Why can’t I forget the earnest eyes of the man who said to me in Jordan, “Until you speak Arabic, you will not understand pain”?
Ridiculous, I thought. He went on, something to do with an Arab carrying sorrow in the back of the skull that only language cracks. A few words couldn’t do it. A general passive understanding wasn’t enough. At a neighborhood fair in Texas, somewhere between the German Oom-pah Sausage Stand and the Mexican Gorditas booth, I overheard a young man say to his friend, “I wish I had a heritage. Sometimes I feel — so lonely for one.” And the tall American trees were dangling their thick branches right down over his head. —“Speaking Arabic,” Naomi Shihab Nye What is Nye’s purpose in her essay?
Claudio – is the lover of Hero and is also a soldier.
Benedick – Is a friend of Don Pedro and Claudio. He is also a heroic soldier.
Beatrice – Is the niece of Leonato.
Hero – Is the Daughter of Leonato.
Don John – Born out of wedlock, he is brother of John Pedro.
Explanation:
Don Pedro is also friend of Claudio and plays a major role in life of Hero and Claudio. He is quick to believe people and ends up putting himself into trouble.
Claudio is the soldier working along with Don Pedro. He is in love with Hero. When he returns from war, he hears and believes the rumors about Hero’s unfaithfulness and is quick to take revenge on Hero.
Benedick has a good sense of humor and is witty. He is aware of Beatrice love towards him. He is portrayed as a woman hater, who is bent on not marrying, but it not afraid to change his mind when he realizes Beatrice’s love towards him.
Beatrice is portrayed as opinionated and is not afraid to speak her mind. Once in love with Benedick is now quite apathetic towards him and is often against him trying to put him down with her words and sarcastic comments.
She is also cousin to Beatrice. Portrayed as having a comely character, she is also generous. She falls victim of Don John’s plot and goes against Don Pedro and Claudio- her lover. She is also portrayed as easily forgiving Claudio after he repents for calling her unfaithful.
Since he is the illegitimate child, he has not access to the family’s wealth and hence is against his brother. He plays the role of a villain and plots a conspiracy against Hero and Claudio.
