Much Ado About Nothing

1. Much Ado About Nothing By William Shakespeare

2. Components of a Shakespearean Comedy • A greater emphasis on situations than characters (this numbs the audience's connection to the characters, so that when characters experience misfortune, the audience still finds it laughable) • A struggle of young lovers to overcome difficulty, often presented by elders • Separation and re-unification • Deception among characters (especially mistaken identity) • A clever servant • Disputes between characters, often within a family • Multiple, intertwining plots • Use of all styles of comedy (slapstick, puns, dry humor, earthy humor, witty banter, practical jokes) • Pastoral element (courtly people living an idealized, rural life), originally an element of Pastoral Romance, exploited by Shakespeare for his comic plots and often parodied therein for humorous effects • Happy Ending

3. Setting – Messina, Italy • Around the end of the 15th century • 1479

4. What does the title actually mean? That everyone is upset and/or excited over things that really are NOT a big deal or a problem.

5. Basic Plot or Storyline • The story revolves around 2 couples:Beatrice and Benedick & Hero and Claudio • Beatrice and Benedick: the seem to hate each other at the beginning of the play • Hero and Claudio -- they are truly innocent and in love for real But, does the course of love ever really run smoothly? Don’t forget to look for the elements of a comedy as you watch!

6. Leonato • The father of Hero and the uncle of Beatrice. • He is the governor of Messina and a respected, well-to-do, elderly nobleman. The action of the play takes place in his home. He is the second in status only to Don Pedro, the Prince.

7. Hero • The beautiful young daughter of Leonato and cousin to Beatrice. She is lovely, gentle, and innocent. • She loves Claudio.

8. Antonio • Leonato’s elderly brother. • Uncle to Hero and Beatrice.

9. Ursula • One of Hero’s waiting women. • She is older, wiser, and of a higher class than Margaret.

10. Beatrice • The niece of Leonato and cousin to Hero. • She is extremely quick-witted and sarcastic. • She frequently amuses her friends and relatives with elaborate stories and jokes. • She is generous and good-hearted and has a tendency to use her wit to mock and tease others. • Benedick is the target of her harshest mockery

11. Don Pedro • A very important nobleman from Aragon. He is often referred to as The Prince. • He is a longtime friend of Leonato, Hero’s father. • He is close to the soldiers he leads (Benedick and Claudio) • He is generous, courteous, and intelligent • Very loving to his friends but is quick to believe evil wrongdoings and very hasty to take revenge • The most politically and socially powerful character in the play

12. Verges • The deputy to Dogberry

13. Don John • Don Pedro’s illegitimate half brother. • Sometimes referred to as The Bastard. • He is melancholy and sullen • He creates • He has a dark scheme to ruin the happiness of Hero and Claudio. • He is the Villian of the play • He is motivated mainly by his envy and jealousy for his brother’s power and authority.

14. Claudio • A young soldier who has won great honor fighting in wars under Don Pedro. • He falls in love with Hero upon his return to Messina. • He is valiant and loving • He is gullible and quick to believe nasty rumors. • He is quick to feel betrayed by those close to him.

15. Benedick • A gentleman and soldier who has recently been fighting at war along with Don Pedro. • He is a close friend to Don Pedro and Claudio. • He is like Beatrice in that he is very witty and mocking of others • He is full of elaborate jokes, comparisons, and puns. • He swears he will never marry. • He is critical of women and does not trust that they won’t cheat on him.

16. Dogberry • The chief of police of Messina. • He is in charge of the watch. • He is very sincere and takes his job very seriously. • He has a habit of using the wrong word when speaking. • One of the few middle class characters • He has a desire to speak formally and elaborately like a nobleman (many parodies and humorous exchanges are based on this quality)

17. Margaret and Borachio • Hero’s serving woman • She unknowingly helps Borachio and Don John to deceive Claudio into thinking Hero cheated on him. • She is lower class, honest, loves to break decorum • Tells dirty jokes • Borachio conspires with Don John to trick Claudio and Don Pedro into thinking that Hero cheated on Claudio. • He is mistrustful and easily bribed • His name means drunkard in Italian • Lovers

18. Conrade • One of Don John’s intimate associates. • Devoted to Don John and his schemes.