Much Ado About Nothing by Edith Nesbit
Don Pedro, Prince of Arragon, arrives in Messina with his stepbrother Don John and two young lords, Benedick and Claudio, fresh from a victorious war. Claudio promptly falls in love with Hero, daughter of Leonato, Governor of Messina. Meanwhile Benedick, a confirmed bachelor, trades barbed wit with Leonato's niece Beatrice, who scorns him in return. Overhearing Claudio's and Benedick's talk, Don Pedro offers to woo Hero on Claudio's behalf at a masquerade that night. Don John, jealous of Claudio because Don Pedro favors him, learns of the plan from his follower Borachio and resolves to spoil it. At the masquerade Don Pedro successfully pleads Claudio's case, Leonato consents, and the wedding is set for a week later. Don Pedro then proposes a new project: matching the scornful Beatrice and Benedick. Leonato and Claudio stage a conversation for Benedick to overhear, claiming Beatrice secretly loves him; Hero and her gentlewoman Ursula do the same for Beatrice regarding Benedick. Both are deceived and begin to soften toward one another. Don John's plot against Claudio proceeds: Borachio arranges for Margaret, Hero's gentlewoman, to appear at Hero's window at night, making it seem Hero is unfaithful. Don Pedro and Claudio, misled, believe they have seen Hero betray Claudio. Borachio, flush with the thousand ducats Don John paid him, boasts of the scheme to his friend Conrade; a watchman overhears and arrests both men. At the wedding, Claudio publicly repudiates Hero as false, and Don Pedro and Don John back his accusation. Hero swoons; Leonato, bewildered and ashamed, momentarily wishes her dead, but Friar Francis, certain of her innocence, proposes that she be reported dead until the truth comes out. Left alone with Beatrice, Benedick declares his love; she tells him to prove it by killing Claudio, and he agrees to challenge him. The constable Dogberry examines Borachio and Conrade, uncovering the deception, though Leonato has already learned enough to believe Hero wronged. He confronts Don Pedro and Claudio and challenges Claudio to combat; Benedick likewise challenges Claudio. Before the duel occurs, Borachio fully confesses before Don Pedro, naming Don John as the plot's author and clearing Hero. Claudio, repentant, agrees to Leonato's demand: he will marry Leonato's niece, said to resemble Hero exactly, and first sings a mourning song at Hero's monument. At the appointed marriage, the masked "niece" is revealed to be Hero herself, restored. Benedick then asks which lady is Beatrice; she unmasks, and the two spar over whether they truly love each other until Claudio and Hero produce love letters each had secretly written, proving their feelings. Benedick and Beatrice agree to marry. The Friar weds both couples, and news arrives that Don John has been captured. The company turns to dancing in celebration, the joy of the moment leaving the matter of revenge against Don John to wait.
By Edith Nesbit · First published 1907 · Genre: Romantic Comedy, Comedy, Drama · 3,850 words
First lines
In Sicily is a town called Messina, which is the scene of a curious storm in a teacup that raged several hundred years ago.
It began with sunshine. Don Pedro, Prince of Arragon, in Spain, had gained so complete a victory over his foes that the very land whence they came is forgotten. Feeling happy and playful after the fatigues of war, Don Pedro came for a holiday to Messina, and in his suite were his stepbrother Don John and two young Italian lords, Benedick and Claudio.
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Genres
- Romantic Comedy — Two love stories driven by witty banter, misunderstandings, and false accusations culminate in marriage and mutual affection.
- Comedy — The narrative maintains comedic tone through wordplay, situational humor, absurd misidentifications, and character ridicule throughout.
- Drama — Serious emotional and social stakes emerge through false accusations, Hero's public shaming, emotional suffering, and questions of honor and innocence.
- Satire — The work mocks male pride, feminine stereotypes, social pretension, and the folly of making judgments based on appearance and gossip.
Tags
romantic comedy · Sicily · Messina · witty banter · young love · courtship · marriage · deception · masquerade · false accusation · slander · reconciliation
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Much Ado About Nothing is listed on Textopian as a short story by Edith Nesbit, dated 1907 CE.
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- Work type: Short story
- Author: Edith Nesbit
- Date: 1907 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romantic Comedy, Comedy, Drama, Satire, Farce
- Length: 3,850 words
- Structure: 1 section, 126 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Easy (7th Grade)
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