Much Ado About Nothing Summary

This play takes place in Sicily in the city of Messina during the sixteenth century (_Shmoop_). Act One commences amongst Leonato’s ongoing preparation to welcome Don Pedro of Aragon, Claudio, Benedick, and Don John. Leonato is accompanied by his daughter, Hero, and Beatrice, who jokes and insults Benedick. The reasoning for Beatrice’s constant mocking of Benedick according to Leonanto is that both carry on a merry war of wits and jibes whenever they meet. Leonato greets the arriving guests into his home. One of the men, Claudio falls in love with Hero and both agree to marry as soon as possible. Elsewhere, Beatrice and Benedick fall secretly in love with one another. Claudio is led to believe that Hero is being unfaithful to him. The plot revolves around Claudio framing Hero for lechery on their weeding day and leaves. The play concludes with the celebration of two marriages: Claudio and Hero as well as Beatrice and Benedick.
According to Goodreads, Much Ado About Nothing contains “a plot that is weak” and borrows elements from other Shakespearean works “written up to this point” ranking as one of the least good plays Shakespeare has