William Shakespeare's Works/Comedies/Much Ado About Nothing

Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy by William Shakespeare. It was most likely first performed in 1598 / 1599. The play's style shares many features of the modern romantic comedy and it remains one of Shakespeare's most enduringly popular plays on stage. Brief synopsis The five acts follow two pairs of lovers. Although the romance between Claudio and Hero ostensibly forms the main plot, the action is in fact mostly concerned with their counterparts, Benedick and Beatrice, whose love-hate relationship develops over the course of the play. Deconstruction and scene by scene read through companion /Act 1/ /Act 2/ /Act 3/ /Act 4/ /Act 5/ Dramatis Personæ Don Pedro - the prince Don John - Don Pedro's half brother Claudio - a young lord Benedick - another young lord, friend of Claudio Leonato - a older man, father of Hero Antonio - brother of Leonato Balthazar Borachio - a friend of Don John Conrade - a friend of Don John Dogberry Verges Friar Francis A Sexton A Boy Hero - daughter of Leonato and lover of Claudio Beatrice - cousin of Hero and lover of Benedick Margaret Ursula Messengers Watch Attendants Analyses and Interpretation A brief analysis of the thread of disguise and masking throughout the play Much Ado About Nothing Much Ado About Nothing