Much Ado About Nohing

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MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

COUPLES AND CHARACTERS

From the beginning to the end of the play, two love stories are

intertwined. One story follows the formal, romantic relationship between

Leonato's daughter, Hero (a young woman), and Claudio (a young

officer): Claudio realizes, after returning from war, that he is deeply

in love with Hero and wants to ask her father for permission to marry

her. His commander, Don Pedro, helps Claudio propose marriage, with some

momentary confusion about who the suitor is — Don Pedro or Claudio.

The other couple, Beatrice (Hero's cousin) and

Benedick (another officer), work hard to give the impression that

neither is the least bit interested in the other, still smarting over

bad experiences in earlier encounters with one another. From the

beginning of the play, Beatrice and Benedick tease and insult one

another mercilessly and repeatedly deny that they will ever marry

anyone, let alone marry one another. However, the audience can tell

almost immediately that they don't entirely believe their own

disclaimers. Their friends arrange for them to overhear conversations

revealing how much each is loved by the other.

Meanwhile, the defeated Don John, a

self-proclaimed villain, is eager to carry out serious mischief against

his brother and Claudio, who helped defeat him. One of John's men enacts

a scene at Hero's window in which a woman who appears to be Hero

succumbs to the amorous attentions of a man other than Claudio. John

further arranges for Claudio and Don Pedro to observe this scene. As a

result of seeing this apparent deception, Claudio angrily denounces Hero

during their wedding ceremony and, with Don Pedro, storms off as the

deceived husband-to-be. The friar performing the ceremony comforts Hero,

her father, and the other couple (Benedick and Beatrice), and arranges

for Hero to be hidden as though dead, until Claudio regains his senses.

Beatrice's defense of Hero after her denouncement unites Beatrice and

Benedick in the cause of Hero's revenge, and they declare their love for

one another.

In the meantime, Dogberry (a comically bumbling

constable) and his men on night watch stumble on the conspiracy against

Don Pedro and arrest John's men, who confess their guilt under

questioning.

Soon Claudio is forced to admit his error in

thinking that Hero would deceive him and, believing her dead, mourns for

her and agrees to marry one of Hero's cousins. The cousin turns out to

be a disguised and forgiving Hero. Beatrice and Benedick are also to be

married. Don John tries to run off but is recaptured.

WHAT HAPPENED

Benedick, Don Pedro and Claudio arrive at Leonato's hous.

Claudio falls in love with Hero.

Don John plots against Claudio making him think that Hero is cheating on him.

At the mask ball Don Pedro woos Hero on behalf of Claudio so they can get marriage.

Borachio's plan to make Hero appears unfaithful involves Margaret making her think that he loves her.

Benedick is trick into belive that he is in live with Beatrice.

Claudio rejects Hero at the altar becasue he believes Don John's trick.

The fiar advice Leonato to pretend that Hero is dead to make Claudio regret whathe said.

Dogberry andthe Wacht arrest Borachio and Conrade

At the end both couple( Claudio and Hero and Benedick with Beatrice) are united

THEME

There are many themes running through this comedy by Shakespeare,

including love, confusion and the theme of 'nothing' itself. In this

story of crossed wires, hidden identities and feelings, honour and

deceit, we are also presented with themes of friendship and marriage.

How does Shakespeare use the theme of nothing and noting in Much Ado About Nothing?

the title

Claudio's noting of Hero

Beatrice and Benedick's eavesdropping

To create comedy, highlighting the trivial nature of the action.

To show how foolish men can be in their pursuit of love.

To explore how 'noting' can

In Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare shows the theme of love through:

Claudio falling in love with Hero .

Benedick realising his love for Beatrice

Leonato's love for his daughter and niece

Love is sometimes presented as superficial – Claudio falls in love with an ideal of a woman rather than the reality.

The love between Benedick and Beatrice seems to be

hidden to themselves. Their friends have to trick them into realising

their feelings.

Love is seen as protective as well as romantic through Leonato’s wish for his daughter and niece.

In Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare examines how appearances can sometimes be deceptive. Some of the key aspects are:

Benedick and Beatrice appearing to be enemies

Hero's apparent infidelity

Hero's apparent death

Shakespeare shows that appearances can be deceiving and that the reality can be something quite different.

He shows that the reality of love depends on more than

appearances. Benedick and Beatrice's connection, with their equal wit,

seems more reliable than that of Claudio and Hero which relies on looks.

The truth seems to be hidden at times, as we see in the cruel trick that Don John and Borachio set up.