About the Play:
Much Ado About Nothing is one of Shakespeare’s most memorable romantic comedies. First published in 1600, but probably written in 1598, the play enjoyed as much popularity then as it does today.
Much Ado mixes comedy with tragedy, making it a problematic play to categorize. Its treatment of love is not typical of Shakespeare’s other romantic comedies, but its plot structure stops it from being a tragedy. Some critics class it as a comedy of manners, because it pokes fun at aristocratic behaviour and language.
Plot Summary:
As the title suggests, there’s a lot of fuss over nothing! Claudio and Hero fall in love and plan to get married, but the villainous Don John slanders Hero with false evidence. The wedding is ruined and Hero faints. Her family soon suspect slander and decide to pretend that Hero died from shock. Don John’s evil plan is soon revealed and Claudio mourns Hero’s death. Eventually, Hero is revealed to be alive and the marriage goes ahead as planned. In the play’s closing moments, it is reported that Don John has been captured for his crime.
