Much Ado About Nothing is a romantic comedy in the truest sense of the term. The interest (and the passion) in the play derives
from the unfolding drama between two couples: Claudio and Hero,
Benedick with Beatrice. It is a comedy because the audience is guaranteed a happy ending, in spite of all the twists and turns that the plot takes.
Don Pedro (the Prince), Claudio and Benedick have just returned triumphant from one of their military campaigns. But, besides fighting wars and waging campaigns, there is another aspect to life at court – thus Shakespeare seems to be telling us – and that is romance! These two aspects of court life were best kept apart; but when the political intrigue and machinations (that were best confined to the world of politics) intrude into the world of romance, then the result is nothing but the play in question. Much Ado About Nothing derives its name from this fact: the excitement and upheaval are really out of place in what should have been yet another court
marriage.
Don John – the bastard brother of the Prince – is the source of all this villainy. He schemes, along with his associates, to slander the good name of Hero and thus undo her forthcoming marriage to Claudio. His intention is to pit the Prince and his loyal allies (Claudio, Benedick and Leonato) against each other; for as the Prince’s fortunes wane so will his fortunes rise… He almost succeeds in his endeavor; but, unfortunately for him, his associates are apprehended by vigilant guards and their conspiracy unmasked. And, in the end, he is forced to flee for his very life.
This plays – as many of Shakespeare’s plays – does not have a single dominant theme, but an important subplot as well (the wooing of Benedick and Beatrice). In fact, in many of Shakespeare’s plays, it becomes impossible to determine which is the main plot and which is the subsidiary plot; so closely interwoven are both the themes. The wooing of Benedick and Beatrice is troublesome, if for no other reason than that they have difficulty in acknowledging the love they bear to each other! They have to be helped along their way – both by well-meaning friends and by circumstances.
The underlying message that Shakespeare conveys – through this and through some of his other romantic plays – is that marriage is the right (and honorable) way for expressing one’s love for another. This message may seem rather old-fashioned in this day and age, but no doubt this was the accepted social wisdom of those times. And if Shakespeare seems to be somewhat obsessed by love – and marriage – it is no doubt because these were important events, along with birth and death, in the rather ordinary lives of many of his audience. The importance that he lends to these events is by setting them among the high and mighty – the lords, dukes and princes – where they have consequences beyond what could be imagined.