Antonio

Antonio is Leonato’s brother and Hero’s uncle. He is described as an “old man,” so perhaps a little older than the middle-aged Leonato, who still seems full of life. He seems to share many of his brother’s conservative views towards marriage and women – he tells Hero “I trust you will be ruled by your father,” while they wait for the masque ball to begin. After the aborted wedding scene, Antonio acts as Leonato’s close friend and confidante in his grief, counselling him that “if you go on thus, you will kill yourself.”