Much Ado about Nothing: Review

Much Ado about Nothing by William Shakespeare talks about two love stories. One formal romantic relationship between the Governor of Messina’s daughter named Hero and a soldier named Claudio. And another couple who follows the famous quote of “the more you hate, the more you love”. 

The play starts when Don Pedro, prince of Aragon, came back from winning a war against his illegitimate brother, Don John who has now reluctantly joined him. Don Pedro then came to visit Leonato, the Governor of Messina and also brought with him his two officers, Claudio and Benedick. When they arrived, Claudio falls in love with Hero while Benedick and Beatrice, the niece of Leonato, continue their war of witty insults. Later on, Claudio confessed his love to Hero and took her hand in marriage. And so, in one week, they are to be married. And to pass the time before their wedding, the lovers and their friends decided to play a game. They want to get Benedick and Beatrice to fall in love with each other. From the beginning, they both denied that they would ever marry anyone, let alone marry one another. The tricks of their friends worked and so the two did fall in love with each other, secretly. But of course,  a story would be boring if there is no obstacle. And so, Don John, got in the way of happiness of everyone.

He framed Hero by bringing Cladio to watch his companion, Borachio and Margaret, the serving woman of Hero, make love in the darkness of the night through the window. With this, Claudio believed that Hero was unfaithful to him and abandoned her on their wedding day at the altar. And so, Hero’s family members decided to pretend that she died of shock and grief hiding her away while they wait for the truth about her innocence to come to light. After the rejection, Benedick and Beatrice confessed their love to one another. But as they say, no secrets can stay forever a secret. Someone overheard Borachio’s crime and the heads of the local police arrested him. Eventually, Hero was proven innocent and Claudio believing that she is dead, grieves for her. As punishment, Leonato told Claudio that he wants him to marry his “niece”, someone who looked like Hero herself. And so, Claudio goes to church with the other, preparing to marry the masked woman. When Claudio found out that Hero was the woman under the mask, he rejoiced. Then and there, Benedick asked Beatrice for her hand in marriage and after arguing, they agreed. And so, they celebrated their double wedding.

I like this play because it gives so much emotion. May it be 
sad, happy, or heartbreaking. William Shakespeare’s works never fail to bring out the emotions of his readers. This play is also considered one of the best comedies. This story did not have a tragedy like Romeo and Juliet yet it is still as beautiful and this is why I love it,

-- Calma, Kamille