Much Ado About Nothing

1
Much Ado About Nothing

• Its actually something.

2
"Friendship is constant in all other thingsSave
in the office and affairs of loveTherefore all
hearts in love use their own tonguesLet every
eye negotiate for itselfAnd trust no agent."-
William Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing, 2.1
3
The Story

• The setting Near Messina, Italy
• Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy written
  by William Shakespeare about two pairs of lovers,
  Benedick and Beatrice, and Claudio and Hero.
• Benedick and Beatrice are engaged in a "merry
  war" they both talk a mile a minute and proclaim
  their scorn for love, marriage, and each other.
  In contrast, Claudio and Hero are sweet young
  people who are rendered practically speechless by
  their love for one another. By means of "noting"
  (which sounds the same as "nothing," and which is
  gossip, rumour, and overhearing), Benedick and
  Beatrice are tricked into confessing their love
  for each other, and Claudio is tricked into
  rejecting Hero at the altar. However, Dogberry, a
  Constable who is a master of malapropisms,
  discovers the evil trickery of the villain, the
  bastard Don John. In the end, Don John is
  captured and everyone else joins in a dance
  celebrating the marriages of the two couples.
  Source www.wikipedia.com

4
The Characters
5
Claudio

• A really good soldier
• People talk about how awesome he was in battle
• Hes romantic
• Best friend of Benedick
• In love with Hero
• A bit gullible and naïve.

6
Hero

• Daughter of Leonato
• Cousin to Beatrice
• Sweet, graceful heroine
• Becomes the victim of Don Johns evil plot

7
Beatrice

• Strong-willed and outspoken
• Heros cousin and Leonatos niece
• Witty and engages in a war of words with Benedick
• Falls in love with Benedick

8
Benedick

• Very outspoken
• An avowed bachelor and Beatrices sparring
  partner.
• Falls in love with Beatrice
• Vows to fight Claudio for the wrong he does to
  Hero

9
Don Pedro

• Prince of Aragon.
• Returns to Messina after conquering a rebellion
  staged by his brother, Don John.
• He woos Hero for Claudio
• He is a key player in getting Benedick and
  Beatrice together.

10
Leonato

• Govenor of Messina
• Father of Hero
• Uncle of Beatrice
• Easily swayed by appearances (like Claudio)

11
Don John

• Don Pedros illegitimate brother
• Started a mutiny against his brother
• Represents pure evil
• Conceives the evil plot in which Hero is a victim
• Bitter and angry at the world.

12
Dogberry, Verges, and the Watch

• Dogberry is the hapless constable.
• All his companions are dim-witted and wordy.
• He investigates the plot against Hero.
• Sometimes hinders the investigation.
• The watch overhear Borachio and Conrade talking
  about the plot.

13
Other characters

• Borachio close friend of Don John, who is paid
  to deceive Claudio and defame Hero.
• Conrade one of two close companions assisting
  Don John in his scheme.
• Margaret Heros maid-in-waiting. She is an
  unwitting accomplice in the scheme against Hero.
• Balthasar a singer attending Don Pedro.
• Ursula another of Heros maids-in-waiting.