Much Ado About Nothing
by
William Shakespeare
Index Page
Slides 1 -2:
Slide 3:
Slide 4:
Slide 5:
Slide 6:
Slide 7:
Slide 8:
Slide 9:
Slide 10:
Slide 11:
Slide 12:
Slide 13:
Slide 14:
Summary
Family Tree
Character of Scout Finch
Character of Atticus
Character of Jem and
Other important characters
Other important characters
Themes
Themes
Themes
Themes
Key Questions and Quotations
Summary – Key Points
Slide 1: Summary – Part 1
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Leonato, is a respectable nobleman, who lives in the Italian town of Messina with
his daughter Hero and niece Beatrice and elderly brother Antonio.
At the start of the play Leonato prepares to welcome his friends from war – his
friends include Don Pedro – a prince and close friend of Leonato and two soldiers
Claudio and Benedick.
Claudio is a well respected nobleman, Benedick is a clever witty man who makes
jokes often to ridicule his friends.
Don John is Don Pedro’s illegitimate brother who is also part of the group. Don
John unlike his brother is sullen and bitter looking to make trouble for others.
The soldiers arrive at Leonato’s home and Claudio falls in love with Hero. Whilst
Benedick and Beatrice flirt through their exchange of witty insults.
Claudio and Hero quickly decide to get married. To pass their time before the
wedding the group of friends decide to get Benedick and Beatrice to stop
fighting and to fall in love with each other, the trick is successful and the two
secretly fall for each other.
Don John in his sullen mood decides to disrupt the fun. He has his friend
Borachio make love to Margaret, Hero’s serving women in Hero’s room late at
night. The make love in the window and Don John brings Claudio and Don Pedro
to watch – thus accusing Hero of having an affair.
Claudio in his anguish accuses Hero of having an affair and abandons her on the
altar on the day of their wedding.
Hero’s humiliated family decide to pretend she has died of grief and shock, and
they hide her away.
Slide 2: Summary- Part 2
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Benedick and Beatrice finally get together
The night watchmen overhear Borachio bragging about his crime and as a result
Dogberry and Verges, the heads of the local police, arrest both Borachio and
Conrad another accomplice.
It becomes apparent that Hero is in fact innocent.
Claudio who believes Hero is dead, grieves for his loss.
Leonato tells Claudio that to pay for his treatment of Hero he must publicly
apologise and tell everybody that she is in fact innocent.
Leonato tells Claudio that he must also marry his niece – a young girl who looks
similar to Hero.
Claudio goes to the church preparing to marry the mysterious niece.
Hero reveals herself as the mysterious niece. Claudio is overwhelmed with joy.
Bendick then asks Beatrice if she will marry him.
The joyful lovers celebrate with a dance and a double wedding.
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This is one of Shakespeare’s comedies.
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Slide 3: Characters – The Family Tree
Leonato
Nobleman and father of
Hero
Antonio – Brother of
Leonato
Beatrice
Hero
Leonato’s niece,
loves Benedick
Leonato’s daughter
loves Claudio
Claudio
Leonato’s friend
and loves Hero
Don Pedro
Friend of
Claudio
Benedick Friend
of Claudio loves
Beatrice
Margaret –
Hero’s serving lady
sleeps with
Borachio
Don John
Illegitimate
brother of
Don Pedro
Borachio
Friend of
Don John
Key
Lovers =
Family =
Friends =
Slide 4: Characters
Don Pedro
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Don Pedro is the most elusive character and also the most noble in the social hierarchy of
the play.
He is friends with Benedick and Claudio and although they are equal in wit and intelligence
,they must rely on him and seek his approval as he is of a higher rank.
Don Pedro is well aware of the power he has. Whether or not he abuses his power is open
to question. Don Pedro unlike his brother Don John uses his authority for a positive end.
Don Pedro manipulates other characters for instance, he insists on wooing Hero for
Claudio himself, while masked, rather than allowing Claudio to profess his love to Hero
first.
Obviously everything does turn out for the best and Don Pedro's motives are purely in the
interest of his friend. However as the audience we are left wandering why Don Pedro feels
a need to create such an elaborate plan merely to inform Hero of Claudio’s romance.
It would appear that it is Don Pedro’s royal right to do what he wishes.
Despite his strange motives he does work to bring about happiness. For example he
convinces Beatrice and Bendick that they love each other, he is responsible for
orchestrating the whole plot and plays the role of director.
Don Pedro is the only one of the three friends not to marry. Benedick jokes in the final
scene that the melancholy prince must “get thee a wife” in order to enjoy true happiness
(V.iv.117).
Don Pedro as a result is sad at the end of the joyous comedy, and the audience are left
asking why? Perhaps he is pained by Beatrice’s refusal to marry him when she assumes he
is joking at the ball, perhaps he does truly love her.
The play as a whole does not give us an explicit reason for Don Pedro's behaviour and
subsequently he becomes a thought provoking and mesmerising character.
Slide 5: Characters
Benedick
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Benedick had recently returned from fighting and vows that he will never marry.
Benedick openly flirts with Beatrice in a battle of wits to outsmart and out insult
each other.
However is is obvious that Benedick does love Beatrice and this is all a rouse.
When Benedick overhears Claudio and Don Pedro discussing Beatrices desire for
Benedick he vows to be “horribly in love with her,” (II.iii.207).
In effect benedick is simply trying to outwit Betarice in the game of love.
Benedick is one of the most dramatic characters in the play. He continually performs
for the benfits of others, he is an entertainer who indulges in wit and playfulness.
He delivers a perfect example of this during the masked ball when he exaggertaes
that Beatrice used him and he expresse to his friends that he would rather be sent
to the farthest corner of the world rather than spend time with his nemesis.
“Will your grace command me any service to the world’s end? I will go on the
slightest errand now to the Antipodes that you can devise to send me on. I will fetch
you a toothpicker from the furthest inch of Asia . . . do you any embassage to the
pigmies, rather than hold three words’ conference with this harpy” (II.i.229–235).
As a result of his flamboyant nature it is not easy to tell if he is in love with Beatrice
all along or if he fall for her during the play.
His refusal to marry doesn’t change over the play, however he does change his mind
when he decides to fall for Beatrice. His refusal to marry could simply be a mask to
hide his true feelings.
The change in Benedick is evident when he challenges Claudio to a dual over Hero’s
unchaste behaviour. This is when the audience realises that Benedick has switched
his allegiances from Claudio his former best friend to Beatrice.
Slide 6: Characters
Beatrice
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Beatrice is Leonato’s niece, although close to her cousin Hero they could not be
more different. Betarice is feisty, cyuncial and witty, and continues to play a
‘merry war’ of wits with Benedick.
The play suggests that Beatrice was once in love with Benedick but he led her on
and the relationship ended.
When Beatrice and Benedick meet again the two compete to outdo each other
with clever insults.
Although she appears hardened and sharp, Beatrice is very vulnerable. Once she
overhears Hero discussing that Benedick is in love with her, she opens herself to
sensitivities and weakness of love.
Beatrice is one of Shakespeare’s strong female characters.
She refuses to marry because she has not discovered the perfect equal partner
and she is unwilling to give up her liberty for a controlling husband.
Beatrice explodes at Claudio when he humiliates Hero. She overtly rages at
Claudio and rebels against the unequal treatment of women. This is supported
when she says
“O that I were a man for his sake! Or that I had any friend would be a man for
my sake!” she passionately exclaims. “I cannot be a man with wishing, therefore I
will die a woman with grieving” (IV.i.312–318).
Slide 7: Characters
Hero
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A beautiful attractive lady. She falls for Claudio almost instantly and is crudely
betrayed by the men in play.
When Claudio accuses her of betrayal she suffers terribly.
Leonato
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A respected and well to do noble.
The action of the play takes place in his home in Messina Italy
As governor of Messina he is second in power only to Don Pedro.
Claudio
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A very young soldier who has won great acclaim fighting under Don Pedro.
He falls quickly in love with Hero and appears to be a fool in love when Don John
deceives him.
His immature attitude allows him to reject Hero as quickly as he accepts her, and
he is hasty when he believes the rumours and takes his revenge on their wedding
day.
Slide 8: Characters
Don John
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Don John is the illegitimate brother of Don Pedro; he is sometimes known as ‘the
bastard’ and is often referred to by this name in the play.
Don John is melancholy and sullen by nature and uses the little power he has to
ruin the happiness in the play, he is the villain of the play, he has an evil attitude
and intends to cause chaos throughout the play. He envies his brother’s power
and authority.
Margaret
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Margaret is Hero’s serving woman, who helps Borachio and Don John deceive
Claudio. Margaret is of a low class, compared to Hero and her other serving
woman Ursula.
Margaret is honest however she does have some dealings in the villanious world of
the play when she helps Don John and her lover Borachio.
Maragaret also likes to break decorum with bawdy jokes and teasing people.
Borachio
Borachio is the lover of Margaret, Hero’s serving woman. He works with Don
John to trick Claudio and Don Pedro.
His name means ‘drunkard’ in Italian, which serves as a subtle direction in the
play.
Slide 9: Themes
Social Grace
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The characters in the play use dense, colourful speech, which represents the ideal that
Renaissance courtiers strove for.
The play’s language uses metaphor and rhetoric throughout. Benedick, Claudio and Don
Pedro all produce the kind of witty banter that courtiers used to attract attention.
Courtiers were expected to speak highly contrived language but to make it appear
effortless. Bendick and his companions try to display this effortless performance in
both their behaviour and language.
The play mocks the fanciful love language that courtiers used. For example when Claudio
falls in love he tries to be perfect as Benedick notes: “His words are a very fantastical
banquet, just so many strange dishes” (II.iii.18–19).
Although the young gallants seem casual in their displays they constantly struggle to
maintain their social position and Benedick and Claudio strive to remain in Don Pedro's
favour.
When Claudio agrees to let Don Pedro woo Hero, it is not because Claudio can not but
that he must stay in Don Pedro’s favour.
When Claudio believes Don Pedro has deceived him and wooed Hero for himself, he
cannot drop his polite civility even though he is enraged. Beatrice jokes that Claudio is
“civil as an orange,” punning on the Seville orange, a bitter fruit (II.i.256).
Claudio remains quiet and polite despite his upset when he speaks of Don Pedro and
Hero: “I wish him joy of her” (II.i.170) Claudio ultimately chooses his obedience to Don
Pedro over his love for Hero.
Claudio’s social propriety eventually leads him into a trap when he believes Don John and
abandons Hero on their wedding day.
Obviously Don John’s plans do not work as Claudio remains in Don Pedro’s favour, and
Hero has to suffer.
Slide 10: Themes
Deception
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This play is based upon deliberate deception. Some of this deception is explicit
whilst others are implicit.
The betrayal of Claudio results in Hero’s disgrace whilst her supposed death
prepares the way for her reconciliation.
In a much more light-hearted way Beatrice and Benedick are deceived into thinking
that each loves the other. Ultimately as a result they fall in love.
Subsequently the play shows that deception is not always a negative experience and
creates love.
It is often difficult to decide what is good deception and what is bad deception.
When Don Pedro woos Hero, Claudio begins to distrust him
believing he has deceived him. As the audiences believe in the illusions of the
theatre it becomes apparent that the play’s characters are believing the illusions
they create for each other.
Bendick and Beatrice flirt at the masked ball however each is aware of the others
presence yet they pretend not to know each other, ultimately deceiving themselves
and each other.
After Claudio has shamed and rejected Hero, Leonato’s household publish her
death. That she died to punish Claudio.
When Claudio comes to marry Leonato’s niece deception takes place in the
institution of marriage, suggesting that the ceremony has little to do with love.
Ultimately deception has positive and negative effects – it is a means to the
resolution of the play. It is used to create an illusion which allows people to
succeed not in love but in social stance.
Slide 11: Themes
Honour
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The wedding ceremony in which Claudio rejects Hero and accuses of her of
infidelity ultimately shaming her in front of her father is the play’s climax.
In Shakespeare's time a woman's worth was based on her virginity and
chaste, for a woman to loose her honour by having sex before marriage
ultimately meant that she would loose her social standing, something from
which she would never recover.
The woman’s shaming would impact the whole family. As a result Leonato
attempts to obliterate Hero completely to shield his family from dishonour.
“Hence from her, let her die” (IV.i.153)
Leonato speaks of a loss of honour and he feels that he cannot escape from
this loss of honour and uses the metaphor of a stain which he can not get rid
of “O she is fallen / Into a pit of ink, that the wide sea / Hath drops too few
to wash her clean again” (IV.i.138–140).
Hero’s loss of honour was a form of complete annihilation
For mean honour depended on friends and acquaintance in a much more
military nature.
Men were more able to depend their honour and the honour of his family by
fighting.
Beatrice wishes for Benedick to avenge Hero’s honour by duelling with
Claudio.
Hero cannot gain her own honour but Benedick can do it for her.
Slide 12: Key Quotations
Key Quotations
Benedick speaks to Claudio and Don Pedro, about how even the wildest men
eventually calm dowm to love and marriage.
The savage bull may, but if ever the sensible Benedick bear it, pluck off the bull’s horns
and set them in my forehead, and let me be vilely painted, and in such great letters
as they write ‘Here is good horse to hire’ let them signify under my sign ‘Here you
may see Benedick, the married man.’ (I.i.215–219)
‘Beatrice gives her witty explanation as to why she will not marry
What should I do with him—dress him in my apparel and make him my waiting
gentlewoman? He that hath a beard is more than a youth, and he that hath no beard
is less than a man; and he that is more than a youth is not for me, and he that is less
than a man, I am not for him (II.i.28–32)
Benedick has overheard Claudio, Leonato, and Don Pedro discussing Beatrice’s
love for him. In a soliloquy he ponders this.
They say the lady is fair. ‘Tis a truth, I can bear them witness. And virtuous—’tis so, I
cannot reprove it. And wise, but for loving me. By my troth, it is no addition to her
wit—nor no great argument of her folly, for I will be horribly in love with her.
(II.iii.204–208)
Slide 13: Key Quotations
Key Quotations
Claudio has openly disgraced Hero at their wedding ceremony, returning her to
Leonato
O Hero! What a Hero hadst thou been
If half thy outward graces had been placed
About thy thoughts and counsels of thy heart!
But fare thee well, most foul, most fair, farewell
Thou pure impiety and impious purity.
For thee I’ll lock up all the gates of love,
And on my eyelids shall conjecture hang
To turn all beauty into thoughts of harm,
And never shall it more be gracious (IV.i.98–106)
Dogberry apprehends Conrad and Borachio and unravels Don John’s plot to deceive
Claudio and ruin Hero
Dost thou not suspect my place? Dost thou not suspect my years? O that he were here
to write me down an ass! But masters, remember that I am an ass. Though it be not
written down, yet forget not that I am an ass. No, thou villain, thou art full of piety,
as shall be proved upon thee by good witness. I am a wise fellow, and which is more,
an officer, and which is more, a householder, and which is more, as pretty a piece of
flesh as any is in Messina, and one that knows the law, go to . . . and one that hath
two gowns, and everything handsome about him. Bring him away. O that I had been
writ down an ass!
(IV.ii.67–78)
Slide 14: Key Questions
Key Questions
1.
Remind yourslef of the whole of Act 5 Scene 4 from where
the Friar says “Did I not tell you she was innocent?” to the
end of the play.
How appropriate do you find this scene as an ending to the
play.
(AQA – June 2006)
2.
What do you find interesting about Shakespeare’s
presentation of Beatrice in the play?
You may confine yourself to two episodes or range more
widely if you prefer.
(AQA – June 2006)
Slide 15: Summary
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The play is one of Shakespeare's comedies and the resolution ends in the
marriage of both couples.
The play is set in Messina in Italy
The action takes place at Leonato’s house
Leonato is Hero’s father and Beatrice’s uncle
Don Pedro, Claudio and Benedick return from war at the start of the play.
Don Pedro is the social supreme in the play.
Don John is the illegitimate bastard brother of Don Pedro.
Benedick and Beatrice fall in love
Hero and Claudio fall in love
The play focuses on the love stories. The main plot centres around the love
and deception of Hero and Claudio’s relationship.
The sub plot follows the fanciful and playful love between Beatrice and
Benedick.
Both Hero and Claudio are deceived by Don John and Borachio.
The play centres around deception – deception has negative and positive
effects in the play.
Leonato is Hero’s father and as a result suffers the shame and deception of
Don John and Borachio.
The play reflects many of the social circumstances of the time such as
honour, love, social standing and social grace.
The use of language is important throughout the play.