Much Ado About Nothing story
Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy by William Shakespeare thought to have been written in 1598 and 1599. The play was included in the First Folio, published in 1623. Through "noting" (sounding like "nothing", and meaning gossip, rumour, overhearing), Benedick and Beatrice are tricked into confessing their love for each other, and Claudio is tricked into believing that Hero is not a maiden (virgin). Claudio therefore rejects Hero at the altar. However, Hero is vindicated, and marriages are arranged for both pairs.
13 total · 2 choice · 6 major · 5 minor
| Theme | Level | Motivation |
|---|---|---|
| love-hate relationship | choice | Benedick and Beatrice |
| romantic love | choice | Benedick and Beatrice; Claudio and Hero |
| engaged couple | major | Claudio and Hero |
| father and daughter | major | Leonato and Hero |
| friendship | major | Beatrice and Hero; Claudio and Benedick |
| infatuation | major | Claudio and Hero |
| romantic infidelity | major | "Several characters seem to be obsessed with the idea that a man has no way to know if his wife is faithful and that women can take full advantage of this" cf. Wikipedia |
| sexual norms in society | major | central to the story was the (false) allegation that Hero had slept with some man before her marriage |
| brother and brother | minor | Antonio and Leonato |
| coping with the death of a lover | minor | Claudio believed his loved Hera had died. |