Much Ado About Nothing Summary and Analysis

Act 1, Scene 1 Summary

The play opens with a messenger delivering a message to Leonato, the governor of Messina, announcing that Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon, will arrive shortly at his house. Don Pedro and his followers have emerged victorious after quelling a rebellion started by his bastard half-brother, Don John. The messenger reports that Claudio, a young lord of Florence, has performed especially well and is currently Don Pedro’s favorite. Beatrice, Leonato’s niece, mockingly inquires about a certain Benedick of Padua, who is also a part of Don Pedro’s entourage. The messenger is confused but confirms that Benedick has performed well at the war and is accompanying the group as well. Leonato laughingly explains to the messenger that “there is a kind of merry war” between Beatrice and Benedick, and that whenever they meet there is a “skirmish of wit between them.”

Don Pedro arrives shortly. Don John, his half-brother whom he has defeated, accompanies the group. Leonato and Don Pedro greet each other warmly, and it is decided that the guests will stay in Messina for a month. Benedick and Beatrice exchange barbs and insults, engaging in a war of wits. When Benedick declares proudly that he has never loved a woman and never will, Beatrice sarcastically responds that women everywhere ought to rejoice at this. Beatrice’s final comment indicates that she knows Benedick “of old” and, despite her apparent lightheartedness, was hurt by him in the past.

When everybody has left, Claudio confesses to Benedick that he has fallen in love with Hero, whom he had met earlier before going to war. Benedick disparages Claudio, asking why Claudio would wish to “thrust [his] neck into a yoke.” However, Don Pedro receives this news well and promises Claudio to help him. He decides to disguise himself as Claudio in the upcoming masked ball where he would declare his love for Hero. As Leonato is his friend, he will persuade him too to give his permission to the marriage.

Act 1, Scene 1 Analysis

All the major characters of the play are introduced in the first scene. The two lovers who are at the center of the story are introduced. Hero represents the woman of her time—beautiful, young, and aware of decorum. She is seen but seldom heard. She is deferential toward her father and is waiting for an appropriate suitor to woo her. While she speaks less, she is the subject of the conversation once she leaves.

Beatrice, on the other hand, is sharp-witted. She is older and wiser and takes charge of the conversation. Benedick and Beatrice are perhaps Shakespeare’s most witty characters. None will let the other talk without countering it with a jibe. The hilarity of their exchange starts when Benedick greets Beatrice thus: “What, my dear Lady Disdain! Are you yet living?” When he calls Beatrice a “rare parrot-teacher,” she promptly says, “A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours,” to which Benedick replies, “I would my horse had the speed of your tongue.” It is as if each anticipates the other’s response. Though their insults are biting, their ability to engage in such intelligent, interconnected spats reveals a strong bond between the two. Apparently adversarial, this masks an underlying attraction for one another, a dynamic that has now become almost archetypal in popular culture. This type of relationship is often seen in today’s romantic comedies, but Shakespeare’s Beatrice and Benedick were among the first to embody it in Western drama, which is one of the reasons why the play was received so well.

The rivalry between Don John and Don Pedro is revealed to the audience in the stage direction of “Don John the Bastard.” The second clue to the animosity is seen when Leonato refers to John being “reconciled to the Prince your brother.” It is not until Act I, Scene 3, does the audience learn how his defeat and his subordinate position in his brother’s company humiliates Don John, which leads to his desire for revenge and creating trouble for Claudio who was instrumental in his defeat.

This scene sets the stage for all the events that are about to follow: the courtship, the confusion, the jealous brother, and the impending wedding.

Act 1, Scene 2 Summary

In this short scene, Antonio informs his brother Leonato that Don Pedro is in love with Hero and intends to woo her. This is erroneous however as Antonio’s man had heard the latter half of the conversation between Don Pedro and Claudio, missing the earlier part where Claudio had professed his love for Hero. Leonato responds prudently that he will believe the gossip only when the event actually takes place. However, he tells Antonio to let Hero know so that she is prepared to give her answer in the eventuality that Don Pedro proposes.

Act 1, Scene 2 Analysis

This scene shows the first instance of overhearing or “noting.” Antonio’s man overhears the conversation between Don Pedro and Claudio, but he hears incorrectly, which sets the foundations for a series of misunderstandings. Don Pedro’s masked wooing of Hero is going to be misinterpreted by Hero as her uncle would have told her that Don Pedro desires her.

Act 1, Scene 3 Summary

Meanwhile, Don John and Conrad, his associate, are conversing. Conrad asks why Don John looks so sullen to which he replies that he is naturally somber, and he lacks the quality of changing his face to suit other people. Conrad reminds him that he has just recently gained his brother’s acceptance, and he must try and remain in his favor. Don John feels bitter that he must depend on his brother both socially and economically and bristles at the idea of conforming to his expectations.

Borachio, another of Don John’s associates, enters. He informs Don John that he has overheard that “the Prince should woo Hero for himself and, having obtained her, give her to Count Claudio.” Don John sees this as an opportunity to create mischief for both Claudio—whom he dislikes as he was instrumental in his defeat—and his brother.

Act 1, Scene 3 Analysis

Though the audience was introduced to a subdued Don John in the first scene, here we see his true colors. Don John has not yet been fully conquered; he is smarting at his humiliation and is itching for revenge. He refuses to “sing” in his “cage” and will not try to make the best of things. This scene lays out the motivation of the plot twist that is coming and establishes Don John as the principal antagonist.

The scene also shows the second incident of noting. Overhearing, plotting, and misunderstanding occur frequently in Much Ado About Nothing, as characters are constantly eavesdropping and spying on other characters. While sometimes they unearth the truth, often they are misinformed, leading to misunderstanding, or they are tricked into believing what other people want them to believe.