene I)

Despite his undoubted love for his daughter, Leonato automatically assumes that there's no smoke without fire and that she must be guilty of inconstancy. He subscribes completely to the commonly-held notion that women must be virtuous and not bring shame upon their families, and that the only way to remove the stain of shame in this particular case is if Hero should die.

Hero is not a particularly dynamic character. She doesn't make things happen; things happen to her. And she accepts all of this without much in the way of protest, playing the part of a dutiful daughter to perfection. The contrast with Beatrice couldn't be more stark. In that sense she, like her father, can be seen very much as a product of her time. And though Hero's relationship with Leonato is genuinely loving and affectionate, it's also deeply conventional.