Much Ado About Nothing: Act 4

Act 4, Scene 1
The wedding of Hero and Claudio. The Friar, Francis, begins the marriage ceremony by asking Claudio if he comes to marry Hero. Claudio says "No". Leonato thinks Claudio is joking about the fact that the Friar is "marrying" them, while Claudio comes to "be married to" her. The Friar asks Hero if she comes to be married to Claudio. She says she does. The Friar asks for objections, and Claudio asks Hero if she knows any. She says she doesn't. Claudio begins to get a little worked up but doesn't directly say why, and Benedick attempts to lighten the situation (since he has no idea what is going on). Claudio then tells Leonato that Hero is not a virgin. Leonato tells Claudio that it's no big deal if he has slept with her, and Claudio has predicted this answer, it's not a problem, since they've agreed to be married and simply saw each other as husband and wife already. Nope, Claudio says, he never even tried to sleep with her - Hero slept with another man. Hero, obviously, is shocked. Don Pedro backs up Claudio's claim. Leonato says he must be dreaming, but Don John (who invited him!?) also backs up the story. Claudio asks Hero, in front of everyone, if she talked with anyone outside her window between midnight and one last night, and she says she didn't. Don Pedro tells Leonato that she is lying, that they saw her talking with a man last night. Leonato is overcome, and says "Hath no man's dagger here a point for me?", meaning that he would rather die than have to deal with this. The accusers leave. Hero faints, and Beatrice runs to her, calling for help from three people: Leonato, the Friar, and Benedick. Leonato says that Hero's death would be preferable to her being alive as such a whore. Leonato goes on a whole long monologue about how he loved Hero so much and was so proud of her, but now she is a shame on him. Benedick tells Leonato to calm down and expresses his shock at the situation, saying he doesn't know what to say. Trying to reason the situation out, he asks Beatrice if she slept in Hero's room last night. She didn't, which Leonato takes as proof that Hero was cheating on her fiancee. Hero regains consciousness and tells Leonato that if they can prove she did what she is accused of, to feel free to "refuse me, hate me, torture me to death." Benedick works out that they must have been tricked by Don John, since they otherwise are very honorable people. Leonato says he doesn't know. If they're right about Hero, than "these [Leonato's] hands shall tear her"; if they're wrong, they'll tear them. The Friar suggests that they pretend that Hero is dead, which will cause Claudio to regret what he has done, while the rest of them get the proof that Hero has been falsely accused. Benedick advises Leonato to do as the Friar suggests, and says that even though he is very good friends with Claudio and Don Pedro, he is on Hero's side. Everyone else leaves, and Benedick finds Beatrice crying. He asks if she has been crying the whole time, and she says she has. He says he doesn't want that, and she says it doesn't matter - she can't help it. She says she wishes there is someone who could avenge Hero, but there isn't anyone. Benedick takes the moment to say the most beautiful, romantic thing I have ever heard and it gives me butterflies every time I read it: "I do love nothing in the world so well as you. Is not that strange?" Beatrice says she could just as easily say the same to him, but don't believe her...although she isn't lying. Benedick, pleasantly surprised, says, "By my sword, Beatrice, thou lovest me." But Beatrice isn't so quick to believe that this mutual love is true, but Benedick insists, and this happens:
Beatrice: You have stayed me in a happy hour. I was about to protest I loved you.
Benedick: And do so, with all thy heart.
Beatrice: I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest.
Are you dead at how cute and sweet and romantic and beautiful and perfect this is? Because I am.
Then Benedick says he will do anything for her, and she tells him to kill Claudio. Obviously, he's like no way, even though he loves her. But in a long few passages, Beatrice tells Benedick how unfair it is that women can have their honor taken from them by men and have no way to defend themselves - they have to rely on men. And what's more, it is so easy for men to be believed, even though Claudio and Don Pedro had no proof other than what they think they saw. Benedick asks if Beatrice is sure that they have wronged her, and she affirms. Benedick then pledges to challenge Claudio for Hero's honor, and they leave the church.

Act 4, Scene 2
Dogberry, Verges, and the sexton are interrogating Borachio and Conrade. Dogberry says that he knows they are liars, and Conrad says that they aren't. The same repeats with Borachio. The sexton tells Dogberry to call forth the members of the watch who overheard Borachio and Conrade talking about what happened regarding Hero. The watchmen tell the sexton what they heard them say. The sexton tells Borachio and Conrade what happened at the wedding, and that their plan appears to have worked. He tells Dogberry to take them to Leonato's house. Conrade calls Dogberry an ass, and Dogberry goes off. Then they all leave.

Much Ado About Nothing: Act 3

Act 3, Scene 1
Hero tells one of her servants, Margaret, to get Beatrice from the parlor and tell her that Hero and Ursula are in the orchard talking about her. Knowing that Beatrice is nosy, she'll come out to eavesdrop and Part 2 of the Plan to Get Beatrice and Benedick Together can begin. Hero reminds Ursula of their jobs - like Don Pedro, Leonato, and Claudio, the two will discuss how madly in love Benedick is with her and how great a guy he is. Hero and Ursula see Beatrice is sneakily running over to hear them. Hero starts off by saying (so Beatrice can hear) that Beatrice is too disdainful and then Ursula drops the bomb: "But are you sure that Benedick loves Beatrice so entirely?" Hero confirms that Don Pedro and Claudio have told her so, and asked her to tell Beatrice, but knowing Beatrice's personality, she knows that she will only mock him, and so to save his feelings, they should keep it secret and let him get over her himself. Just like the guys did about Beatrice, the girls go over all of Benedick's good qualities - he's young and handsome, smart, and noble. But Beatrice seems to find something wrong with any man, and it's not becoming of her. After repeating Benedick's good qualities a few times, Ursula asks Hero when she will be married. Hero tells her that she and Claudio will be married tomorrow, and then asks her to come inside and help her pick out what to wear. They leave, and Beatrice is shocked. She has a little monologue about how she can hardly believe it, but vows to return his love and also to marry him (which is her own idea). Like Benedick, she admits that she has always known his good qualities and that he does deserve her love.

Act 3, Scene 2
While with Benedick and Leonato, Don Pedro tells Claudio that he's planning to return home to Aragon after the wedding. Claudio offers to go with him (literally right after he's married, what the heck?) but Don Pedro tells him that Benedick will come with him since of course he has always managed to avoid love (can't you see the three of them shooting side glances at Benedick as he says this?). But Benedick says he isn't feeling himself. Claudio hopes (out loud) that he's in love. No denial from Benedick, who just says he has a toothache, which - fun fact - was thought to be a symptom of falling in love back in the day. They tease him, but Benedick just says "Well, every one can master a grief but he that has it." Now Claudio is sure he's in love. Claudio, Don Pedro, and Leonato note that he seems to be taking special care of his appearance nowadays. Yep, they conclude, he's definitely in love. And what's more, they tease, they know a certain someone who loves him. Don Pedro jokes that she must not know him very well, if she's in love with him. Not at all, insists Claudio, she knows everything about him, even his bad qualities, and is still madly in love with him. Benedick is annoyed and takes Leonato aside. Don Pedro and Claudio are shocked at how well their plan is working and figure that he's talking to him about Beatrice. With Benedick and Leonato gone, Don John appears. He has something very important to tell Don Pedro, which Claudio should hear, too, since it involves him. Don John begins by saying that he cares about Claudio, even if it seems he doesn't, and that it is because of his care for him that he must know that his fiancee, Hero, has been unfaithful. He says if the two come with him tonight, they will be able to see for themselves. Claudio and Don Pedro don't believe it, but Don John tells them they will when they see everything. Claudio says that if this is true, not only will he not marry Hero tomorrow, but he will publicly shame her. Don Pedro vows to work with Claudio to disgrace her as well, if this proves to be true. Dear lord.

Act 3, Scene 3
The head of the police force, Dogberry, and his assistant, Verges, give out the evening's assignments to the rest of their police force. Two of the men, Hugh Otecake and George Seacole, are apparently the best of the force because they can read and write. We've set a high bar, here, folks. Dogberry calls out Seacole to be in charge of "comprehending" (he means apprehending) vagrants. Words are a recurring problem with Dogberry, by the way. Seacole wonders what he should do if they don't comply. Just let them go, Dogberry says, and be thankful that you no longer have to deal with him. Dogberry reminds the watch not to talk, and one watchman says they will sleep instead, as the watch should. Good, says Dogberry, just make sure no one steals your stuff. Then Dogberry gives similar advice regarding drunks at the ale-houses - tell them to get to bed, and if they don't, leave them alone until they are sober. If they've found a thief, make him prove that he's a thief by letting him steal from them. Verges tells Dogberry that he is a merciful man. They go on in this way for a little while, and then the two leave. Borachio enters with Conrade, another of Don John's henchmen. One of the watchmen takes note of the two and tells the rest of the company to pay attention to them. Borachio tells Conrade that Don John has paid him in gold for the crime. Conrade is shocked he's paid so much, but Borachio tells him that when a rich criminal needs a poor criminal's services, the poor one is able to ask for a lot of money. They talk about apparel, and Borachio uses the word "deformed", which one of the watchmen believes is the name of a criminal that he is quite familiar with. Borachio asks Conrade if he is hearing a noise, but Conrade says no. Borachio then tells Conrade everything he did - he and Margaret appeared at the window as planned, and since Don John had already told them what to expect, Don Pedro and Claudio fell for it. The watchmen jump out of their hiding place and tell them to come with them, which Borachio and Conrade agree to do.

Act 3, Scene 4
Hero tells Ursula to wake up Beatrice and tell her to join them in Hero's room. Hero and Margaret disagree over what Hero should wear to her wedding. Margaret, who is prone to dirty jokes, teases Hero about her soon being married. Beatrice arrives and is sounding congested. Hero asks her if she is feeling sick, and she says she is. She also says this: "By my troth, I am exceeding ill: Heigh-ho!" which as we will remember she said she would say if she ever wanted a husband, which of course she would never. Margaret playfully teases Beatrice a little and Beatrice is a little defensive. Margaret suggests just the thing for her little cold is a bit of distilled Carduus Benedictus (which was a common remedy for ailments back in the day). Obviously, Beatrice gets even more defensive and accuses Margaret of having some particular reason for suggesting Benedictus. Nope, says Margaret. And Beatrice is not to be mistaken; Margaret certainly doesn't think Beatrice is in love. Although...Benedick had a similar attitude, and now appears to be showing signs of love. Ursula appears and tells the three that everyone is arriving for the wedding, and Hero asks them to help her get dressed.

Act 3, Scene 5
Dogberry and Verges approach Leonato about some concerns they have, but Leonato doesn't want to hear it - his daughter is getting married and he is very busy. He gives them a little time, though, and the two say that they have detained two suspicious characters, whom they would like Leonato to take a look at. But Leonato tells them to do it themselves. A messenger arrives to bring Leonato to the wedding, and Dogberry and Verges go to examine the men they have captured (being Borachio and Conrade).

Much Ado About Nothing: Act 2

Act 2, Scene 1: Beatrice, Hero, Antonio, and Leonato are discussing Don John, a man whom both Beatrice and Hero have a bad feeling about. Beatrice says that he is too quiet, and that Benedick (who was not being discussed until she brought him up, as per usual) is too talkative. If there was a man somewhere in the middle of the two, and handsome and wealthy and of a good family, any girl would go crazy for him. Leonato and Antonio think she's being too picky, and Beatrice insists she is thankful that God has not sent her a husband, then says she couldn't stand a husband with a beard - which, and we don't know this yet by the text, Benedick has. Is he on her mind a little bit? Is he ever not on her mind? She then jokes about the stereotype that unmarried women lead apes into hell, but she won't because the devil won't have her. Antonio then tells Hero that he hopes she will listen to her father, but Beatrice tells her that she shouldn't take a husband unless she likes him. The guests arrive for the masquerade, and Don Pedro asks Hero to walk with him. Balthasar dances with Margaret, whom he is interested in, and she flirts back. Ursula dances with Antonio, whom she knows immediately, but he pretends he is just pretending to be Antonio. Beatrice dances with Benedick (who is in a mask). It's not clear whether or not she knows who it is, but regardless, she brings up the topic of Benedick again, who has apparently told her she gets her wit out of a book, the Hundred Merry Tales. Benedick pretends not to know who Benedick is, and Beatrice throws out some more insults, saying he is the prince's jester and a dull fool. Meanwhile, Don John and Borachio go up to Claudio (knowing that it is Claudio, but pretending to think it's Benedick) and tell him that Don Pedro is going to ask Hero to marry him tonight. Claudio is hurt, and when Benedick (the real Benedick) comes up to chat, he is not in the mood. The whole mess is straightened out when Don Pedro tells Claudio and Benedick that he has talked to Hero and Leonato and that they have agreed that Hero and Claudio can be married. Benedick, meanwhile, complains to Don Pedro, going on and on about how awful she is, and right in the middle of this gargantuan monologue, throws in this little gem: "I would not marry her, though she were endowed with all that Adam had left him before he transgressed." Can we just note that no one at any point has even suggested that Benedick should marry Beatrice? I love it. He leaves when he sees Beatrice approach and she then reveals to Don Pedro that there was something between them in the past, and that she has "lost his heart". I'll discuss my theory on their previous relationship later. She also says this: "So I would he should not do me, my lord, lest I should prove the mother of fools." I thought that "mother of fools" was a metaphor. Like "queen of the idiots" or something. Nope. She's literally talking about being the mother of Benedick's children. You know, as she insists that she hates him. Okay, Beatrice. Sure. These two little chats with Don Pedro are pretty funny because they are insisting they hate each other by insisting that they would never marry/have children with each other, on no provocation. That's not exactly the best method of getting that point across. I think they doth protest too much, don't you? It is these little interactions that inspires Don Pedro to get them together. He gets Leonato, Claudio, and Hero and they decide to play a little trick on them to get them to admit their feelings.

Act 2, Scene 2
Don John and Borachio come up with their plan to split up Claudio and Hero. Borachio and Margaret, with whom he has been involved for a while now, will appear at Hero's window, and Don John will bring Claudio to see them and think that Hero is cheating on him.

Act 2, Scene 3
Benedick is out in Leonato's orchard and talks to himself about how he is surprised that Claudio has changed his opinion on love. He wonders if he will ever change his opinion, but figures he won't. And then begins his friends' plan to do exactly that. Don Pedro, Leonato, and Claudio arrive in the orchard joined by Balthasar, who sings a song about how men are unfaithful. Then, Don Pedro, Leonato, and Claudio begin their trick, saying that Beatrice is madly in love with Benedick but cannot tell him because she knows he would mock her, since she would mock him if he told her he loves her. Apparently, Hero thinks Beatrice will do something awful since she is so tormented by her love for Benedick. But they think Benedick shouldn't be told of her love, since they know he will mock her. They talk about what a shame it is, since Beatrice is so beautiful and smart, and such a good person. They say that Benedick, despite also being attractive and smart, is unworthy of her love. Happy with their trick, they leave Benedick alone in the orchard, where he begins a monologue all about how shocked he is, but he believes them. He has decided to return Beatrice's love, and reminds himself that it is true that she is beautiful and smart and good, which he already knew. Beatrice then comes to bring him into dinner, and despite being as sassy as always to him, Benedick now thinks that he can see her hidden affection.

Much Ado About Nothing: Act 1

A few days ago I put on hold a copy of No Fear Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing from the library. My entire library system has one copy of this book, which was checked out but said it was due on the 9^th. It is now the 14^th and the online catalogue is showing the same thing. And yes, I’m being cheap and reading No Fear Shakespeare because I want to understand it. That’s the whole point of this thing.

So today I ventured into the attic to get down our own home copy of Much Ado, which I promise you was only in the attic because I had forgotten its perfection since the 10^th grade.  And I couldn’t find the box it was in and so now, at least for now, I’m relying on the text on the internet.

This version is the real deal, no convenient modern-language translation on the side accompanying me on my journey back to 1598. Luckily for me, I know the story well so hopefully this shouldn’t be too hard.

Act 1, Scene 1: We are introduced to the main characters of the show; first, the family of Leonato, the governor of Messina, which includes his daughter, Hero, and his niece, Beatrice. Beatrice lives with her uncle Leonato and is like a sister to Hero, of whom she is very protective. It is established that she has an ongoing antagonistic relationship with a popular young soldier, Benedick. Her very first line in the play is asking if he’s back from the war. She mocks him, but he’s the only one she asks after. While everyone else likes him, Beatrice, for a reason not initially established, is annoyed by him, and the fact that everyone likes him so much further annoys her. But everyone likes her, too, even though her outspoken nature would be unusual for a young woman of the time. Benedick arrives with the rest of the military company, including the prince of Aragon, Don Pedro, and Claudio, Benedick’s good friend, and Benedick and Beatrice immediately pick up where they’ve clearly left off, in a rapid-fire battle of insults. Meanwhile, Claudio has taken note of Hero, whom he knew a little the last time he was in Messina, but didn’t see in a romantic light until now. He asks Benedick what he thinks of her, but Benedick is not quite as overtaken with feeling as Claudio. In fact, Benedick notes that Beatrice is way more beautiful than Hero, saying, “There’s her cousin, an she were not possessed with a fury, exceeds her as much in beauty as the first of May doth the last of December.” Are you swooning? Because I am. But don’t expect him to be getting married any time soon. He is dead set against marriage, and is disappointed that Claudio, who held more or less the same opinion as him, is beginning to change his mind. But Don Pedro is much more into the idea than Benedick, and he tells Claudio that he will woo Hero for him in disguise at the masquerade ball later that night.

Best quotes:

Leonato: “How many gentlemen have you lost in this action?” Messenger: “But few of any sort, and none of name.”

“Has anyone died?” “Oh, no one important."

Messenger: “I see, lady, the gentleman is not in your books.” Beatrice: “No; an he were, I would burn my study."

            I don’t know. I just think this is one of her best insults.

Also please enjoy two pieces of foreshadowing regarding Beatrice and Benedick.

FIRST: Don Pedro says to Benedick “Thou was ever an obstinate heretic in the despite of beauty”. Meaning that Benedick still holds his stubborn opinions of love even when there’s a beautiful woman. And which woman did Benedick literally just say was beautiful? Beatrice, obviously.

AND THEN: Don Pedro says to Claudio “Thou wilt be like a lover presently and tire the hearer with a book of words.” This quote refers to the idea that lovers talk to each other so much that they drive everyone around them crazy. Which is ironic, considering Claudio and Hero barely talk to each other at all (Don Pedro woos Hero for Claudio, for goodness' sake!); meanwhile, who cannot shut up but Beatrice and Benedick?

Act 1, Scene 2

In this short little scene, Leonato’s brother, Antonio, tells Leonato that he overheard Don Pedro and Claudio talking about how one of them is interested in Hero, but he thinks it’s Don Pedro that loves her. Leonato says that he isn’t going to ask him about it but wait for him to bring it up first.

Act 1, Scene 3

Another short scene. Don John’s “henchman” Borachio has also overheard Don Pedro and Claudio, but he gets the message right that it is Claudio that likes Hero. Don John sees an opportunity to cause chaos, which he is looking to do since Claudio has taken all of the glory from the war that Don John believes is his own.

Best quotes:

Don John: “Will it serve any model to build mischief on?”

            This is like the most innocent sounding threatening statement ever. Probably solely due to the use of the word ‘mischief’.

Don John [referring to Hero]: “A very forward March-chick."

What does this mean and why is it so funny to me?

Update: Apparently it means that she's young.

Much Ado About Nothing: The Setting

Much Ado About Nothing is set in the Italian port city of Messina, in what was then the present day, or the turn of the 17th century. Messina is a real place on the island of Sicily. It is one of Italy's biggest cities, with a population today of more than 250,000. Its main exports are all of the traditional Italian fare: wine, olives, lemons, and oranges. Fun fact: it may have been the place at which the Black Death entered Europe. Fun!



There are three other locations mentioned in the play - the hometowns of the three main male characters. They are:

• Padua, Italy - hometown of Benedick

• Padua is a city in northern Italy (in Veneto), which today has about the same population as that of Messina
• It is claimed to be the oldest city in northern Italy
• Shakespeare set another of his plays there, The Taming of the Shrew
• It has the oldest botanical garden in the world, which opened in 1545, so it was around and operational when Much Ado was taking place
• Its university, The University of Padua, which was founded in 1222, is a very historically significant university, with such professors and students as Copernicus and Galileo
• It also boasts the first female college graduate in the world, Elena Lucrezia Cornaro Piscopia, in 1678. Appropriate, perhaps, that our most feminist character hails from this progressive city, don't you think?

• Florence, Italy - hometown of Claudio

• Florence is also located in northern Italy (in Tuscany), slightly southwest of Padua
• The city itself has a population of almost 400,000, and the metro area has a population of more than 1.5 million
• It's the birthplace of the Renaissance
• The Medici family, one of the most significant families in history, lived in Florence. They were ruling Tuscany while Much Ado was taking place.
• For a short time, it was the capital of the Kingdom of Italy
• Today, it's one of the fashion capitals of the world

• Aragon, Spain - hometown of Don Pedro

• Aragon is a region in northeast Spain
• At the time Much Ado was set, it was very powerful, and much of Italy (including Sicily) was under the crown of Aragon
• The biggest city in Aragon today is the region's capital, Zaragoza
• The region is very geologically diverse, including the Pyrenees mountains

Much Ado About Nothing: Background

About the Play
Written around 1598, Much Ado About Nothing came out mid-way through Shakespeare's career as a writer, at a time when he was churning out hit after hit, including Much Ado. The first known publication was in 1600, in the First Quarto, and was then published again in 1623 in the First Folio.

Interestingly, it is theorized that Much Ado may be the missing play that went by the title Love's Labours Won, initially thought to be a sequel to Love's Labours Lost (which I will be reading in July).

It is one of the only Shakespeare plays written almost entirely in prose.

It has been performed on Broadway 14 times, most recently in the 1984-1985 season.

Much Ado About Nothing: An Intro

Much Ado About Nothing is the only one of the ten plays that I’ve already read, so I’m starting with this one. I first read it in tenth grade (2011-2012) and immediately fell in love with the characters and their story. The play revolves around two pairs of people: Hero and Claudio, a sweet, romantic couple hoping soon to be married, and Beatrice and Benedick, two witty, intelligent young adults who are locked in an antagonistic battle of words. 

Normally, I would say why this play caught my attention, but I've already read it, so I'll tell you a little bit why I love it so much.


The number one reason I'm obsessed with this play is Beatrice and Benedick. I'll go into more detail as we read, but I will tell you that I love that these are two independent characters who don't ever need to change who they are in order to be liked by anyone. They are unconventional and headstrong and their friends love them for it.


Dogberry (the head of the police force in Messina, Italy where the story is set) and his ridiculous antics are genuinely funny, and what's funnier still is when other characters (like Don Pedro, Claudio and Benedick's friend and fellow soldier) mess with him.


It's a really interesting commentary on true love. I won't give too much away, but I'll say that the rules of convention are thrown out the window when you see which couple has a happy ending (technically, all couples involved have a happy ending, but one definitely more so than the other).


Thus begins our study of Much Ado About Nothing. Tomorrow we'll do a look into the background of the play.