William Shakespeare's Works/Comedies/Much Ado About Nothing

Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy by William Shakespeare. It was most likely first performed in 1598 / 1599. The play's style shares many features of the modern romantic comedy and it remains one of Shakespeare's most enduringly popular plays on stage.

Brief synopsis

The five acts follow two pairs of lovers. Although the romance between Claudio and Hero ostensibly forms the main plot, the action is in fact mostly concerned with their counterparts, Benedick and Beatrice, whose love-hate relationship develops over the course of the play.

Deconstruction and scene by scene read through companion

• Act 1
• Act 2
• Act 3
• Act 4
• Act 5

Dramatis Personæ

• Don Pedro - the prince
• Don John - Don Pedro's half brother
• Claudio - a young lord
• Benedick - another young lord, friend of Claudio
• Leonato - a older man, father of Hero
• Antonio - brother of Leonato
• Balthazar
• Borachio - a friend of Don John
• Conrade - a friend of Don John
• Dogberry
• Verges
• Friar Francis
• A Sexton
• A Boy
• Hero - daughter of Leonato and lover of Claudio
• Beatrice - cousin of Hero and lover of Benedick
• Margaret
• Ursula
• Messengers
• Watch
• Attendants

Analyses and Interpretation

• A brief analysis of the thread of disguise and masking throughout the play