Much Ado About Nothing

William Shakespeare, Dr. Barbara A. Mowat, Paul Werstine

The authoritative edition of Much Ado About Nothing from the Folger Shakespeare Library—the most trusted Shakespeare series for students, educators, and general readers—offers a complete, accessible resource for exploring one of William Shakespeare’s best-known romantic comedies.

A favorite on stage and in classrooms, Much Ado About Nothing presents two contrasting love stories: the impulsive romance between Hero and Claudio, threatened by deception from the scheming Don John, and the witty, slow-burn relationship between Beatrice and Benedick, whose verbal sparring conceals deep affection. Set in Elizabethan England, this richly layered comedy combines mistaken identity, honor, betrayal, and emotional redemption.

This Folger Shakespeare Library edition features the highly praised side-by-side format with explanatory notes and language guides—ideal for students and anyone new to Shakespeare’s plays. Edited from the best early printed text, this edition includes:
· The exact text of the printed play for easy reference
· Hundreds of hyperlinked notes for fast navigation
· A modern introduction to reading Shakespeare’s language
· Scene-by-scene plot summaries and analysis
· A guide to Shakespeare’s most famous lines and phrases
· A new essay by Gail Kern Paster, offering a contemporary perspective on the play
· Rare archival images from the Folger Shakespeare Library’s world-renowned collection
· An annotated guide for further reading and research

The Folger Shakespeare Library, located in Washington, DC, is home to the largest collection of Shakespeare materials and serves as a hub for scholars and fans alike. With public exhibitions, performances, and educational programs, the Folger is an unparalleled resource for appreciating Shakespearean drama in the modern age.

MUCH ADO
ABOUT NOTHING

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ACT 1

<ACT 1>

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<Scene 1>

Enter Leonato, Governor of Messina, Hero his daughter, and Beatrice his niece, with a Messenger.

LEONATO, <with a letter> I learn in this letter that Don	1
Pedro of Aragon comes this night to Messina.	2
MESSENGER He is very near by this. He was not three	3
leagues off when I left him.	4
LEONATO How many gentlemen have you lost in this	5
action?	6
MESSENGER But few of any sort, and none of name.	7
LEONATO A victory is twice itself when the achiever	8
brings home full numbers. I find here that Don	9
Pedro hath bestowed much honor on a young	10
Florentine called Claudio.	11
MESSENGER Much deserved on his part, and equally	12
remembered by Don Pedro. He hath borne himself	13
beyond the promise of his age, doing in the figure	14
of a lamb the feats of a lion. He hath indeed better	15
bettered expectation than you must expect of me to	16
tell...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Editors’ Preface
• Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing
• Reading Shakespeare’s Language: Much Ado About Nothing
• Shakespeare’s Life
• Shakespeare’s Theater
• The Publication of Shakespeare’s Plays
• An Introduction to This Text
• Characters in the Play
• Much Ado About Nothing
• Longer Notes
• Textual Notes
• Much Ado About Nothing: A Modern Perspective by Gail Kern Paster
• Further Reading
• Key to Famous Lines and Phrases
• Commentary
• Copyright