Much Ado About Nothing

In a nutshell

Much Ado About Nothing is a comedic play by William Shakespeare set in the Italian city of Messina. The play centres around the relationships between the characters Benedick and Beatrice, Claudio, Hero and their friends and family and explores themes of love, deception, gender roles and expectations. In this summary, you will recap the plot summary and explore the characters, their relationships and the themes of the play.

Plot summary

Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy by William Shakespeare that was likely written in 1598 or 1599. The play is set in Messina, a town in Sicily.

The main plot follows two pairs of lovers: Claudio and Hero, and Beatrice and Benedick. Claudio and Hero are young, attractive and in love, but their relationship is threatened when Don John, the illegitimate brother of the local prince, tries to ruin it by spreading lies about Hero.

At the beginning of the play, Claudio and Hero are preparing for their wedding, which is set to take place in just a few days. However, Don John spreads a rumour that Hero is unfaithful, causing Claudio to reject her at the altar. Hero's father, Leonato, is devastated by the news and orders her to retire to her room and to remain unseen until she is proven innocent.

Meanwhile, Beatrice and Benedick are initially hostile towards each other, but eventually fall in love after being tricked into believing that the other has feelings for them. A group of characters, including Hero, conspire to bring Beatrice and Benedick together by pretending to talk about the other's supposed feelings in front of them.

As the main plot and the subplot involving Beatrice and Benedick unfold, various characters scheme and plot to bring the two couples together or to tear them apart. These schemes include faked deaths, disguises and staged confrontations.

The play also includes several subplots, including the bumbling antics of Constable Dogberry and his subordinates, who inadvertently capture and bring to trial a group of villains who were trying to help Don John.

Ultimately, Claudio and Hero are reunited and marry, while Beatrice and Benedick also marry. Don John is brought to justice and the play ends with a double wedding and general celebration.

Characters

Claudio	A young nobleman who falls in love with Hero and becomes engaged to her. He is initially duped by Don John into believing that Hero is unfaithful, but eventually reconciles with her and marries her.
Hero	The daughter of Leonato and the fiancée of Claudio. She is falsely accused of infidelity by Don John and is rejected by Claudio at the altar. She ultimately clears her name and marries Claudio.
Beatrice	The cousin of Hero and the niece of Leonato. She is initially hostile towards Benedick, but eventually falls in love with him.
Benedick	A nobleman and a friend of Claudio. He is initially hostile towards Beatrice, but eventually falls in love with her.
Don John	The illegitimate brother of the local prince. He schemes to ruin the relationship between Claudio and Hero by spreading lies about Hero's fidelity.
Leonato	The governor of Messina and the father of Hero. He is devastated when Claudio rejects Hero at the altar and is determined to clear her name.

Relationships

Beatrice $\leftrightarrow$ Benedick

Benedick and Beatrice are characters in Much Ado About Nothing who are initially portrayed as adversaries. They engage in a "merry war" of wit and insults, but it becomes clear that their banter masks a deep attraction and affection for each other.

Claudio $\leftrightarrow$ Hero

Claudio and Hero are a young couple in the play who are deeply in love and plan to get married. However, their relationship is tested when Claudio is tricked into believing that Hero has been unfaithful and he publicly shames her.

Don John and Borachio

Don John and Borachio are antagonists in Much Ado About Nothing. Don John is the illegitimate brother of Don Pedro and he plots to ruin the relationships of Claudio and Hero as well as Benedick and Beatrice out of jealousy and spite. Borachio is Don John's henchman who helps to carry out his plans.

Themes

Love and relationships

The play explores the different ways in which love can be tested and how it can persevere in the face of adversity. The relationships between Benedick and Beatrice, Claudio and Hero and other characters in the play are complex and multifaceted; they illustrate the various ways in which love can be expressed and experienced. The play also examines the societal expectations and norms that can shape and influence relationships.

Gender roles and expectations

The characters of Benedick and Beatrice challenge traditional gender expectations by defying traditional gender roles and exhibiting characteristics that are traditionally associated with the opposite gender.

Example

Beatrice is a strong and independent woman who speaks her mind and is not afraid to express her opinions, while Benedick is a man who initially resists the idea of marriage and love.

Deception

Throughout the play, characters are deceived by others or engage in deception themselves.

Example

Don John and Borachio plot to ruin the relationships of Claudio and Hero as well as Benedick and Beatrice through a series of lies and manipulations.

Key quotations

Act/Scene	Quotation	Theme
Act 1, Scene 1	Leonato: "There is a kind of merry war betwixt Signior Benedick and her. They never meet but there’s a skirmish of wit between them."	Love and relationships This quote illustrates the theme of love and relationships because it shows the playful and spirited banter between Benedick and Beatrice, which hints at a deeper attraction between them.
Act 4, Scene 1	Beatrice: "O God, that I were a man! I would eat his heart in the marketplace."	Gender roles and expectations This quote, aimed toward Claudio, shows the aggressive and confrontational behaviour expected of men in Elizabethan society. Beatrice's statement also subverts these expectations by using traditionally masculine language and imagery to express her own strength and determination.
Act 2, Scene 3	Benedick: "This can be no trick. The conference was sadly borne"	Deception This quote shows how the characters are deceived by Don John and Borachio's scheming. The "conference" refers to the meeting between Don Pedro and Claudio in which he is convinced that Hero has been unfaithful. The phrase "no trick" shows how convincing the scheme is to Benedick.