William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing

Dramatis Personae Don Pedro, Prince of Arragon Don John, his bastard brother Claudio, young lord of Florence Benedick, young lord of Padua Leonato, Governor of Messina Antonio, his brother Balthasar, attendant on Don Pedro Borachio, follower of Don John Conrade, follower of John Friar Francis Dogberry, a constable Verges, a kind of village mayor (headborough) A Sexton A Boy Hero, daughter of Leonato Beatrice, niece to Leonato Margaret and Ursula, attendants to Hero Messengers, Watch, Attendants, &c.

Setting The city of Messina in Sicily

The Plot Leonato lives in the idyllic Italian town of Messina with with his lovely young daughter, Hero, and his playful, clever niece, Beatrice. Leonato lives in the idyllic Italian town of Messina with with his lovely young daughter, Hero, and his playful, clever niece, Beatrice. As the play begins, Leonato prepares to welcome some friends home from a war…

The Plot The friends include Don Pedro, a prince who is a close friend of Leonato, Claudio, a well-respected young nobleman, and Benedick, a clever man who constantly makes witty jokes, often at the expense of his friends. The friends include Don Pedro, a prince who is a close friend of Leonato, Claudio, a well-respected young nobleman, and Benedick, a clever man who constantly makes witty jokes, often at the expense of his friends.

The Plot Don John, Don Pedro’s illegitimate brother, is part of the crowd as well. Don John is sullen and bitter. Don John, Don Pedro’s illegitimate brother, is part of the crowd as well. Don John is sullen and bitter.

The Plot When the soldiers arrive at Leonato’s home, Claudio quickly falls in love with Hero. When the soldiers arrive at Leonato’s home, Claudio quickly falls in love with Hero.

The Plot Meanwhile, Benedick and Beatrice resume the war of witty insults that they have carried on with each other in the past. Meanwhile, Benedick and Beatrice resume the war of witty insults that they have carried on with each other in the past.

The Plot Claudio and Hero pledge their love to one another and decide to be married. Claudio and Hero pledge their love to one another and decide to be married. To pass the time in the week before the wedding, the lovers and their friends decide to play a game. To pass the time in the week before the wedding, the lovers and their friends decide to play a game. They want to get Beatrice and Benedick, who are clearly meant for each other, to stop arguing and fall in love… They want to get Beatrice and Benedick, who are clearly meant for each other, to stop arguing and fall in love…

Plot Lines in the Play Beatrice & Benedick Claudio & Hero Don Pedro & Don John

Themes The War of the Sexes: The play challenges gender prejudices and established social roles, as Benedick wittily gives voice to male anxieties about women's "sharp tongues and proneness to sexual lightness.” The War of the Sexes: The play challenges gender prejudices and established social roles, as Benedick wittily gives voice to male anxieties about women's "sharp tongues and proneness to sexual lightness.” In particular, Shakespeare’s audience assumes that men behave with honor, while women are untrustworthy. In particular, Shakespeare’s audience assumes that men behave with honor, while women are untrustworthy.

Themes Masks and mistaken identity: People are constantly pretending to be others or being mistaken for other people. Masks and mistaken identity: People are constantly pretending to be others or being mistaken for other people. For example: during a masked ball in which everyone must wear a mask, Beatrice rants about Benedick to a masked man -- who turns out to be Benedick… For example: during a masked ball in which everyone must wear a mask, Beatrice rants about Benedick to a masked man -- who turns out to be Benedick…

Themes Noting/ Deceit: Much Ado About Nothing, Tour 53, the “Nothing” portion of the play’s title would have been pronounced “Noting.” Most of the characters participate in the actions of observing, listening, and writing, or noting. In order for such a plot dependent on deceit to work, the characters must note one another throughout the play.

Themes Sibling Rivalry: In Much Ado About Nothing, the two siblings in question are Don John and Don Pedro. Sibling Rivalry: In Much Ado About Nothing, the two siblings in question are Don John and Don Pedro. At first glance, one brother appears to be noble, while the other appears to be mischievous. But the audience quickly learns that, as with any multi-faceted play, the characters are never solely good or evil… At first glance, one brother appears to be noble, while the other appears to be mischievous. But the audience quickly learns that, as with any multi-faceted play, the characters are never solely good or evil…

The Play Date Written: Probably First Performance: Probably December 1598 or early in First Printing: 1600 Probable Main Sources: A short tale by Matteo Bandello ( ), an Italian writer who became a bishop in France; Orlando Furioso, a great epic poem, by Ludovico Ariosto ( ).

How to Hear Shakespeare Sometimes the language in which Shakespeare writes can be difficult to understand (but once you do, it's really a lot of fun). Sometimes the language in which Shakespeare writes can be difficult to understand (but once you do, it's really a lot of fun).

How to Hear Shakespeare First and foremost, you don’t have to understand every word that’s being said in order to understand the play. First and foremost, you don’t have to understand every word that’s being said in order to understand the play. Don’t get too hung up on deciphering each word; instead, just try to grasp the gist of what each character is saying. Don’t get too hung up on deciphering each word; instead, just try to grasp the gist of what each character is saying. After a while, you won’t even have to think about it—it will seem as if you’ve been listening to Shakespeare all your life! After a while, you won’t even have to think about it—it will seem as if you’ve been listening to Shakespeare all your life!

How to Hear Shakespeare There is a rhythm to each line, almost like a piece of music. Shakespeare wrote in a form called iambic pentameter. There is a rhythm to each line, almost like a piece of music. Shakespeare wrote in a form called iambic pentameter. Each line is made up of five feet (each foot is two syllables) with the emphasis on the second syllable. Each line is made up of five feet (each foot is two syllables) with the emphasis on the second syllable. You can hear the pattern of unstressed/stressed syllables in the line, “What passion hangs these weights upon my tongue” You can hear the pattern of unstressed/stressed syllables in the line, “What passion hangs these weights upon my tongue”