English 154/180 Harlan
PLOT SUMMARY FOR MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING
Act I: The play takes place in Messina, a city in Sicily, in and near the home of Leonato, the governor of Messina. In the opening scene a messenger brings news to Leonato, his daughter Hero, and his niece Beatrice that Don Pedro, the Prince of Aragon, will arrive in Messina that day, victorious in his recent military campaign. A young Florentine named Claudio has distinguished himself. Beatrice inquires about Benedict, wittily insulting the gentleman's courage, intelligence and honor. Leonato explains that there is a "war of wit" between the two. Don Pedro arrives, with Claudio, Benedict and the Prince's illegitimate half-brother Don John. In the recent war Don John has fought against Don Pedro. He has been pardoned but is being kept close to the court. Beatrice and Benedict immediately begin sparring. Beatrice wonders why Benedict keeps talking since no one pays any attention to him. He calls her "Lady Disdain." The only thing they agree on is that each has rejected any thought of falling in love and marrying. Their exchange of wit soon descends into name-calling. Leonato invites Don Pedro and his court to spend the next month in his home.
Claudio takes Benedict aside and asks what he thinks of Hero. Benedict doesn't think much of her, being "a sworn tyrant" to women, and he is appalled to discover that Claudio is in love with her. Benedict proclaims marriage to be a trap in which the man will eventually be betrayed by his wife and become a cuckold with horns. He swears that he will remain a bachelor. When Don Pedro enters and hears all this, he laughs and declares that he will see Benedict suffer with love. After Benedict leaves Don Pedro agrees to woo Hero at a masked ball that night while disguised as Claudio, win her love and get her father to agree to the marriage between the two.
The prince and Claudio are overheard but misunderstood by two people. Antonio, Leonato's brother, tells the governor that one of his servants heard Pedro say he wanted to marry Hero himself. Leonato is surprised but delighted with the news and tells Hero to accept the proposal. In the next scene Don John shares his anger with his companion Conrade and admits that he is a "plain-dealing villain." Then another companion Borachio enters and tells John that Pedro has agreed to woo Hero for himself and once he's enjoyed her sexually to give her to Claudio. Don John says he will use this information to cause mischief, particularly for Claudio whom he hates.
Act II: That night before the masked ball Leonato tells Hero once again to accept the Prince's proposal. Beatrice advises Hero to make her own choice. Leonato declares he hopes to see Beatrice "fitted with a husband," but she uses her wit to prove that marriage is impossible. The men enter in disguise, and Pedro dances with Hero. Beatrice and Benedict end up together, and she uses the occasion to insult him to this supposed stranger, telling him that Benedict is the Prince's jester and that he angers men and they beat him. While everyone goes in to dinner Don John holds Claudio back, tells him that the Prince has courted Hero for himself and does not intend to give her up. Claudio is devastated by what he assumes is an act of betrayal. Benedict hears the same news and asks Claudio if he is surprised by the Prince's actions. However, Benedict is much more concerned with Beatrice's insults of him while they danced, especially the charge that he is no more than the Prince's jester. Don Pedro returns with Hero, her father and Beatrice. He straightens out the misunderstanding and announces that Leonato has agreed to the marriage of Claudio and Hero. When Benedict storms out rather than exchange any further words with Beatrice, Pedro jokingly tells her she has lose his heart. She hints at an earlier relationship with Benedict when he betrayed her love, but nothing more is said of this. After helping Hero and Claudio finally declare their love for each other, Beatrice sighs that everyone seems to be getting married except her. When Don Pedro offers to get her a husband, she declares she would prefer one like the Prince. Pedro suddenly proposes to Beatrice, probably as a joke, but it takes her aback and she apologizes for her merry spirit. After Beatrice leaves Don Pedro decides that he will trick Beatrice and Benedict, with the help of Claudio, Hero and Leonato, into falling in love with each other.
Don John's evil plot also takes shape. With the help of Borachio Don John will discredit Hero's reputation with Claudio. Borachio will convince Margaret, Hero's maid, to dress as her mistress and appear at her chamber window and answer when Borachio calls her "Hero." John will have Pedro and Claudio nearby so they can see Hero's supposed betrayal the night before her wedding.
The next scene opens with Benedict laughing at how love has transformed Claudio. He does not deny that he might fall in love some day, but she would have to be a superior woman in every possible way. When Pedro, Claudio and Leonato enter, Benedict hides so he can eavesdrop on them. They listen to a love song and then, knowing Benedict is nearby, begin to talk about their big "secret." They tell how Beatrice is head-over-heels in love with Benedict but is afraid to reveal her love because she knows Benedict will only mock her. She only jokes and insults him to hide her broken heart. They fear she may try to kill herself, but they decide not to tell Benedict of her love because his own personal flaws would keep him from returning the love. When they leave the astonished Benedict does a complete about face. He now decides to return Beatrice's love, because "the world must be peopled!" To further the joke Leonato sends Beatrice out to tell Benedict to come in to supper. Despite her undisguised contempt for him, he "spies some marks of love in her" and labors mightily to find a hidden meaning of affection in her insulting speech.
Act III: The same trick is played on Beatrice by Hero and her maid Ursula, who tell of Benedict's great love for the disdainful lady. Hero says she will advise Benedict to forget about her because she will never change. When they leave Beatrice breaks out into uncharacteristic romantic verse and declares she will requite Benedict's love.
The next day Pedro and Claudio tease Benedict about the sudden change in his behavior: he is much nicer and has trimmed his beard and wears cologne. After he leaves Don John enters and reveals to Claudio and Pedro, as evidence of his friendship, the "truth" about Hero, that she is sexually promiscuous. He promises to take them that night where they can witness her infidelity for themselves. Claudio declares that if the accusation is true, he will publicly denounce her at the wedding.
Out on the street that night we are introduced to the volunteer constable Dogberry and his assistant Verges. They are members of a kind of "Neighborhood Watch" program, and we watch as they instruct three watchmen on the finer points of law enforcement. Unfortunately Dogberry misuses almost all words of two or more syllables. Furthermore, his philosophy of police work is pretty much, "the less you do, the less chance of getting in trouble." They leave the watchmen to sleep out their watch.
The watchmen, however, overheard Borachio bragging to Conrade about being paid by Don John for carrying out his deception of Claudio using the unsuspecting Margaret. Although the amateur cops are not quite sure what exactly Borachio did, they arrest the two villains and take them off to see Dogberry.
The next morning Margaret and Beatrice help Hero prepare for her wedding. Margaret teases Beatrice about her sudden change in behavior and suggests she take a medicine called Carduus Benedictus to help her get better. Ursula comes to summon them to the wedding ceremony.
Dogberry and Verges come to Leonato's home to tell him of the arrest of the two conspirators the night before. However, the bumbling Dogberry is unable to explain the connection between the arrest and the wedding. He is more interested in making clear to Leonato that he and not Verges is in charge. Frustrated, Leonato sends them away with instructions to conduct the examination of the criminals themselves.
The wedding party gathers before Friar Francis who will conduct the ceremony. When he asks if there is any impediment to the marriage, Claudio condemns Hero as a slut. He denies that he had taken her virginity but says he saw her with another man in her bedroom. Pedro and John confirm the accusation, and Hero faints as the groom and princes stalk out of the wedding. Leonato angrily attacks his daughter, ordering her to die because she has shamed him. Beatrice and Francis defend Hero. Benedict lends his support and suggests that Don John may be behind the upset. Francis proposes that Leonato publicly announce that Hero has died because of the slander, giving them time to discover what really happened. Leonato is reconciled with his daughter and promises revenge for her humiliation.
Benedict and Beatrice are left alone. She cries for her wronged cousin, and Benedict volunteers to help in whatever way he can. When she tells him he needn't feel obligated, he declares he loves her. Beatrice is a little reluctant at first but soon returns his love. Exhilarated, Benedict declares, "Come, bid me do anything!" She answers simply, "Kill Claudio!" to which he answers, "Not for the wide world!" Beatrice flies into a rage and wishes she were a man so she could take revenge. Benedict at last relents and promises to challenge Claudio to a duel for Hero's honor and Beatrice's love.
Back at the police headquarters Dogberry tries to question Borachio and Conrade, but he is unable to do more than just demand that they admit they are villains, since he's not sure what crime they have committed. The Sexton, who is writing the questions and answers, tells Dogberry how to proceed, and Borachio soon admits what he did, especially after he learns Hero has died as a result of his crime. After the Sexton leaves, Conrade calls Dogberry "an ass." The constable is upset because the insult was not written down. He urges all his associates not to forget that he is an ass.
Act IV: The Prince and Claudio are still staying at Leonato's house. The grieving father threatens to challenge his daughter's accuser to a duel. Antonio tries to restrain him, but when Pedro and Claudio enter, Antonio flies into a rage and demands that Claudio fight him. The two old men finally leave, and when Benedict comes in, the Prince and Claudio laugh at their narrow escape from a fight with Hero's angry family. Rather than joining in the fun, Benedict soberly challenges Claudio to a duel and tells the Prince he must leave Pedro's court because of the false accusations. Dogberry and his men arrive with the criminals, and Borachio makes a full confession, first to Pedro and then Leonato. The truth of his story is confirmed by news that Don John has fled. Remorseful, Claudio asks Leonato to impose his revenge, and Leonato orders him to publicly clear his daughter's name, perform a public penitence at her tomb and come the next day to marry Leonato's niece. Although he has never met the niece, Claudio agrees.
In the next scene Benedict sends Margaret to fetch Beatrice. While he waits he tries to complete a love sonnet he has written for her. He decides he has no skill in poetry and or conventional courtship. She enters and soon they are back in their old pattern of wit and insult. They decide they are "too wise to woo peaceably." Ursula comes with the good news that John was behind the uproar and that Claudio and Leonato are reconciled, making the duel unnecessary.
That night Claudio recites a poem of love and sorrow at Hero's tomb, making it clear she was innocent.
Act V: The next morning Leonato orders all the ladies to veil themselves before Claudio arrives. Claudio goes through with his offer to marry Leonato's niece and is surprised when he lifts the veil and discovers "a new hero." Benedict asks Friar Francis to marry him and Beatrice, but before the ceremony can take place, the two fighting lovers learn the truth. They each try to back out of their earlier commitment, declaring that they really don't love one another. But Claudio and Hero produce love poems Beatrice and Benedict have written to each other, and they finally agree to wed, out of pity for each other. The play ends with the wedding party beginning to dance.