Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing plot summary

• Much Ado About Nothing is a play by English playwright William Shakespeare.

• The play is set in Messina, Italy, and tells the story of Beatrice and Benedick, who are always arguing. Their friends plot to make them fall in love with each other.

• The play is a comedy as it contains humour and a happy ending.

Watch the following video to learn about the plot of Much Ado About Nothing:

The play is set in Messina on the Italian island of Sicily. Shakespeare also partially set another of his plays, Antony and Cleopatra, in Messina.

In Messina, a young woman called Beatrice is staying at her uncle Leonato’s house. A group of soldiers are about to arrive at the house, returning from war. These include Benedick, who swears he will always be a bachelor, his fellow soldier, Claudio, and Don Pedro, the Prince of Aragon.

Beatrice and Benedick argue with each other and exchange insults and jokes at each other’s expense.

Don Pedro’s illegitimate half-brother, Don John, is also with the group. He feels that he is treated badly because of his illegitimate status and expresses his hatred for his half-brother, Don Pedro, and Don Pedro’s friends. Soon after arriving, Claudio reveals that he is attracted to Leonato’s daughter, Hero. Don John decides to cause trouble between them.

Later, there is a masked ball. Deliberately trying to cause trouble, Don John tells Claudio that Don Pedro likes Hero and wants to marry her. Claudio believes him and becomes upset.

Meanwhile, Benedick and Beatrice, both wearing masks, continue to insult each other as they dance together. Despite each instantly recognising the other, they pretend not to know each other’s identity. Beatrice is particularly harsh towards Benedick, calling him a “dull fool”.

Don John’s plan fails to work this time, as Don Pedro reassures Claudio that he doesn’t want to marry Hero. Claudio and Hero get engaged and the wedding date is set.

Don Pedro, Leonato and Claudio agree that Benedick and Beatrice would make a good match and try to trick them into falling in love with each other.

They follow Benedick to the orchard, making sure that he can hear them. They talk loudly about how Beatrice is so in love with Benedick. Even though it is all made up, Benedick believes them.

Likewise, Hero and her gentlewoman, Ursula, later make sure that Beatrice overhears them talking about how Benedick is in love with her. Beatrice reflects on what she overhears, and decides that she could love Benedick in return.

Don John continues his plan to ruin Claudio and Hero’s relationship. The night before the wedding, he tells Don Pedro and Claudio that Hero is unfaithful, and that he has proof that another man visits her room at night.

Claudio and Don Pedro are quick to suspect Hero of being unfaithful and agree to witness this for themselves at midnight. Claudio says that if he sees proof that Hero is unfaithful, he will shame her at the altar on their wedding day.

When Claudio and Don Pedro look up at Hero’s room, they see two figures kissing, and Claudio believes that Hero is unfaithful. The two figures are actually Borachio, Don John’s friend, and Margaret, Hero’s gentlewoman.

In Shakespeare’s time, women and men were not treated equally. If Claudio has kissed another woman, he would not have been shamed in the same way Hero is. This reflects the attitudes of the time.

At the wedding, Claudio cruelly shames Hero at the altar in front of everybody and insults her. Leonato and Don Pedro join in criticising Hero. Hero faints and Beatrice is horrified. Apart from Benedick, the other men all leave angrily.

The friar who was conducting the wedding ceremony suggests that Hero pretends to be dead until her innocence can be proven. Hero agrees.

Left alone, Beatrice and Benedick finally admit their love for each other. Benedick says he would do anything to help Beatrice because she is so upset about Hero. Beatrice asks Benedick to kill Claudio for shaming her cousin. Benedick agrees to challenge Claudio to a duel.

Later that night, Constable Dogberry is giving orders to his team of watchmen before they go on duty.

The watchmen overhear Borachio boasting to a friend about his involvement in Don John’s plan to trick Claudio into believing Hero was unfaithful.

At Leonato’s house, Benedick challenges Claudio to a duel. Dogberry soon appears, eager to share his evidence about Don John’s plan, but Leonato struggles to understand what Dogberry is saying.

Eventually, the truth comes out and Hero’s name is cleared, but Claudio still thinks she is dead.

Claudio feels guilty about Hero’s death as a result of his accusations. Leonato tells him to make up for it he must marry Hero’s unnamed cousin in the morning. Claudio agrees.

The next morning, Leonato will not allow Claudio to see the face of his bride until after they are married. After the wedding, he lifts her veil and is amazed to find that she is Hero, who is not dead after all.

After Hero and Claudio happily get married, Benedick comes forward and says he would like to marry Beatrice, despite realising that he has been tricked into declaring his love for her. Beatrice agrees.

Don John is arrested and everyone celebrates the two marriages with a party.