Much Ado About Nothing Book download in PDF, ePub & Mobi

Much Ado About Nothing is a romantic comedy written by William Shakespeare and first performed before the year 1600, between 1598 and 1599.

The story takes place in Italy, specifically in the city of Messina (Sicily). It is a recurring background in the works of Shakespeare, where he represents the political struggles of the Italian city-states.

Prince Pedro de Aragón returns to Messina with his men after fighting in a battle. Among his company, the following men stand out: the most outstanding soldier named Claudio, his friend Benedick and the evil bastard brother of the prince, Don John. The brothers were feuding but had recently reconciled.

Leonato, governor of Messina, receives the men. The governor has a niece named Beatrice with whom Benedick has already had some humorous dispute. The hilarious dialogues between the two give the work its title.

He also lives with his daughter, called Hero, with whom Claudio falls in love. To get her love, he teams up with Don Pedro to pretend to be him at the masquerade ball and win her over.

However, a servant listens to Don Pedro and Claudio preparing the plan and mistakenly thinks that it is Don Pedro who is in love with Hero and this rumor reaches Leonato's ears...

"Beatrice.
He were an excellent man that were made just in the mid-way between him and Benedick: the one is too like an image, and says nothing; and the other too like my lady’s eldest son, evermore tattling.
Leonato.
Then half Signior Benedick’s tongue in Count John’s mouth, and half Count John’s melancholy in Signior Benedick’s face..."