Much Ado About Nothing is a comedic play by William Shakespeare
thought to have been written in 1598 and 1599, as Shakespeare was
approaching the middle of his career. The play was included in the First Folio, published in 1623. Much Ado About Nothing
is generally considered one of Shakespeare's best comedies because it
combines elements of mistaken identities, love, robust hilarity with
more serious meditations on honour, shame, and court politics.
By means of "noting" (which, in Shakespeare's day, sounded similar to "nothing" as in the play's title,and which means gossip, rumour, and overhearing), Benedick and Beatrice
are tricked into confessing their love for each other, and Claudio is
tricked into rejecting Hero at the altar on the erroneous belief that
she has been unfaithful. At the end, Benedick and Beatrice join forces
to set things right, and the others join in a dance celebrating the
marriages of the two couples.
At Messina, a messenger brings news that Don Pedro, a prince from Aragon, will return that night from a successful battle, Claudio being among his soldiers. Beatrice, Leonato's
niece, asks the messenger about Benedick and makes sarcastic remarks
about his ineptitude as a soldier. Leonato explains that "There is a
kind of merry war betwixt Signior Benedick and her."
Upon the arrival of the soldiers, Leonato welcomes Don Pedro and
invites him to stay for a month, Benedick and Beatrice resume their
"merry war," and Pedro's illegitimate brother Don John is introduced.
Claudio's feelings for Hero, Leonato's only daughter, are rekindled upon
seeing her, and Claudio soon announces to Benedick his intention to
court her. Benedick, who openly despises marriage, tries to dissuade his
friend but Don Pedro encourages the marriage. Benedick swears that he
will never get married. Don Pedro laughs at him and tells him that when
he has found the right person he shall get married.
A masquerade ball is planned in celebration of the end of the war, giving a disguised Don Pedro the opportunity to woo
Hero on Claudio's behalf. Don John uses this situation to get revenge
on his brother Don Pedro by telling young Claudio that Don Pedro is
wooing Hero for himself. A furious Claudio confronts Don Pedro, but the
misunderstanding is quickly resolved and Claudio wins Hero's hand in
marriage.
Meanwhile, Benedick disguises himself and dances with Beatrice. Beatrice proceeds to tell this "mystery man" that Benedick
is "the prince's jester, a very dull fool." Benedick, enraged by her
words, swears he will have revenge. Don Pedro and his men, bored at the
prospect of waiting a week for the wedding, harbour a plan to match-make
between Benedick and Beatrice. They arrange for Benedick to overhear a
conversation in which they declare that Beatrice is madly in love with
him but afraid to tell him; that their pride is the main impediment to
their courtship. Meanwhile, Hero and her maid Ursula ensure Beatrice
overhears them discuss Benedick's undying love for her. The tricks have
the desired effect: both Benedick and Beatrice are delighted to think
they are the object of unrequited love, and both accordingly resolve to mend their faults and reconcile.
Meanwhile, Don Pedro's brother Don John, the "bastard prince", plots
to prevent the wedding, embarrass his brother and wreak misery on
Leonato and Claudio. He informs Don Pedro and Claudio that Hero is
unfaithful, and arranges for them to see John's associate Borachio enter
her bedchamber where he has an amorous liaison (actually with Margaret,
Hero's chambermaid). Claudio and Don Pedro are taken in, and Claudio
vows to humiliate Hero publicly.
At the wedding the next day, Claudio denounces Hero before the
stunned guests and storms off with Don Pedro. Hero faints. Her
humiliated father Leonato expresses the wish that she would die. The
presiding friar intervenes, believing Hero to be innocent. He suggests
the family fake Hero's death in order to extract the truth and Claudio's
remorse. Prompted by the day's harrowing events, Benedick and Beatrice
confess their love for each other. Beatrice then asks Benedick to slay
Claudio as proof of his devotion, since he has slandered her kinswoman.
Benedick is horrified and at first, denies her request. Leonato and his
brother Antonio blame Claudio for Hero's apparent death and challenge
him to a duel. Benedick then does the same.
Luckily, on the night of Don John's treachery, the local Watch
apprehended Borachio and his ally Conrade. Despite the comic ineptness
of the Watch (headed by constable Dogberry, a master of malapropisms),
they have overheard the duo discussing their evil plans. The Watch
arrest the villains and eventually obtain a confession, informing
Leonato of Hero's innocence. Though Don John has fled the city, a force
is sent to capture him. Claudio, stricken with remorse at Hero's
supposed death, agrees to her father's demand that he marry Antonio's
daughter, "almost the copy of my child that's dead" and carry on the family name.
At the wedding, the bride is revealed to be Hero, still living.
Claudio is overjoyed. Beatrice and Benedick, prompted by their friends'
interference, finally and publicly confess their love for each other. As
the play draws to a close, a messenger arrives with news of Don John's
capture – but Benedick proposes to postpone his punishment to another
day so that the couples can enjoy their new-found happiness. Don Pedro
is lonely because he hasn't found love. Thus Benedick gives him the
advice "Get thee a wife."
Link to the review by The Morning Call here
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