Summary Early on the wedding morning, Hero and her gentlewomen are preparing Hero for her wedding. Hero sends Ursula to bring Beatrice. Margaret is critical of what Hero has chosen to wear but quickly backs off when Hero scolds her lightly. Margaret also teases Hero about Claudio and his soon-to-be […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act III: Scene 4Summary and Analysis Act III: Scene 3
Summary Dogberry appears with his deputy, Verges, and the men who will take the night watch “the Prince’s watch.” Dogberry gives his men their charge for the evening and then leaves them to their duty. Borachio and Conrade appear and converse, unknowingly within eavesdropping range of the watchmen. Borachio tells […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act III: Scene 3Summary and Analysis Act III: Scene 2
Summary On the day before the wedding, Don Pedro announces to Leonato, Benedick, and Claudio that he will be leaving after the marriage of Hero and Claudio, taking Benedick with him. Benedick admits to the others that he is a changed man, and the other men — all in on […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act III: Scene 2Summary and Analysis Act III: Scene 1
Summary Hero and her two attendants, Ursula and Margaret, plan how they will trick Beatrice into hearing that Benedick is in love with her. Margaret goes to tell Beatrice that Hero and Ursula are in the orchard talking about her and to suggest that Beatrice hide herself nearby to hear […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act III: Scene 1Summary and Analysis Act II: Scene 3
Summary Alone, Benedick talks to himself about how Claudio has changed since his engagement to Hero. Benedick has lost a good friend since Claudio now thinks of nothing but Hero and their approaching wedding. He ponders what perfect combination of qualities a woman must possess before he himself would marry […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act II: Scene 3Summary and Analysis Act II: Scene 2
Summary Don John is disappointed that his first attempt to sabotage Claudio and Don Pedro did not work: Claudio and Hero are still to be married. Borachio assures him he can disrupt the wedding with Don John’s help. He suggests that Don John tell Claudio and Don Pedro that Hero […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act II: Scene 2Summary and Analysis Act II: Scene 1
Summary The celebration and dance scene includes several short encounters among many of the characters. Most participants are masked, adding to the confusion. First, Leonato, Antonio, Hero, and Beatrice appear, commenting on Don John’s sad and sour appearance. Beatrice uses the occasion as another opportunity to berate Benedick. Leonato and […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act II: Scene 1Summary and Analysis Act I: Scene 3
Summary Don John complains to his companion Conrade (Conrad in some editions) about his position in life: He is Don Pedro’s bastard brother, recently defeated, without pretenses or mannerly habits, facing his dishonorable status daily while enduring his brother’s hospitality. All in all, he displays a generally disagreeable attitude and […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act I: Scene 3Summary and Analysis Act I: Scene 2
Summary In this very short scene, Antonio erroneously reports to his brother Leonato that Don Pedro is in love with Hero and will approach both her and Leonato at the coming dance. Leonato asks Antonio to tell Hero about it. Analysis Here is the result of the first incident of […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act I: Scene 2Summary and Analysis Act I: Scene 1
Summary A messenger delivers a letter to Leonato, governor of Messina, announcing that Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon, will arrive shortly. Don Pedro and his followers have emerged victorious and almost unscathed after halting a rebellion by his own brother, Don John. The messenger reports that Claudio, a young lord […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act I: Scene 1