The earliest printed text states that Much Ado About Nothing was "sundry times publicly acted" prior to 1600. One version of the Claudio–Hero plot is told by Edmund Spenser in The Faerie Queene (Book II, Canto iv). But the witty wooing of Beatrice and Benedick is apparently original, and very unusual in style and syncopation. The character of Benedick has a counterpart in a commentary on marriage in Orlando Furioso. Another version, featuring lovers Ariodante and Ginevra, with the servant Dalinda impersonating Ginevra on the balcony, appears in Book V of Orlando Furioso by Ludovico Ariosto (published in an English translation in 1591). Shakespeare's immediate source may have been one of the Novelle ("Tales") by Matteo Bandello of Mantua (possibly the translation into French by François de Belleforest), which dealt with the tribulations of Sir Timbreo and his betrothed Fenicia Lionata, in Messina, after King Piero's defeat of Charles of Anjou. In the sixteenth century, stories of lovers deceived into believing each other false were common currency in northern Italy. Hero, John William Wright (c.1849) Sources The couples dance and celebrate as the play ends. As the play draws to a close, a messenger arrives with news of Don John's capture, but Benedick proposes to postpone deciding Don John's punishment until tomorrow, so the couples can enjoy their newfound happiness. Don Pedro taunts "Benedick the married man", and Benedick counters that he finds the Prince sad, advising him: "Get thee a wife". Beatrice and Benedick publicly confess their love for each other. Īfter Claudio swears to marry this other bride, this bride is revealed to be Hero. Claudio, remorseful and thinking Hero dead, agrees to her father's demand that he marry Antonio's daughter, "almost the copy of my child that's dead". Don John has fled, but a force is sent to capture him.
Despite their ineptness (headed by constable Dogberry), they obtain a confession and inform Leonato of Hero's innocence. On the night of Don John's treachery, the local Watch overheard Borachio and Conrade discussing their "treason" and "most dangerous piece of lechery that ever was known in the commonwealth", and arrested them therefore. "Much Ado About Nothing", Act IV, Scene 2, the Examination of Conrade and Borachio (from the Boydell series), Robert Smirke (n.d.) Claudio and Don Pedro are duped, and Claudio vows to publicly humiliate Hero. He tells Don Pedro and Claudio that Hero is "disloyal", and arranges for them to see his associate, Borachio, enter her bedchamber and engage amorously with her (it is actually Hero's chambermaid). Meanwhile, Don John plots to stop the wedding and embarrass his brother and wreak misery on Leonato and Claudio. Both Benedick and Beatrice are delighted to think that they are the object of unrequited love, and both resolve to mend their faults and declare their love. Hero and Ursula likewise ensure that Beatrice overhears a conversation in which they themselves discuss Benedick's undying love for her. They arrange for Benedick to overhear a conversation in which they declare that Beatrice is madly in love with him but too afraid to tell him. 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. Benedick is stung at hearing himself described as "the prince's jester, a very dull fool", and yearns to be spared the company of "Lady Tongue". Meanwhile, Benedick and Beatrice have danced together, trading disparaging remarks under cover of their masks. But the misunderstanding is later resolved, and Claudio is promised Hero's hand in marriage. Claudio rails against the entrapments of beauty. Don John uses this situation to sow chaos by telling Claudio that Don Pedro is wooing Hero for himself. Therein a disguised Don Pedro woos Hero on Claudio's behalf.
Don Pedro laughs at him, and tells him that he will when he has found the right person.Ī masquerade ball is planned. Benedick swears that he will never marry. Benedick, who openly despises marriage, tries to dissuade him. Claudio's feelings for Hero are rekindled, and he informs Benedick of his intention to court her. Pedro's illegitimate brother, Don John, is also introduced. On the soldiers' arrival, Leonato invites Don Pedro to stay for a month, and Benedick and Beatrice resume their "merry war". Leonato explains that "There is a kind of merry war betwixt Signor Benedick and her."
Beatrice asks the messenger about Benedick, and mocks Benedick's ineptitude as a soldier. In Messina, a messenger brings news that Don Pedro will return that night from a successful battle, along with Claudio and Benedick. A painting of Beatrice by Frank Dicksee, from The Graphic Gallery of Shakespeare's Heroines
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