1. Much Ado about Nothing

2. Facts Written between 1598-1599
Considered one of Shakespeare's best comedies for its combination of humor and serious themes
One of very few plays by Shakespeare that is written mostly in prose
Shakespeare wrote 17 comedies and 12 tragedies.
Nothing=noting (gossip, rumor, eavesdropping)

3. Setting
Time: 16th century
Place: Messina, Italy

4. Characters
Don Pedro: Prince of Aragon, generally good but uses his power to manipulate people
Claudio: friend of Don Pedro, passionate but inexperienced and easily manipulated
Hero: loved by Claudio, polite, quiet, respectful, and gentle, traditional Renaissance woman

5. Benedict: friend of Don Pedro and Claudio, loves to make people laugh, swears that he will never get married
Beatrice: cousin of Hero, hates Benedick, feisty, cynical, witty, and sharp, refuses to marry because she will not be controlled by a husband, non-traditional Renaissance woman
Don John: illegitimate brother of Don Pedro, wants revenge on him

6. Themes
Gender roles
Men: superior, focused on codes of honor and camaraderie with other men
Women: inferior, focused on emotions, prone to inconstancy
Infidelity: A man has no way to know whether his wife is faithful to him, so she can take advantage of him.

7. Deception: Many characters play tricks on each other, some with good and bad intentions. All tricks end up causing drama and confusion.
Masks and mistaken identity: Many characters use literal and figurative masks to pretend to be others or conceal their own identity.

8. The Evolution of Comedy
Ancient Greece and Rome: stage-play with a happy ending
Aristotle: Comedy is an imitation of men worse than the average (Tragedy: Men are better than the average).
Ridiculous: a mistake or deformity not productive of pain or harm to others
Comedy is good for
society because it
promotes happiness.

9. Elizabethan: has a happy ending, usually involving marriages between the unmarried characters, and has a lighthearted tone and style
Current: any discourse or work generally intended to be humorous or to amuse by inducing laughter
Romantic comedy: depicts burgeoning romance in humorous terms and focuses on the foibles of those who are falling in love.

10. Shakespearean Comedy A greater emphasis on situations than characters
A struggle of young lovers to may overcome difficulty, often presented by elders
Separation and re-unification
Deception of characters (especially mistaken identity)
A clever servant
Disputes between characters, often within a family

11. Interesting climax often with an unexpected twist
Multiple, intertwining plots
Use of all styles of comedy (slapstick, puns, dry humor, witty banter)
Pastoral element (courtly people living an idealized, rural life)
A happy ending