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Much Ado about Nothing

Chapter 2: Dramatis Personæ
By William Shakespeare
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About This Book

A comic drama centers on paired romances and layers of deception in a provincial town: one young couple’s courtship is celebrated while a sharp-witted woman and a cynical bachelor exchange barbed wit. Well-meaning friends engineer a ruse to bring the sparring pair together, while a malcontent plots to disgrace the celebrated bride by fabricating evidence of infidelity. A public accusation at a wedding produces shame and a staged withdrawal, followed by investigation, confession, and reconciliation. A bumbling watch and attendant farce expose the absurdity of gossip and authority, and the work explores themes of trust, honor, appearance versus reality, and the social rituals of love.

Contents

ACT I
Scene I. Before Leonato’s House
Scene II. A room in Leonato’s house
Scene III. Another room in Leonato’s house
ACT II
Scene I. A hall in Leonato’s house
Scene II. Another room in Leonato’s house
Scene III. Leonato’s Garden
ACT III
Scene I. Leonato’s Garden
Scene II. A Room in Leonato’s House
Scene III. A Street
Scene IV. A Room in Leonato’s House
Scene V. Another Room in Leonato’s House
ACT IV
Scene I. The Inside of a Church
Scene II. A Prison
ACT V
Scene I. Before Leonato’s House
Scene II. Leonato’s Garden
Scene III. The Inside of a Church
Scene IV. A Room in Leonato’s House

Dramatis Personæ

DON PEDRO, Prince of Arragon.
DON JOHN, his bastard Brother.
CLAUDIO, a young Lord of Florence.
BENEDICK, a young Lord of Padua.
LEONATO, Governor of Messina.
ANTONIO, his Brother.
BALTHASAR, Servant to Don Pedro.
BORACHIO, follower of Don John.
CONRADE, follower of Don John.
DOGBERRY, a Constable.
VERGES, a Headborough.
FRIAR FRANCIS.
A Sexton.
A Boy.

HERO, Daughter to Leonato.
BEATRICE, Niece to Leonato.
MARGARET, Waiting gentlewoman attending on Hero.
URSULA, Waiting gentlewoman attending on Hero.

Messengers, Watch, Attendants, &c.

SCENE. Messina.