Shakespeare uses personification and metaphor in Much Ado About Nothing to express Leonato’s shift in feelings on Hero. Leonato is a man that carries a lot of pride, once his daughter has jeopardized his reputation and honor in public he immediately conveys fury and hatred towards Hero without even bothering to confirm if the act was true or not. As Shakespeare states, “ Chid I for that at frugal Nature’s frame? O, one too much by thee! Why had I one? ” (4. 1.
136-137). At first he blames Nature for being so frugal. Then claims one child is too much and asks himself why he ever had one in the first place. Shakespeare uses personifies Nature to make it something solid to put the blame on. Nature is described as thrifty and stingy because for only giving him one child.
By making Nature an entity, Shakespeare makes it a more personal attack but then regrets it, for he wishes Hero were never born. Not only does Leonato blame Hero for that, he also becomes very angry and bitter towards her. Shakespeare uses consonance in the lines “ Thought I thy spirits were stronger than thy shames, Myself would, on the rearward of reproaches, Strike at thy life” (14. 1.
133-134). He says that if he knew her spirit would bring him shame he would kill her himself despite the punishment. The use of the consonance “ S” in “ Spirits” “ Stronger” “ Shames” “ Strike” implies a negative and harsh tone to what he is saying, connecting her spirits that brought him shame and disgrace Leonato goes as far wanting to strike the life out of her. He certainly has passionate feelings when it comes to his honor being ruined and forgets about the faith he should have in his daughter. Shakespeare uses personification and metaphor to show how effortlessly he throws away the relationship and love for his daughter because of the public dishonor it caused him. It supports the theme that sometimes when people’s pride and reputation are at risk they loose sight of being a logical and well-reasoned person.