Much Ado About Nothing: comedy by William Shakespeare (1623)

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING IS A COMEDY BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE THOUGHT TO HAVE BEEN WRITTEN IN 1598 AND 1599 AS SHAKESPEARE WAS APPROACHING THE MIDDLE OF HIS CAREER. THE PLAY WAS INCLUDED IN THE FIRST FOLIO PUBLISHED IN 1623.By means of noting (which in Shakespeares day sounded similar to nothing as in the plays title and which means 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 on the erroneous belief that she has been unfaithful. At the end Benedick and Beatrice join forces to set things right and the others join in a dance celebrating the marriages of the two couples.In Messina a messenger brings news that Don Pedro a prince from Aragon will return that night from a successful battle alongside Claudio and Benedick. Beatrice niece of Leonato a governor of Messina asks the messenger about Benedick and makes sarcastic remarks about his ineptitude as a soldier. Leonato explains that There is a kind of merry war betwixt Signor Benedick and her.Upon the soldiers arrival Leonato welcomes Don Pedro and invites him to stay for a month Benedick and Beatrice resume their merry war and Pedros illegitimate brother Don John is introduced. Claudios feelings for Hero Leonatos only daughter are rekindled upon seeing her and Claudio soon announces to Benedick his intention to court her. Benedick who openly despises marriage tries to dissuade his friend but Don Pedro encourages the marriage. Benedick swears that he will never get married. Don Pedro laughs at him and tells him that when he has found the right person he shall get married.A masquerade ball is planned in celebration of the end of the war giving a disguised Don Pedro the opportunity to woo Hero on Claudios behalf. Don John uses this situation to get revenge on him by telling Claudio that Don Pedro is wooing Hero for himself. A furious Claudio confronts Don Pedro but the misunderstanding is quickly resolved and Claudio wins Heros hand in marriage.Meanwhile Benedick disguises himself and dances with Beatrice who proceeds to tell this mystery man that Benedick is the princes jester a very dull fool. Enraged by her words Benedick swears he will have revenge. Don Pedro and his men bored at the prospect of waiting a week for the wedding concoct a plan to match-make between Benedick and Beatrice. They arrange for the former to overhear a conversation in which they declare that the latter is madly in love with him but is too afraid to tell him as their pride is the main impediment to their courtship. Meanwhile Hero and her maid Ursula ensure Beatrice overhears them discuss Benedicks undying love for her. The tricks have the desired effect: both Benedick and Beatrice are delighted to think they are the object of unrequited love and both accordingly resolve to mend their faults and reconcile.