Much Ado About Nothing
Alexis Payette
Women's Honor vs. Men's Honor
Control
Backstab
Rumors
The Men
Claudio's honor isn't tarnished because he calls Hero out on her sexual looseness before they are ever married. The reason he accused her in front of everyone is to make a scene, so the public understands that Claudio didn't approve of Hero's actions and that people should take pity on him for almost marrying a whore. However when it comes to light that it was all lie, people begin to think less of him so in the end, it will be his honor tarnished which is why he must beg for forgiveness. Not being a liar is important to Claudio.
Leonato is the man of the family, and in this time, family names and heritages means the world. When he thinks that his daughter is a whore, he asks for a dagger to kill himself with. He would've rather died, than loose his status in society. Clearly, he soon realized it was all a rumor, but the fact that he would go to such extremes means that his honor is one of the main things he is constantly keeping in mind. His family name is his honor.
Don John just follows along because he likes the drama. His honor was never even in question until it unfolded that it was a scam. Then he had to beg for forgiveness from Lenonato because his honor would be questionable if he was a liar much like Claudio.
Why This Happens
Video
haha not actually true but it proves my point