Much Ado About Nothing Plot Summary wjec-eduqas Shakespeare

Plot Summary

One of the most important and helpful things you can do in preparation for the exam is to ‘know’ the plot of Much Ado About Nothing thoroughly. Once you know the text well, you should be familiar with key events that you can then link to larger ideas. Having an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the play will help you to gain confidence in finding the most relevant references to support your response.

Plot storyboard

Overview of Much Ado About Nothing

The governor of Messina, Leonato, is at home with his daughter, Hero, his brother, Antonio, and his niece, Beatrice, when a messenger arrives bringing news that an old friend, Duke Don Pedro, is on his way to Messina to celebrate his recent victory in battle. With him are a young nobleman called Claudio, and the clever and witty Benedick. Don Pedro’s half-brother, Don John, is also a member of the party. He is bitter and has a strong dislike for his half-brother.

When the soldiers arrive, Claudio quickly falls in love with Hero. Benedick, a bachelor who has sworn off love and marriage, knows Beatrice, and the two engage in witty arguments with each other. Claudio confesses to Benedick and Don Pedro his love for Hero, and Don Pedro believes they will make a good match. He promises to help Claudio win Hero by talking to her and Leonato at that night’s masked ball. Don John learns of this plan from his servant, Borachio, and sees this as an opportunity to make mischief. He suggests to Claudio that Don Pedro intends to ask Hero to marry him instead, rather than “wooing” her on behalf of Claudio. Claudio feels betrayed, until Don Pedro is able to reassure him that Hero’s love has been won on his behalf as arranged.

Don Pedro, Claudio and Leonato, along with Hero, hatch a plan to make Beatrice and Benedick realise that they are meant for each other and convince each of them of the other’s love. The men arrange for Benedick to overhear them talking about how Beatrice loves him, but has sworn never to tell him because he would make fun of her. Hero and her gentlewomen play a similar trick on Beatrice. Each vow to return the other’s love and marry.

Don John and Borachio hatch another plan to spoil Claudio and Hero’s wedding. They arrange for Borachio to seduce Margaret, Hero’s serving woman, at Hero’s bedroom window at night. Don John arranges for Claudio and Don Pedro to witness this, and Claudio — mistakenly thinking Margaret is Hero — believes he has been betrayed by his love. Afterwards, Borachio is overheard by the nighwatchmen confessing his trickery to Don John’s friend Conrad. The head of the local police, Dogberry, arrests both Borachio and Conrad and takes them for questioning.

At the altar, Claudio refuses to marry Hero, accusing her of having betrayed him. This is supported by Don Pedro, who had also been fooled. Leonato is enraged, but Benedick suspects a trick and supports Hero. The priest, Friar Francis, persuades Leonato to pretend that Hero is dead in order to give them time to clear her name.

Dogberry, the constable, brings Borachio to explain his trickery and Hero’s innocence is revealed. Claudio, believing Hero to be dead, promises to build a monument to Hero, but Leonato tells him he would better honour her by marrying his niece, whom he says looks exactly like Hero. Claudio accepts.

Claudio arrives for the wedding, where Hero covers her face, only revealing herself to Claudio once he has agreed to marry her. They are overjoyed and are married. Benedick and Beatrice finally confess their love for each other, and Don John, who had fled, returns captured to face his crimes.

Act-by-act plot summary

Act I

• A messenger arrives at the house of Leonato, governor of Messina, with news that the Prince of Aragon, Don Pedro, and his soldiers are returning victorious from war

• Leonato’s niece, Beatrice, knows one of the soldiers, Benedick

• Another soldier, Claudio, falls in love with Leonato’s daughter, Hero

• Claudio tells Don Pedro of his feelings towards Hero, who offers to woo her on his friend’s behalf that night at the masked ball

• Also among the soldiers is Don John, Don Pedro’s illegitimate brother

• He is jealous and bitter, and hates being judged as inferior to Don Pedro

• Don John’s servant, Borachio, enters with news of Claudio’s love for Hero and Don Pedro’s plan

• Don John dislikes Claudio, who is well-loved and respected, and decides to make trouble for him

Act II

• At the ball, Benedick, in disguise, teases Beatrice, but she knows who he is and gets the better of him

• Claudio observes Don Pedro wooing Hero. However, Don John tells him that Don Pedro is wooing Hero for himself. Claudio thinks he has been betrayed, but Don Pedro quickly puts things right and Claudio and Hero agree to marry

• Don Pedro decides to trick Benedick and Beatrice into revealing their love for each other, with Hero, Claudio and Leonato agreeing to help

• Don John is still desperate to spoil Claudio’s wedding, so his servant, Borachio, comes up with a plan

• He is friendly with Hero’s maid, Margaret, and will seduce her at Hero’s bedroom window

• Don John arranges for Claudio and Don Pedro to witness this

• Benedick is alone in the garden, but overhears Don Pedro, Leonato and Claudio discussing Beatrice’s love for him

• Benedick is dumbfounded and vows to return Beatrice’s love

Act III

• In the orchard, Beatrice is also tricked by Hero and her waiting woman Ursula, into believing that Benedick loves her

• Beatrice is in shock and vows to change her nature and return Benedick’s love

• Don John finds Don Pedro and Claudio, and tells them that he has proof that Hero is unfaithful

• The nightwatchmen overhear Borachio drunkenly confessing to the plan to spoil Claudio and Hero’s wedding, and arrest him

• The constable, Dogberry, tries to tell Leonato before the wedding, but Leonato is too busy to listen

Act IV

• Claudio accuses Hero of being unfaithful at the wedding altar, which Hero denies and then faints

• Leonato is enraged, but others are convinced of Hero’s innocence

• Friar Francis persuades Leonato to pretend that Hero is dead to give them more time to prove that the accusations against her are false

• Beatrice and Benedick admit their love for each other, and Beatrice requests that Benedick kill Claudio for rejecting Hero. Benedick agrees to challenge him

• Thinking Hero dead, Don John flees

• Dogberry orders Borachio to be taken to Leonato to confess his deceit

Act V

• Leonato accuses Claudio of killing Hero, and Benedick challenges Claudio to a duel, but Claudio refuses to be sorry

• Dogberry enters with Borachio, who confesses everything to Leonato, adding that Margaret was also innocent of the plan

• Claudio is wracked with guilt and begs Leonato for forgiveness

• Leonato orders him to make amends by marrying his niece, whom he says looks like Hero

• The news of Borachio’s confession spreads, as well as the upcoming wedding of Claudio to Leonato’s niece

• Leonato instructs Hero to wear a veil, and she is wed to Claudio in disguise

• She unveils her face and she and Claudio are reunited

• Benedick and Beatrice admit their love for each other, and Don John is arrested

Sources

Stanley Wells and Gary Taylor (eds), 2005, The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works (Second Edition), Oxford University Press