Much Ado About Nothing

1. Much Ado About Nothing By William Shakespeare

2. Genre Comedy – made up of a series of complications and misunderstandings that are resolved in the end Tragicomedy – the complications in the play have the potential to turn disastrous or even deadly for the character

3. Other Terms Cuckold – a negative term for man whose wife cheats on him; cuckolds are portrayed as having horns Pun – a joke that is based on the fact that word can have more than one meaning or that words with different meanings can sound alike Q: How come a camel is so hard to see in the desert? A: Camel-flage

4. The Title Much Ado About Nothing – a big deal about nothing Nothing is also a pun for noting Much of the play deals with characters “noting” – observing others, overhearing something or writing something down These “notings” are often not accurate – characters mishear, misunderstand what they hear, and report the wrong information

5. Characters Don Pedro – sometimes called “the Prince”; an important nobleman who is close to the soldiers fighting under him Leonato – the governor of Messina; a wealthy nobleman; the play takes place in his home Hero – Leonato’s beautiful young daughter Claudio – a young soldier who falls in love with Hero

6. Characters Benedick – a soldier fighting under Don Pedro; he swears he will never marry and does not trust women Beatrice – Leonato’s niece and cousin of Hero. She can be kind and caring, but also use her wit to tease and mock others. Don John – Don Pedro’s illegitimate half-brother; “the bastard”; he is jealous of his brother

7. Characters Magaret and Ursula – two of Hero’s serving woman Borachio and Conrad – friends of Don John who help him with his evil schemes Dogberry – the chief of police in Messina Verges – the deputy to Dogberry Antonio – Leonato’s older brother; Hero and Beatrice’s uncle Balthasar – a servant and musician in Leonato’s household

8. What’s Your OpinionIs each statement true or false? People choose who they fall in love with. Most men and women eventually cheat. It’s better to stay single than risk being cheated on by your spouse. Men are attracted to women who are assertive and bold. Jealousy in a romantic relationship is a sign of serious problems. Rumors and gossip can destroy even the strongest relationships