Context

The most infuential writer in all of English literature, William

Shakespeare was born in 156 to a su!!essful mi""le#!lass glo$e#
maker in Stratfor"#upon#%$on, Englan"& Shakespeare atten"e"
grammar s!hool, but his formal e"u!ation pro!ee"e" no further& 'n
15() he marrie" an ol"er woman, %nne *athawa+, an" ha" three
!hil"ren with her& %roun" 15,- he left his famil+ behin" an" tra$ele" to
.on"on to work as an a!tor an" pla+wright& /ubli! an" !riti!al a!!laim
0ui!kl+ followe", an" Shakespeare e$entuall+ be!ame the most
popular pla+wright in Englan" an" part#owner of the 1lobe Theater& *is
!areer bri"ge" the reigns of Eli2abeth ' 3rule" 155(416-56 an" 7ames '
3rule" 16-5416)56, an" he was a fa$orite of both monar!hs& 'n"ee",
7ames grante" Shakespeare8s !ompan+ the greatest possible
!ompliment b+ bestowing upon its members the title of 9ing8s :en&
Wealth+ an" renowne", Shakespeare retire" to Stratfor" an" "ie" in
1616 at the age of ;ft+#two& %t the time of Shakespeare8s "eath,
literar+ luminaries su!h as <en 7onson haile" his works as timeless&
Shakespeare8s works were !olle!te" an" printe" in $arious e"itions in
the !entur+ following his "eath, an" b+ the earl+ eighteenth !entur+
his reputation as the greatest poet e$er to write in English was well
establishe"& The unpre!e"ente" a"miration garnere" b+ his works le"
to a ;er!e !uriosit+ about Shakespeare8s life, but the "earth of
biographi!al information has left man+ "etails of Shakespeare8s
personal histor+ shrou"e" in m+ster+& Some people ha$e !on!lu"e"
from this fa!t an" from Shakespeare8s mo"est e"u!ation that
Shakespeare8s pla+s were a!tuall+ written b+ someone else=>ran!is
<a!on an" the Earl of ?xfor" are the two most popular !an"i"ates=but
the support for this !laim is o$erwhelmingl+ !ir!umstantial, an" the
theor+ is not taken seriousl+ b+ man+ s!holars&
'n the absen!e of !re"ible e$i"en!e to the !ontrar+, Shakespeare must
be $iewe" as the author of the thirt+#se$en pla+s an" 15 sonnets that
bear his name& The lega!+ of this bo"+ of work is immense& % number
of Shakespeare8s pla+s seem to ha$e trans!en"e" e$en the !ategor+ of
brillian!e, be!oming so infuential as to a@e!t profoun"l+ the !ourse of
Western literature an" !ulture e$er after&
:u!h %"o %bout Aothing is generall+ !onsi"ere" one of Shakespeare8s
best !ome"ies, be!ause it !ombines elements of robust hilarit+ with
more serious me"itations on honor, shame, an" !ourt politi!s& 't was
probabl+ written in 15,( an" 15,,, as Shakespeare was approa!hing
the mi""le of his !areer& .ike %s Bou .ike 't an" Twelfth Aight, :u!h %"o
%bout Aothing, though intersperse" with "arker !on!erns, is a Co+ful
!ome"+ that en"s with multiple marriages an" no "eaths&
%lthough one of the features of Shakespearean !ome"+ is that no one
"ies, it woul" be a mistake to assume that "eath is absent from this
genre& ?ften, Shakespeare8s !ome"ies are more a!!epting of "eath
than his trage"ies, treating "eath as part of the natural !+!le of life&
:u!h %"o %bout Aothing is no ex!eption, an" *ero8s preten"ing to "ie
of humiliation makes "eath more $i$i"l+ present here than in an+ of
Shakespeare8s other !ome"ies& The !risis that lies at the !enter of
:u!h %"o %bout Aothing troubles man+ rea"ers an" $iewers, sin!e the
pla+ !reates a $er+ strong sense of anger, betra+al, hatre", grief, an"
"espair among the main !hara!ters& %lthough the !risis en"s 0ui!kl+,
:u!h %"o %bout Aothing sometimes seems onl+ steps awa+ from
be!oming a trage"+&
'n"ee", the line between trage"+ an" !ome"+ is sometimes fu22+&
:an+ !riti!s ha$e note" that the plot of :u!h %"o %bout Aothing
shares signi;!ant elements with that of Domeo an" 7uliet& :u!h %"o
%bout Aothing also shares man+ features with Shakespeare8s late pla+
The Winter8s Tale, whi!h most !riti!s assign to a "i@erent genre=that
of problem !ome"+ or roman!e& .ike *ermione in The Winter8s Tale,
*ero stages a false "eath onl+ to !ome ba!k to life on!e her belo$e"
has repente"&
%lthough the +oung lo$ers *ero an" Clau"io pro$i"e the main impetus
for the plot, the !ourtship between the ol"er, wiser lo$ers <ene"i!k
an" <eatri!e is what makes :u!h %"o %bout Aothing so memorable&
<ene"i!k an" <eatri!e argue with "elightful wit, an" Shakespeare
"e$elops their Courne+ from antagonism to sin!ere lo$e an" a@e!tion
with a ri!h sense of humor an" !ompassion& Sin!e <eatri!e an"
<ene"i!k ha$e a histor+ behin" them that a""s weight to their
relationship, the+ are ol"er an" more mature than the t+pi!al lo$ers in
Shakespeare8s !ome"ies, though their unhealth+ !ompetiti$eness
re$eals them to be !hil"ish no$i!es when it !omes to lo$e&
/lot ?$er$iew

.eonato, a kin"l+, respe!table nobleman, li$es in the i"+lli! 'talian town

of :essina& .eonato shares his house with his lo$el+ +oung "aughter,
*ero, his pla+ful, !le$er nie!e, <eatri!e, an" his el"erl+ brother,
%ntonio 3who is <eatri!eEs father6& %s the pla+ begins, .eonato prepares
to wel!ome some frien"s home from a war& The frien"s in!lu"e Fon
/e"ro, a prin!e who is a !lose frien" of .eonato, an" two fellow
sol"iersG Clau"io, a well#respe!te" +oung nobleman, an" <ene"i!k, a
!le$er man who !onstantl+ makes witt+ Cokes, often at the expense of
his frien"s& Fon 7ohn, Fon /e"ro8s illegitimate brother, is part of the
!row" as well& Fon 7ohn is sullen an" bitter, an" makes trouble for the
others&
When the sol"iers arri$e at .eonato8s home, Clau"io 0ui!kl+ falls in
lo$e with *ero& :eanwhile, <ene"i!k an" <eatri!e resume the war of
witt+ insults that the+ ha$e !arrie" on with ea!h other in the past&
Clau"io an" *ero ple"ge their lo$e to one another an" "e!i"e to be
marrie"& To pass the time in the week before the we""ing, the lo$ers
an" their frien"s "e!i"e to pla+ a game& The+ want to get <eatri!e an"
<ene"i!k, who are !learl+ meant for ea!h other, to stop arguing an"
fall in lo$e& Their tri!ks pro$e su!!essful, an" <eatri!e an" <ene"i!k
soon fall se!retl+ in lo$e with ea!h other&
<ut Fon 7ohn has "e!i"e" to "isrupt e$er+one8s happiness& *e has his
!ompanion <ora!hio make lo$e to :argaret, *ero8s ser$ing woman, at
*ero8s win"ow in the "arkness of the night, an" he brings Fon /e"ro
an" Clau"io to wat!h& <elie$ing that he has seen *ero being unfaithful
to him, the enrage" Clau"io humiliates *ero b+ su""enl+ a!!using her
of le!her+ on the "a+ of their we""ing an" aban"oning her at the altar&
*ero8s stri!ken famil+ members "e!i"e to preten" that she "ie"
su""enl+ of sho!k an" grief an" to hi"e her awa+ while the+ wait for
the truth about her inno!en!e to !ome to light& 'n the aftermath of the
reCe!tion, <ene"i!k an" <eatri!e ;nall+ !onfess their lo$e to one
another& >ortunatel+, the night wat!hmen o$erhear <ora!hio bragging
about his !rime& Fogberr+ an" Herges, the hea"s of the lo!al poli!e,
ultimatel+ arrest both <ora!hio an" Conra", another of Fon 7ohn8s
followers& E$er+one learns that *ero is reall+ inno!ent, an" Clau"io,
who belie$es she is "ea", grie$es for her&
.eonato tells Clau"io that, as punishment, he wants Clau"io to tell
e$er+bo"+ in the !it+ how inno!ent *ero was& *e also wants Clau"io to
marr+ .eonato8s Inie!eJ=a girl who, he sa+s, looks mu!h like the "ea"
*ero& Clau"io goes to !hur!h with the others, preparing to marr+ the
m+sterious, maske" woman he thinks is *ero8s !ousin& When *ero
re$eals herself as the maske" woman, Clau"io is o$erwhelme" with
Co+& <ene"i!k then asks <eatri!e if she will marr+ him, an" after some
arguing the+ agree& The Co+ful lo$ers all ha$e a merr+ "an!e before
the+ !elebrate their "ouble we""ing&
Chara!ter .ist

<eatri!e # .eonato8s nie!e an" *ero8s !ousin& <eatri!e is Ia pleasant#

spirite" la"+J with a $er+ sharp tongue& She is generous an" lo$ing,
but, like <ene"i!k, !ontinuall+ mo!ks other people with elaboratel+
toole" Cokes an" puns& She wages a war of wits against <ene"i!k an"
often wins the battles& %t the outset of the pla+, she appears !ontent
ne$er to marr+&
Dea" an in#"epth anal+sis of <eatri!e&
<ene"i!k # %n aristo!rati! sol"ier who has re!entl+ been ;ghting un"er
Fon /e"ro, an" a frien" of Fon /e"ro an" Clau"io& <ene"i!k is $er+
witt+, alwa+s making Cokes an" puns& *e !arries on a Imerr+ warJ of
wits with <eatri!e, but at the beginning of the pla+ he swears he will
ne$er fall in lo$e or marr+&
Dea" an in#"epth anal+sis of <ene"i!k&
Clau"io # % +oung sol"ier who has won great a!!laim ;ghting un"er
Fon /e"ro "uring the re!ent wars& Clau"io falls in lo$e with *ero upon
his return to :essina& *is unfortunatel+ suspi!ious nature makes him
0ui!k to belie$e e$il rumors an" hast+ to "espair an" take re$enge&
*ero # The beautiful +oung "aughter of .eonato an" the !ousin of
<eatri!e& *ero is lo$el+, gentle, an" kin"& She falls in lo$e with Clau"io
when he falls for her, but when Fon 7ohn slan"ers her an" Clau"io
rashl+ takes re$enge, she su@ers terribl+&
Fon /e"ro # %n important nobleman from %ragon, sometimes referre"
to as I/rin!e&J Fon /e"ro is a longtime frien" of .eonato, *ero8s father,
an" is also !lose to the sol"iers who ha$e been ;ghting un"er him=the
+ounger <ene"i!k an" the $er+ +oung Clau"io& Fon /e"ro is generous,
!ourteous, intelligent, an" lo$ing to his frien"s, but he is also 0ui!k to
belie$e e$il of others an" hast+ to take re$enge& *e is the most
politi!all+ an" so!iall+ powerful !hara!ter in the pla+&
Dea" an in#"epth anal+sis of Fon /e"ro&
.eonato # % respe!te", well#to#"o, el"erl+ noble at whose home, in
:essina, 'tal+, the a!tion is set& .eonato is the father of *ero an" the
un!le of <eatri!e& %s go$ernor of :essina, he is se!on" in so!ial power
onl+ to Fon /e"ro&
Fon 7ohn # The illegitimate brother of Fon /e"roK sometimes !alle"
Ithe <astar"&J Fon 7ohn is melan!hol+ an" sullen b+ nature, an" he
!reates a "ark s!heme to ruin the happiness of *ero an" Clau"io& *e is
the $illain of the pla+K his e$il a!tions are moti$ate" b+ his en$+ of his
brother8s so!ial authorit+&
:argaret # *ero8s ser$ing woman, who unwittingl+ helps <ora!hio an"
Fon 7ohn "e!ei$e Clau"io into thinking that *ero is unfaithful& Lnlike
Lrsula, *ero8s other la"+#in#waiting, :argaret is lower !lass& Though
she is honest, she "oes ha$e some "ealings with the $illainous worl" of
Fon 7ohnG her lo$er is the mistrustful an" easil+ bribe" <ora!hio& %lso
unlike Lrsula, :argaret lo$es to break "e!orum, espe!iall+ with baw"+
Cokes an" teases&
<ora!hio # %n asso!iate of Fon 7ohn& <ora!hio is the lo$er of :argaret,
*ero8s ser$ing woman& *e !onspires with Fon 7ohn to tri!k Clau"io an"
Fon /e"ro into thinking that *ero is unfaithful to Clau"io& *is name
means I"runkar"J in 'talian, whi!h might ser$e as a subtle "ire!tion to
the a!tor pla+ing him&
Conra" # ?ne of Fon 7ohn8s more intimate asso!iates, entirel+ "e$ote"
to Fon 7ohn& Se$eral re!ent pro"u!tions ha$e stage" Conra" as Fon
7ohn8s potential male lo$er, possibl+ to intensif+ Fon 7ohn8s feelings of
being a so!ial out!ast an" therefore moti$ate his "esire for re$enge&
Fogberr+ # The !onstable in !harge of the Wat!h, or !hief poli!eman,
of :essina& Fogberr+ is $er+ sin!ere an" takes his Cob seriousl+, but he
has a habit of using exa!tl+ the wrong wor" to !on$e+ his meaning&
Fogberr+ is one of the few Imi""ling sort,J or mi""le#!lass !hara!ters,
in the pla+, though his "esire to speak formall+ an" elaboratel+ like the
noblemen be!omes an o!!asion for paro"+&
Herges # The "eput+ to Fogberr+, !hief poli!eman of :essina&
%ntonio # .eonato8s el"erl+ brother an" *eroEs un!le& *e is <eatri!e8s
father&
<althasar # % waiting man in .eonato8s househol" an" a musi!ian&
<althasar firts with :argaret at the maske" part+ an" helps .eonato,
Clau"io, an" Fon /e"ro tri!k <ene"i!k into falling in lo$e with <eatri!e&
<althasar sings the song, ISigh no more, la"ies, sigh no moreJ about
a!!epting men8s in;"elit+ as natural&
Lrsula # ?ne of *ero8s waiting women&
%nal+sis of :aCor Chara!ters

<eatri!e
<eatri!e is the nie!e of .eonato, a wealth+ go$ernor of :essina&
Though she is !lose frien"s with her !ousin *ero, .eonato8s "aughter,
the two !oul" not be less alike& Whereas *ero is polite, 0uiet,
respe!tful, an" gentle, <eatri!e is feist+, !+ni!al, witt+, an" sharp&
<eatri!e keeps up a Imerr+ warJ of wits with <ene"i!k, a lor" an"
sol"ier from /a"ua& The pla+ suggests that she was on!e in lo$e with
<ene"i!k but that he le" her on an" their relationship en"e"& Aow
when the+ meet, the two !onstantl+ !ompete to out"o one another
with !le$er insults&
%lthough she appears har"ene" an" sharp, <eatri!e is reall+
$ulnerable& ?n!e she o$erhears *ero "es!ribing that <ene"i!k is in
lo$e with her 3<eatri!e6, she opens herself to the sensiti$ities an"
weaknesses of lo$e& <eatri!e is a prime example of one of
Shakespeare8s strong female !hara!ters& She refuses to marr+ be!ause
she has not "is!o$ere" the perfe!t, e0ual partner an" be!ause she is
unwilling to es!hew her libert+ an" submit to the will of a !ontrolling
husban"& When *ero has been humiliate" an" a!!use" of $iolating her
!hastit+, <eatri!e explo"es with fur+ at Clau"io for mistreating her
!ousin& 'n her frustration an" rage about *ero8s mistreatment, <eatri!e
rebels against the une0ual status of women in Denaissan!e so!iet+& I?
that ' were a man for his sakeM ?r that ' ha" an+ frien" woul" be a man
for m+ sakeMJ she passionatel+ ex!laims& I' !annot be a man with
wishing, therefore ' will "ie a woman with grie$ingJ 3'H&i&51)451(6&
<ene"i!k
<ene"i!k is the willful lor", re!entl+ returne" from ;ghting in the wars,
who $ows that he will ne$er marr+& *e engages with <eatri!e in a
!ompetition to outwit, outsmart, an" out#insult the other, but to his
obser$ant frien"s, he seems to feel some "eeper emotion below the
surfa!e& Lpon hearing Clau"io an" Fon /e"ro "is!ussing <eatri!e8s
"esire for him, <ene"i!k $ows to be Ihorribl+ in lo$e with her,J in e@e!t
!ontinuing the !ompetition b+ out"oing her in lo$e an" !ourtship
3''&iii&)-N6& <ene"i!k is one of the most histrioni! !hara!ters in the pla+,
as he !onstantl+ performs for the bene;t of others& *e is the
entertainer, in"ulging in witt+ h+perbole to express his feelings& *e
"eli$ers a perfe!t example of his infate" rhetori! when <eatri!e enters
"uring the maske" ball& Turning to his !ompanions, <ene"i!k grossl+
exaggerates how <eatri!e has misuse" him, bi""ing his frien"s to sen"
him to the farthest !orners of the earth rather than let him spen" one
more minute with his nemesisG IWill +our gra!e !omman" me an+
ser$i!e to the worl"8s en"O ' will go on the slightest erran" now to the
%ntipo"es that +ou !an "e$ise to sen" me on& ' will fet!h +ou a
toothpi!ker from the furthest in!h of %sia & & & "o +ou an+ embassage to
the pigmies, rather than hol" three wor"s8 !onferen!e with this harp+J
3''&i&)),4)556&
?f !ourse, sin!e <ene"i!k is so in$este" in performing for the others, it
is not eas+ for us to tell whether he has been in lo$e with <eatri!e all
along or falls in lo$e with her su""enl+ "uring the pla+& <ene"i!k8s
a"amant refusal to marr+ "oes appear to !hange o$er the !ourse of
the pla+, on!e he "e!i"es to fall in lo$e with <eatri!e& *e attempts to
!on!eal this transformation from his frien"s but reall+ might enCo+
sho!king them b+ sha$ing o@ his bear" an" professing un"+ing lo$e to
<eatri!e& This !hange in attitu"e seems most e$i"ent when <ene"i!k
!hallenges Clau"io, pre$iousl+ his !losest frien" in the worl", to "uel to
the "eath o$er Clau"io8s a!!usation as to *ero8s un!haste beha$ior&
There !an be no "oubt at this point that <ene"i!k has swit!he" his
allegian!es entirel+ o$er to <eatri!e&
Fon /e"ro, /rin!e of %ragon
?f all the main !hara!ters in :u!h %"o %bout Aothing, Fon /e"ro
seems the most elusi$e& *e is the noblest !hara!ter in the so!ial
hierar!h+ of the pla+, an" his frien"s <ene"i!k an" Clau"io, though
e0uals in wit, must alwa+s "efer to him be!ause their positions "epen"
upon his fa$or& Fon /e"ro has power, an" he is well aware of itK
whether or not he abuses this power is open to 0uestion& Lnlike his
bastar" brother, the $illain Fon 7ohn, Fon /e"ro most often uses his
power an" authorit+ towar" positi$e en"s& <ut like his half#brother, Fon
/e"ro manipulates other !hara!ters as mu!h as he likes& >or instan!e,
he insists on wooing *ero for Clau"io himself, while maske", rather
than allowing Clau"io to profess his lo$e to *ero ;rst& ?f !ourse,
e$er+thing turns out for the best=Fon /e"ro8s moti$es are purel+ in
the interest of his frien"& <ut we are left won"ering wh+ Fon /e"ro
feels the nee" for su!h an elaborate "issimulation merel+ to inform
*ero of Clau"io8s romanti! interest& 't seems simpl+ that it is Fon
/e"ro8s ro+al prerogati$e to "o exa!tl+ as he wishes, an" no one !an
0uestion it& Fespite his !lou"+ moti$es, Fon /e"ro "oes work to bring
about happiness& 't is his i"ea, for instan!e, to !on$in!e <eatri!e an"
<ene"i!k that ea!h is in lo$e with the other an" b+ "oing so bring the
two !ompetitors together& *e or!hestrates the whole plot an" pla+s the
role of "ire!tor in this !ome"+ of wit an" manners&
Fon /e"ro is the onl+ one of the three gallants not to en" up with a
wife at the en"& <ene"i!k laughingl+ Cokes in the ;nal s!ene that the
melan!hol+ prin!e must Iget thee a wifeJ in or"er to enCo+ true
happiness 3H&i$&11N6& The 0uestion ne!essaril+ arises as to wh+ Fon
/e"ro is sa" at the en" of a Co+ous !ome"+& /erhaps his ex!hange with
<eatri!e at the maske" ball=in whi!h he proposes marriage to her an"
she Cokingl+ refuses him, taking his proposal as mere sport=pains himK
perhaps he is trul+ in lo$e with <eatri!e& The text "oes not gi$e us a
!on!lusi$e explanation for his melan!hol+, nor for his fas!ination with
"issembling& This un!ertainl+ about his !hara!ter helps to make him
one of the most thought#pro$oking !hara!ters in the pla+&
Themes, :otifs P S+mbols

Themes
Themes are the fun"amental an" often uni$ersal i"eas explore" in a
literar+ work&
The '"eal of So!ial 1ra!e
The !hara!ters8 "ense, !olorful manner of speaking represents the
i"eal that Denaissan!e !ourtiers stro$e for in their so!ial intera!tions&
The pla+8s language is hea$il+ la"en with metaphor an" ornamente"
b+ rhetori!& <ene"i!k, Clau"io, an" Fon /e"ro all pro"u!e the kin" of
witt+ banter that !ourtiers use" to attra!t attention an" appro$al in
noble househol"s& Courtiers were expe!te" to speak in highl+ !ontri$e"
language but to make their !le$er performan!es seem e@ortless& The
most famous mo"el for this kin" of beha$ior is <al"assare Castiglione8s
sixteenth#!entur+ manual The Courtier, translate" into English b+
Thomas *ob+ in 1561& %!!or"ing to this work, the i"eal !ourtier masks
his e@ort an" appears to proCe!t elegan!e an" natural gra!e b+ means
of what Castiglione !alls spre22atura, the illusion of e@ortlessness&
<ene"i!k an" his !ompanions tr+ to "ispla+ their polishe" so!ial gra!es
both in their beha$ior an" in their spee!h&
The pla+ pokes fun at the fan!iful language of lo$e that !ourtiers use"&
When Clau"io falls in lo$e, he tries to be the perfe!t !ourtier b+ using
intri!ate language& %s <ene"i!k notesG I*is wor"s are a $er+ fantasti!al
ban0uet, Cust so man+ strange "ishesJ 3''&iii&1(41,6& %lthough the
+oung gallants in the pla+ seem !asual in their "ispla+s of wit, the+
!onstantl+ struggle to maintain their so!ial positions& <ene"i!k an"
Clau"io must !onstantl+ stri$e to remain in Fon /e"ro8s fa$or& When
Clau"io silentl+ agrees to let Fon /e"ro take his pla!e to woo *ero, it is
0uite possible that he "oes so not be!ause he is too sh+ to woo the
woman himself, but be!ause he must a!!e"e to Fon /e"ro8s authorit+
in or"er to sta+ in Fon /e"ro8s goo" fa$or& When Clau"io belie$es that
Fon /e"ro has "e!ei$e" him an" wooe" *ero not for Clau"io but for
himself, he !annot "rop his polite !i$ilit+, e$en though he is full of
"espair& <eatri!e Cokes that Clau"io is I!i$il as an orange,J punning on
the Se$ille orange, a bitter fruit 3''&i&)566& Clau"io remains polite an"
nearl+ silent e$en though he is upset, telling <ene"i!k of Fon /e"ro
an" *eroG I' wish him Co+ of herJ 3''&i&1N-6& Clearl+, Clau"io !hooses his
obe"ien!e to Fon /e"ro o$er his lo$e for *ero&
Clau"io "ispla+s so!ial gra!e, but his stri!t a"heren!e to so!ial
propriet+ e$entuall+ lea"s him into a trap& *e aban"ons *ero at the
we""ing be!ause Fon 7ohn lea"s him to belie$e that she is un!haste
3marriage to an un!haste woman woul" be so!iall+ una!!eptable6& <ut
Fon 7ohn8s plan to unseat Clau"io "oes not su!!ee", of !ourse, as
Clau"io remains Fon /e"ro8s fa$orite, an" it is *ero who has to su@er
until her goo" reputation is restore"&
Fe!eption as a :eans to an En"
The plot of :u!h %"o %bout Aothing is base" upon "eliberate
"e!eptions, some male$olent an" others benign& The "uping of Clau"io
an" Fon /e"ro results in *ero8s "isgra!e, while the ruse of her "eath
prepares the wa+ for her re"emption an" re!on!iliation with Clau"io& 'n
a more lighthearte" $ein, <eatri!e an" <ene"i!k are foole" into
thinking that ea!h lo$es the other, an" the+ a!tuall+ "o fall in lo$e as a
result& :u!h %"o %bout Aothing shows that "e!eit is not inherentl+ e$il,
but something that !an be use" as a means to goo" or ba" en"s&
'n the pla+, it is sometimes "iQ!ult to "istinguish between goo" an"
ba" "e!eption& When Clau"io announ!es his "esire to woo *ero, Fon
/e"ro takes it upon himself to woo her for Clau"io& Then, at the
instigation of Fon 7ohn, Clau"io begins to mistrust Fon /e"ro, thinking
he has been "e!ei$e"& 7ust as the pla+8s au"ien!e !omes to belie$e,
temporaril+, in the illusions of the theater, so the pla+8s !hara!ters
be!ome !aught up in the illusions that the+ help to !reate for one
another& <ene"i!k an" <eatri!e firt !austi!all+ at the maske" ball,
ea!h possibl+ aware of the other8s presen!e +et preten"ing not to
know the person hi"ing behin" the mask& .ikewise, when Clau"io has
shame" an" reCe!te" *ero, .eonato an" his househol" IpublishJ that
*ero has "ie" in or"er to punish Clau"io for his mistake& When Clau"io
returns, penitent, to a!!ept the han" of .eonato8s Inie!eJ 3a!tuall+
*ero6, a group of maske" women enters an" Clau"io must we" blin"l+&
The masking of *ero an" the other women re$eals that the so!ial
institution of marriage has little to "o with lo$e& When Clau"io
foun"ers an" asks, IWhi!h is the la"+ ' must sei2e uponOJ he is rea"+
an" willing to !ommit the rest of his life to one of a group of unknowns
3H&i$&556& *is willingness stems not onl+ from his guilt about slan"ering
an inno!ent woman but also from the fa!t that he ma+ !are more
about rising in .eonato8s fa$or than in marr+ing for lo$e& 'n the en",
"e!eit is neither purel+ positi$e nor purel+ negati$eG it is a means to an
en", a wa+ to !reate an illusion that helps one su!!ee" so!iall+&
The 'mportan!e of *onor
The aborte" we""ing !eremon+, in whi!h Clau"io reCe!ts *ero,
a!!using her of in;"elit+ an" $iolate" !hastit+ an" publi!l+ shaming
her in front of her father, is the !limax of the pla+& 'n Shakespeare8s
time, a woman8s honor was base" upon her $irginit+ an" !haste
beha$ior& >or a woman to lose her honor b+ ha$ing sexual relations
before marriage meant that she woul" lose all so!ial stan"ing, a
"isaster from whi!h she !oul" ne$er re!o$er& :oreo$er, this loss of
honor woul" poison the woman8s whole famil+& Thus, when .eonato
rashl+ belie$es Clau"io8s shaming of *ero at the we""ing !eremon+,
he tries to obliterate her entirel+G I*en!e from her, let her "ieJ
3'H&i&1556& >urthermore, he speaks of her loss of honor as an in"elible
stain from whi!h he !annot "istan!e himself, no matter how har" he
triesG I? she is fallen R 'nto a pit of ink, that the wi"e sea R *ath "rops
too few to wash her !lean againJ 3'H&i&15(41-6& >or women in that era,
the loss of honor was a form of annihilation&
>or men, on the other han", honor "epen"e" on male frien"ship
allian!es an" was more militar+ in nature& Lnlike a woman, a man
!oul" "efen" his honor, an" that of his famil+, b+ ;ghting in a battle or
a "uel& <eatri!e urges <ene"i!k to a$enge *ero8s honor b+ "ueling to
the "eath with Clau"io& %s a woman, *ero !annot sei2e ba!k her honor,
but <ene"i!k !an "o it for her $ia ph+si!al !ombat&
:otifs
:otifs are re!urring stru!tures, !ontrasts, an" literar+ "e$i!es that
!an help to "e$elop an" inform the text8s maCor themes&
/ubli! Shaming
E$en though *ero is ultimatel+ $in"i!ate", her publi! shaming at the
we""ing !eremon+ is too terrible to be ignore"& 'n a sense, this kin" of
humiliation in!urs more "amage to her honor an" her famil+ name
than woul" an a!t of un!haste beha$ior=an transgression she ne$er
!ommits& The language that both Clau"io an" .eonato use to shame
*ero is extremel+ strong& To Clau"io she is a Irotten orangeJ 3'H&i&5-6,
an" to .eonato a rotting !ar!ass that !annot be preser$e"G Ithe wi"e
sea R *ath & & & R & & & salt too little whi!h ma+ season gi$e R To her foul
tainte" feshMJ 3'H&i&15,41)6&
Shame is also what Fon 7ohn hopes will !ause Clau"io to lose his pla!e
as Fon /e"ro8s fa$oriteG on!e Clau"io is "is!o$ere" to be engage" to a
loose woman, Fon 7ohn belie$es that Fon /e"ro will reCe!t Clau"io as
he reCe!te" Fon 7ohn long ago& Shame is a form of so!ial punishment
!losel+ !onne!te" to loss of honor& % pro"u!t of an illegitimate sexual
!oupling himself, Fon 7ohn has grown up !onstantl+ remin"e" of his
own so!ial shame, an" he will "o an+thing to right the balan!e&
'roni!all+, in the en" Fon 7ohn is shame" an" threatene" with torture
to punish him for "e!ei$ing the !ompan+& Clearl+, he will ne$er gain a
goo" pla!e in !ourtl+ so!iet+&
Aoting
'n Shakespeare8s time, the IAothingJ of the title woul" ha$e been
pronoun!e" IAoting&J Thus, the pla+8s title !oul" rea"G I:u!h %"o
%bout Aoting&J 'n"ee", man+ of the pla+ers parti!ipate in the a!tions of
obser$ing, listening, an" writing, or noting& 'n or"er for a plot hinge" on
instan!es of "e!eit to work, the !hara!ters must note one another
!onstantl+& When the women manipulate <eatri!e into belie$ing that
<ene"i!k a"ores her, the+ !on!eal themsel$es in the or!har" so that
<eatri!e !an better note their !on$ersation& Sin!e the+ know that
<eatri!e lo$es to ea$es"rop, the+ are sure that their plot will su!!ee"G
Ilook where <eatri!e like a lapwing runs R Close b+ the groun" to hear
our !onferen!e,J notes *ero 3'''&i&)4)56& Ea!h line the women speak is
a !arefull+ pla!e" note for <eatri!e to take up an" pon"erK the same is
true of the s!heme to !on$in!e <ene"i!k of <eatri!e8s passion&
Fon 7ohn8s plot to un"o Clau"io also hinges on notingG in or"er for
Clau"io to belie$e that *ero is un!haste an" unfaithful, he must be
brought to her win"ow to witness, or note, :argaret 3whom he takes to
be *ero6 bi""ing farewell to <ora!hio in the semi"arkness& Fogberr+,
Herges, an" the rest of the !omi!al night wat!h "is!o$er an" arrest
Fon 7ohn be!ause, although ill#e0uippe" to express themsel$es
linguisti!all+, the+ o$erhear talk of the :argaret##<ora!hio staging&
Fespite their $erbal "e;!ien!ies, the+ manage to !apture Fon 7ohn an"
bring him to .eonato, after ha$ing ha" the sexton 3a !hur!h oQ!ial6
InoteJ the o!!urren!es of the e$ening in writing& 'n the en", noting, in
the sense of writing, unites <eatri!e an" <ene"i!k for goo"G *ero an"
Clau"io re$eal lo$e sonnets written b+ <eatri!e an" <ene"i!k, textual
e$i"en!e that notes an" pro$es their lo$e for one another&
Entertainment
>rom the witt+ +et plainti$e song that <althasar sings about the
"e!eitfulness of men to the maske" ball an" the musi! an" "an!ing at
the en" of the pla+, the !hara!ters of :u!h %"o %bout Aothing spen"
mu!h of their time engaging in elaborate spe!ta!les an"
entertainments& The pla+8s title en!apsulates the sentiment of
e@er$es!ent an" light !ourt entertainmentG the two hours8 traQ!
onstage will be entertaining, !omi!, an" absorbing& The !hara!ters who
merril+ spar an" fall in lo$e in the beginning will, of !ourse, en" up
together in the !on!lusion& <eatri!e !ompares !ourtship an" marriage
to "elightful !ourt "an!esG Iwooing, we""ing an" repenting is as a
S!ot!h Cig, a measure, an" a !in0uepa!eJ 3''&i&6-4616& <+ in!lu"ing a
mas0uera"e as !ourt entertainment in the mi""le, as well as two songs
an" a "an!e at the en", the pla+ presents itself as sheer
entertainment, !ons!ious of its own theatri!alit+&
Counterfeiting
The i"ea of !ounterfeiting, in the sense of presenting a false fa!e to the
worl", appears fre0uentl+ throughout the pla+& % parti!ularl+ ri!h an"
!omplex example of !ounterfeiting o!!urs as .eonato, Clau"io, an"
Fon /e"ro preten" that <eatri!e is hea" o$er heels in lo$e with
<ene"i!k so that the ea$es"ropping <ene"i!k will o$erhear it an"
belie$e it& .uring <ene"i!k into this trap, .eonato ironi!all+ "ismisses
the i"ea that perhaps <eatri!e !ounterfeits her "esire for <ene"i!k, as
he an" the others !ounterfeit this lo$e themsel$esG I? 1o"M
CounterfeitO There was ne$er !ounterfeit of passion !ame so near the
life of passion as she "is!o$ers itJ 3''&iii&,(4,,6&
%nother, more serious referen!e to !ounterfeiting o!!urs at the
we""ing !eremon+, as Clau"io rhetori!all+ paints a pi!ture of *ero as a
perfe!t !ounterfeit of inno!en!e, un!haste an" impure beneath a
seemingl+ unblemishe" surfa!eG
She8s but the sign an" semblan!e of her honour&
<ehol" how like a mai" she blushes hereM
?, what authorit+ an" show of truth
Can !unning sin !o$er itself withalM
3'H&i&51456
*ero8s suppose" !ounterfeiting is of a gra$e nature, as it threatens her
womanl+ reputation& 't is not her emotions that are being
mis!onstrue", as with <eatri!e, but rather her !hara!ter an" integrit+&
S+mbols
S+mbols are obCe!ts, !hara!ters, ;gures, an" !olors use" to
represent abstra!t i"eas or !on!epts&
The Taming of Wil" %nimals
The pla+ is peppere" with metaphors in$ol$ing the taming of wil"
animals& 'n the !ase of the !ourtship between <eatri!e an" <ene"i!k,
the s+mbol of a tame" sa$age animal represents the so!ial taming that
must o!!ur for both wil" souls to be rea"+ to submit themsel$es to the
sha!kles of lo$e an" marriage& <eatri!e8s $ow to submit to <ene"i!k8s
lo$e b+ IStTaming m+ wil" heart to th+ lo$ing han"J makes use of
terms from fal!onr+, suggesting that <ene"i!k is to be!ome <eatri!e8s
master 3'''&i&1156& 'n the opening a!t, Clau"io an" Fon /e"ro tease
<ene"i!k about his a$ersion to marriage, !omparing him to a wil"
animal& Fon /e"ro 0uotes a !ommon a"age, IU'n time the sa$age bull
"oth bear the +oke,8J meaning that in time e$en the sa$age <ene"i!k
will surren"er to the taming of lo$e an" marriage 3'&i&)156& <ene"i!k
mo!ks this sentiment, professing that he will ne$er submit to the will of
a woman& %t the $er+ en", when <ene"i!k an" <eatri!e agree to
marr+, Clau"io pokes fun at <ene"i!k8s morti;e" !ountenan!e,
suggesting that <ene"i!k is relu!tant to marr+ be!ause he remembers
the allusion to tame" bullsG
Tush, fear not, man, we8ll tip th+ horns with gol",
%n" all Europa shall reCoi!e at thee
%s on!e Europa "i" at lust+ 7o$e
When he woul" pla+ the noble beast in lo$e&
3H&i$&4N6
Clau"io !hanges <ene"i!k from a laboring farm animal, a bull straining
un"er a +oke, to a wil" go", empowere" b+ his bestial form to take
sexual possession of his la"+& While the bull of marriage is the sa"l+
+oke", formerl+ sa$age !reature, the bull that Clau"io refers to !omes
from the !lassi!al m+th in whi!h Veus took the form of a bull an"
!arrie" o@ the mortal woman Europa& This se!on" bull is suppose" to
represent the other si"e of the !oinG the bull of bestial male sexualit+&
War
Throughout the pla+, images of war fre0uentl+ s+mboli2e $erbal
arguments an" !onfrontations& %t the beginning of the pla+, .eonato
relates to the other !hara!ters that there is a Imerr+ warJ between
<eatri!e an" <ene"i!kG IThe+ ne$er meet but there8s a skirmish of wit
between themJ 3'&i&5-4516& <eatri!e !arries on this martial imager+,
"es!ribing how, when she won the last "uel with <ene"i!k, Ifour of his
;$e wits went halting o@J 3'&i&556& When <ene"i!k arri$es, their witt+
ex!hange resembles the blows an" parries of a well#exe!ute" fen!ing
mat!h& .eonato a!!uses Clau"io of killing *ero with wor"sG ITh+
slan"er hath gone through an" through her heartJ 3H&i&6(6& .ater in the
same s!ene, <ene"i!k presents Clau"io with a $iolent $erbal !hallengeG
to "uel to the "eath o$er *ero8s honor& When <ora!hio !onfesses to
staging the loss of *ero8s inno!en!e, Fon /e"ro "es!ribes this spoken
e$i"en!e as a swor" that tears through Clau"io8s heartG IDuns not this
spee!h like iron through +our bloo"OJ 3H&i&))N6, an" Clau"io respon"s
that he has alrea"+ ;gurati$el+ !ommitte" sui!i"e upon hearing these
wor"sG I' ha$e "runk poison whiles he uttere" itJ 3H&i&))(6&
*ero8s Feath
Clau"io8s powerful wor"s a!!using *ero of un!haste an" "islo+al a!ts
!ause her to fall "own in apparent lifelessness& .eonato a!!entuates
the "ireness of *ero8s state, pushing her further into seeming "eath b+
renoun!ing her, I*en!e from her, let her "ieJ 3'H&i&1556& When >riar
>ran!is, *ero, an" <eatri!e !on$in!e .eonato of his "aughter8s
inno!en!e, the+ maintain that she reall+ has "ie", in or"er to punish
Clau"io an" gi$e *ero a respe!table amount of time to regain her
honor, whi!h, although not lost, has been publi!l+ sa$age"& Clau"io
performs all the a!tions of mourning *ero, pa+ing a !hoir to sing a
"irge at her tomb& 'n a s+mboli! sense, *ero has "ie", sin!e, although
she is pure, Clau"io8s "amning a!!usation has permanentl+
besmir!he" her name& She must s+mboli!all+ "ie an" be reborn pure
again in or"er for Clau"io to marr+ her a se!on" time& *ero8s false
"eath is less a !hara"e aime" to in"u!e remorse in Clau"io than it is a
so!ial ritual "esigne" to !leanse her name an" person of infam+&
%!t ', s!ene i

S%Tn" in su!h great letters as the+ write I*ere is goo" horse to hireJ
let them signif+ un"er m+ sign I*ere +ou ma+ see <ene"i!k, the
marrie" man&J
3See 'mportant Wuotations Explaine"6
Summar+
'n the 'talian town of :essina, the wealth+ an" kin"l+ .eonato prepares
to wel!ome home some sol"ier frien"s who are returning from a battle&
These frien"s in!lu"e Fon /e"ro of %ragon, a highl+ respe!te"
nobleman, an" a bra$e +oung sol"ier name" Clau"io, who has won
mu!h honor in the ;ghting& .eonato8s +oung "aughter, *ero, an" her
!ousin, <eatri!e, a!!ompan+ him& <eatri!e asks about the health of
another sol"ier in Fon /e"ro8s arm+, a man name" Signor <ene"i!k&
<eatri!e !le$erl+ mo!ks an" insults <ene"i!k& % messenger from Fon
/e"ro "efen"s <ene"i!k as an honorable an" $irtuous man, but
.eonato explains that <eatri!e an" <ene"i!k !arr+ on a Imerr+ warJ of
wits with one another, tra"ing Cibes whene$er the+ meet& <eatri!e
!on;rms this statement, noting that in their most re!ent !onfi!t, Ifour
of his ;$e wits went halting o@, an" now is the whole man go$erne"
with oneJ 3'&i&5)456&
Fon /e"ro arri$es at .eonato8s house with his two frien"s, Clau"io an"
<ene"i!k, an" the+ are Co+full+ wel!ome"& %lso a!!ompan+ing Fon
/e"ro is his 0uiet, sullen, illegitimate brother, Fon 7ohn Ithe <astar",J
with whom Fon /e"ro has re!entl+ be!ome frien"l+ after a perio" of
mutual hostilit+& While .eonato an" Fon /e"ro ha$e a pri$ate talk,
<eatri!e an" <ene"i!k take up their war of wits& 'n an extremel+ fast#
pa!e" ex!hange of barbs, the+ insult one another8s looks, intelligen!e,
an" personalit+& When <ene"i!k tells <eatri!e prou"l+ that he has
ne$er lo$e" a woman an" ne$er will, <eatri!e respon"s that women
e$er+where ought to reCoi!e&
Fon /e"ro tells <ene"i!k, Clau"io, an" Fon 7ohn that .eonato has
in$ite" them all to sta+ with him for a month, an" that Fon /e"ro has
a!!epte"& E$er+one goes o@ together ex!ept Clau"io an" <ene"i!k&
Clau"io sh+l+ asks <ene"i!k what he thinks of *ero, announ!ing that
he has fallen in lo$e with her& <ene"i!k Cokingl+ pla+s "own *ero8s
beaut+, teasing Clau"io for thinking about be!oming a tame husban"&
<ut when Fon /e"ro returns to look for his frien"s, <ene"i!k tells him
Clau"io8s se!ret, an" Fon /e"ro appro$es highl+ of the mat!h& Sin!e
Clau"io is sh+ an" .eonato is Fon /e"ro8s !lose frien", Fon /e"ro
proposes a tri!kG at the !ostume ball to be hel" that night, Fon /e"ro
will "isguise himself as Clau"io an" "e!lare his lo$e to *ero& *e will
then talk with .eonato, her father, whi!h shoul" enable Clau"io to win
*ero without "iQ!ult+& >ull of plans an" ex!itement, the three frien"s
hea" o@ to get rea"+ for the ball&
%nal+sisG %!t ', s!ene i
This opening s!ene intro"u!es all of the maCor !hara!ters, as well as
the pla+8s setting=.eonato8s wel!oming, frien"l+ house in :essina&
Fon /e"ro an" the others are Cust returning from a war in whi!h the+
ha$e been $i!torious, seemingl+ setting the stage for a relaxe", happ+
!ome"+ in whi!h the main !hara!ters fall in lo$e an" ha$e fun
together& While the pla+ opens with a strong feeling of Co+ an" !alm,
the harmon+ of :essina is !ertainl+ to be "isturbe" later on&
<eatri!e an" <ene"i!k are perhaps Shakespeare8s most famousl+ witt+
!hara!tersK neither e$er lets the other sa+ an+thing without !ountering
it with a pun or !riti!ism& ?ne notable !hara!teristi! of their atta!ks
upon ea!h other is their abilit+ to exten" a metaphor throughout lines
of "ialogue& When <ene"i!k !alls <eatri!e a Irare parrot#tea!her,J
<eatri!e respon"s, I% bir" of m+ tongue is better than a beast of
+oursJ 3'&i&116& <ene"i!k !ontinues the referen!e to animals in his
response, sa+ing, I' woul" m+ horse ha" the spee" of +our tongueJ
3'&i&1156& 't is as if ea!h anti!ipates the other8s response& Though their
insults are biting, their abilit+ to maintain su!h !le$er, inter!onne!te"
sparring seems to illustrate the existen!e of a strong bon" between
them&
<eatri!e an" <ene"i!k ha$e !ourte" in the past, an" <eatri!e8s
$i!iousness stems from the fa!t that <ene"i!k pre$iousl+ aban"one"
her& When she insists that <ene"i!k Iset up his bills here in :essina
an" !hallenge" Cupi" at the fight, an" m+ un!le8s fool, rea"ing the
!hallenge, subs!ribe" for Cupi",J she "es!ribes a IbattleJ of lo$e
between herself an" <ene"i!k that she has lost 3'&i&5)456& The result is
what .eonato "es!ribes as Ia kin" of merr+ war betwixt Sir <ene"i!k
an" S<eatri!eT& The+ ne$er meet but there8s a skirmish of wit between
themJ 3'&i&,4516&
%nother purpose of the "ialogue between <ene"i!k an" <eatri!e, as
well as that among <ene"i!k, Clau"io, an" Fon /e"ro, is to explore the
!omplex relationships between men an" women& <oth <ene"i!k an"
<eatri!e !laim to s!orn lo$e& %s <ene"i!k sa+s to <eatri!e, IS'Tt is
!ertain ' am lo$e" of all la"ies, onl+ +ou ex!epte"& %n" ' woul" ' !oul"
;n" it in m+ heart that ' ha" not a har" heart, for trul+ ' lo$e noneJ
3'&i&1-141-6& <ene"i!k thus sets himself up as an unattainable obCe!t
of "esire& With her mo!king repl+ that I' ha" rather hear m+ "og bark
at a !row than a man swear he lo$es me,J <eatri!e similarl+ puts
herself out of rea!h 3'&i&1-N41-(6& <oth at this point appear !ertain that
the+ will ne$er fall in lo$e or marr+&
<ene"i!k8s "is"ain for matrimon+ arises again when he reali2es that
Clau"io is seriousl+ !ontemplating asking *ero for her han" in
marriage& Lntil this point, all the sol"iers ha$e exhibite" a kin" of
ma!ho pri"e in being ba!helors, but Clau"io now seems happ+ to ;n"
himself falling in lo$e, an" Fon /e"ro reCoi!es in his +oung frien"8s
"e!ision& <ene"i!k alone swears, I' will li$e a ba!helorJ 3'&i&)-16& Fon
/e"ro8s teasing reCoin"er, I' shall see thee ere ' "ie look pale with
lo$e& & & & U'n time the sa$age bull "oth bear the +oke,8 J suggests his
belief that lo$e "oes !on0uer all, e$en those as stubborn as <ene"i!k
3'&i&)-)4)16&
%!t ', s!enes ii4iii

Summar+G %!t ', s!ene ii

'nsi"e his house, .eonato runs into his el"er brother, %ntonio& %ntonio
sa+s that a ser$ant of his o$erhear" Fon /e"ro talking with Clau"io
outsi"e& The ser$ant thinks that he o$erhear" Fon /e"ro professing his
lo$e for *ero an" that he means to tell her that $er+ night, "uring the
"an!e, an" then ask .eonato himself for *ero8s han" in marriage&
?b$iousl+, %ntonio has mishear" the truthG Clau"io, not Fon /e"ro,
lo$es *ero& Ae$ertheless, the onl+ part of the !on$ersation %ntonio has
inter!epte" is that Fon /e"ro will woo *ero that e$ening& .eonato8s
pru"ent repl+ is that he will not !onsi"er the rumor to be true until his
"aughter is a!tuall+ !ourte"& <ut he "e!lares that he will tell *ero
about it, so that she ma+ think about what she wants to sa+ in
response to Fon /e"ro, shoul" this bit of information pro$e true&
Summar+G %!t ', s!ene iii
Elsewhere in the house, Fon 7ohn !on$erses with his ser$ant, Conra"&
Conra" asks Fon 7ohn wh+ he appears angr+ an" melan!hol+& Fon 7ohn
replies that he is naturall+ "epresse" an" somberK he la!ks the skills=
or the willpower=to !hange his fa!e to suit other people& Conra"
remin"s Fon 7ohn that Fon /e"ro has onl+ $er+ re!entl+ starte" to be
frien"l+ with him again, an" if Fon 7ohn wants to remain on goo" terms
with his powerful brother, he ought to show a more !heerful fa!e& <ut,
bitter that he must "epen" both so!iall+ an" e!onomi!all+ on his mu!h
more su!!essful an" highl+ ranke" brother, Fon 7ohn bristles at ha$ing
to !onform to Fon /e"ro8s expe!tations&
<ora!hio, another of Fon 7ohn8s ser$ants, enters to tell Fon 7ohn that
he has o$erhear" rumors of the up!oming marriage between Clau"io
an" *ero& <ora!hio, like .eonato8s ser$ant, has also o$erhear" Fon
/e"ro an" Clau"io making plans, but <ora!hio !orre!tl+ un"erstan"s
what he has hear"& *e reali2es that Fon /e"ro plans to !ourt *ero in
or"er to gi$e her to Clau"io& Fon 7ohn, who hates Clau"io for being so
well lo$e" an" respe!te", "e!i"es to tr+ to use this information to
make trouble for Clau"io& Conra" an" <ora!hio swear to help him&
%nal+sisG %!t ', s!enes ii4iii
?$erhearing, plotting, an" misun"erstan"ing o!!ur fre0uentl+ in :u!h
%"o %bout Aothing, as !hara!ters !onstantl+ ea$es"rop or sp+ on other
!hara!ters& ?!!asionall+ the+ learn the truth, but more often the+
misun"erstan" what the+ see or hear, or the+ are tri!ke" into belie$ing
what other people want them to belie$e& 'n these s!enes, %ntonio8s
ser$ant an" Fon 7ohn8s asso!iate both o$erhear the same !on$ersation
between Fon /e"ro an" Clau"io, but onl+ <ora!hio un"erstan"s it
!orre!tl+, while %ntonio8s ser$ant 3an", !onse0uentl+, %ntonio himself6
misun"erstan"& *e !arries this in!orre!t information onwar", ;rst to
.eonato an" then to *ero&
't appears that Fon 7ohn has no strong moti$e for the $illain+ he
!ommits an" that his a!tions are inspire" b+ a ba" nature, something
he a!knowle"ges full+G Ithough ' !annot be sai" to be a fattering
honest man, it must not be "enie" but ' am a plain#"ealing $illainJ
3'&iii&)54)56& Bet, the fa!t that Fon 7ohn is Fon /e"ro8s bastar" brother=
that he is of a mu!h lower station than Fon /e"ro an" possesses little
!han!e of rising in so!iet+ be!ause of his bastar" birth=suggests that
there is more to his beha$ior than his e$il !hara!ter& *e most likel+
resents Fon /e"ro, the most powerful ;gure in the pla+8s so!ial
hierar!h+, for !laiming the authorit+ an" so!ial superiorit+ of a
legitimate heir& *is Cealous+ of his brother8s su!!ess is most likel+ what
"ri$es him to wreak ha$o! on Clau"io an" Fon /e"ro& *is insisten!e on
honest+ in this s!ene might appear a"mirable, but he lies to man+
people later on, !asting his statements here about being harmless into
"oubt&
To un"erstan" Fon 7ohn8s !laim of natural e$il, we shoul" remember
that he stan"s in a $er+ "iQ!ult position& %s the illegitimate brother 3or
half#brother6 of Fon /e"ro, Fon 7ohn is labele" Ithe <astar"&J
'llegitimate sons of noblemen foun" themsel$es in a tri!k+ position in
Denaissan!e Englan"& ?ften, their fathers a!knowle"ge" them an"
ga$e them mone+ an" an e"u!ation, but the+ !oul" ne$er be their
fathers8 real heirs, an" the+ were often ex!lu"e" from polite so!iet+
an" looke" upon with "is"ain& 'n pla+s, bastar" sons were sometimes
a"mire" for their in"i$i"ualism, enterprise, an" !ourage, but in
Shakespeare8s works, their anger about their unfair ex!lusion often
inspires them to $illain+& .ike E"mun" in Shakespeare8s trage"+ 9ing
.ear, Fon 7ohn seems to be a $illain at least in part be!ause he is a
bastar", an" like E"mun" he is "etermine" to !ross his legitimate
brother in an+ wa+ that he !an&
'n :u!h %"o %bout Aothing, Fon 7ohn is in the "iQ!ult position of
ha$ing to beha$e well an" !ourt fa$or with his more powerful brother,
Fon /e"ro, while at the same time being ex!lu"e" from the pri$ileges
Fon /e"ro enCo+s be!ause of his illegitima!+& Fon 7ohn is bitter about
the restri!tions impose" upon himG I' am truste" with a mu22le, an"
enfran!hise" with a !log& Therefore ' ha$e "e!ree" not to sing in m+
!ageJ 3'&iii&)54)N6& *e !omplains, in essen!e, that he is not truste" at
all an" not gi$en an+ free"omK he rails against the !onstraints of his
role, refusing to IsingJ in his I!age,J or make the best of things&
'nstea", he seems to want to take out his frustrations b+ manipulating
an" hurting other people for his own amusement& Fon 7ohn8s !laim that
he hates Clau"io be!ause he is Cealous of Clau"io8s frien"ship with his
brother seems 0uestionableK it seems more likel+ that Fon 7ohn simpl+
hates an+one happ+ an" well like" an" thus wants to exa!t a more
general re$enge upon the worl"&
!t '', s!ene i

S*Te that is more than a +outh is not for me, an" he that is less than
a man, ' am not for him&
3See 'mportant Wuotations Explaine"6
Summar+
While *ero, <eatri!e, .eonato, an" %ntonio wait for the e$ening8s
maske" ball to begin, *ero an" <eatri!e "is!uss their i"ea of the
perfe!t man=a happ+ me"ium between Fon 7ohn, who ne$er talks,
an" <ene"i!k, who engages himself in !onstant banter& This ex!hange
lea"s into a !on$ersation about whether or not <eatri!e will e$er get a
husban", an" <eatri!e laughingl+ !laims that she will not& .eonato an"
%ntonio also remin" *ero about their belief that Fon /e"ro plans to
propose to her that e$ening& The other part+goers enter, an" the men
put on masks& Suppose"l+, the women now !annot tell who the men
are& The musi! begins, an" the "an!ers pair o@ an" hol" !on$ersations
while the+ "an!e& Fon /e"ro8s musi!ian, <althasar, "an!es with *ero8s
ser$ant :argaret an" ol" %ntonio "an!es with *ero8s other ser$ant,
Lrsula& :eanwhile, Fon /e"ro "an!es with *ero an" begins to firt with
her& <ene"i!k "an!es with <eatri!e, who either "oes not re!ogni2e him
or preten"s not to& She insults <ene"i!k thoroughl+ to her "an!ing
partner, sa+ing that while <ene"i!k thinks that he is witt+ others ;n"
him !ompletel+ boring&
The musi! lea"s man+ of the "an!ers awa+ into !orners of the stage,
!reating $arious !ouplings& Fon 7ohn, who has seen his brother Fon
/e"ro !ourting *ero, "e!i"es to make Clau"io Cealous b+ making him
think that Fon /e"ro has "e!i"e" to win an" keep *ero for himself
instea" of gi$ing her to Clau"io as he ha" promise"& /reten"ing not to
re!ogni2e Clau"io behin" his mask, Fon 7ohn a""resses him as if he
were <ene"i!k, mentioning to him that, !ontrar+ to their plan, Fon
/e"ro a!tuall+ !ourts *ero for himself an" means to marr+ her that
$er+ night&
Clau"io belie$es Fon 7ohn, an", when the real <ene"i!k enters a few
moments later, the angr+ an" miserable Clau"io rushes out& <ut when
Fon /e"ro !omes in along with *ero an" .eonato, <ene"i!k learns that
Fon /e"ro has been true to his wor" after allK he has !ourte" an" won
*ero for Clau"io, not for himself, Cust as he promise"& <ene"i!k still
remains bitter about the nast+ things <eatri!e sai" to him "uring the
"an!e, so when <eatri!e approa!hes with Clau"io, he begs Fon /e"ro
to sen" him on some extremel+ ar"uous erran" rather than be for!e"
to en"ure her !ompan+& Fon /e"ro laughingl+ insists that he sta+, but
<ene"i!k lea$es an+wa+&
When Clau"io returns, Fon /e"ro tells him that *ero has agree" to
marr+ him 3Clau"io6, an" .eonato supports him& Clau"io, o$erwhelme",
!an barel+ speak, but he an" *ero pri$atel+ make their promises to
one another& <eatri!e half#seriousl+ remarks that she will ne$er ha$e a
husban", an" Fon /e"ro o@ers himself to her& <eatri!e, !omparing him
to fan!+ !lothes, replies that she wishes she !oul" ha$e him but that
he woul" be too la$ish an" $aluable for her to wear e$er+ "a+& %fter
<eatri!e an" <ene"i!k lea$e, .eonato an" Clau"io "is!uss when
Clau"io will marr+ *ero& Clau"io wants the we""ing to o!!ur the next
"a+, but .eonato "e!i"es on the !oming :on"a+, onl+ a week awa+&
Clau"io regrets that the wait will be so long, but Fon /e"ro !omes up
with a goo" wa+ to pass the timeG with the help of all his frien"s, he
will "esign a plan to get <eatri!e an" <ene"i!k to stop arguing an" fall
in lo$e with one another& *e se!ures the promises of .eonato, Clau"io,
an" *ero to help him in the plan he will "e$ise&
%nal+sis
This long s!ene resol$es the ;rst of the pla+8s important 0uestionsG
whether Clau"io will re!ei$e *ero8s !onsent to lo$e an" marr+ her&
When the two lo$ers are ;nall+ brought together, Clau"io is too
o$erwhelme" with Co+ to profess his lo$e in ele$ate" language, sa+ing
to *ero simpl+, ISilen!e is the perfe!test heral" of Co+& ' were but little
happ+ if ' !oul" sa+ how mu!hJ 3''&i&)6N4)6(6& While Clau"io !an ;n"
few wor"s to express his Co+, *ero !an ;n" none& 'n"ee", it is <eatri!e
who formali2es *ero8s return of Clau"io8s lo$e, !ommenting to Clau"io,
I:+ !ousin S*eroT tells him SClau"ioT in his ear that he is in her heartJ
3''&i&)N54)N66& We ne$er hear *ero8s a!!eptan!e of Clau"io, but
nonetheless we know what o!!urs&
These two 0uiet !hara!ters=Clau"io an" *ero=seem well mat!he",
an" Clau"io8s a""ressing of <eatri!e as I!ousinJ !on;rms that he will
soon marr+ into her famil+ 3''&i&)NN6& Aonetheless, a troubling element
of Clau"io8s !hara!ter !omes to light in this s!ene& Fon 7ohn8s attempt
to thwart the mat!h has !ome to nothingK although he "oes manage to
tri!k Clau"io into belie$ing that Fon /e"ro has betra+e" him an" is
going to marr+ *ero himself, Clau"io learns the truth before an+thing
ba" !an happen& <ut here we see that Clau"io is prone to making rash
"e!isions& *e is $er+ 0ui!k to belie$e that his frien" has betra+e" him,
not e$en 0uestioning Fon 7ohn8s !laims& %!knowle"ging that Fon /e"ro
seems to be wooing *ero for himself, Clau"io "e!lares that
>rien"ship is !onstant & & &
Sa$e in the oQ!e an" a@airs of lo$e&
& & &
& & & >arewell, therefore, *ero&
3''&i&155416-6
Clau"io8s rea"iness to belie$e that his frien" woul" betra+ him is
"isturbing, an" Fon 7ohn8s plotting !ouple" with Clau"io8s gullibilit+
ominousl+ foresha"ows worse things to follow&
<eatri!e an" <ene"i!k !ontinue their Imerr+ warJ of wits with one
another, but it seems to $eer o@ !ourse an" turn into a mu!h more
hurtful !ompetition& This time, <eatri!e gets the better of <ene"i!k
while <ene"i!k !annot "efen" himself& Fan!ing with him "uring the
ball, while maske", she insults <ene"i!k b+ mo!king his IwittinessJ
an" "e!laring his Cokes boring& <eatri!e8s Cabs at <ene"i!k are
ps+!hologi!all+ astute& We see how apt her !omments are when
<ene"i!k !annot stop repeating her wor"s to himself later in the s!ene&
:oreo$er, the fa!t that <ene"i!k begs Fon /e"ro franti!all+ to let him
lea$e so he will not ha$e to talk to <eatri!e suggests that he ;n"s her
!ompan+ not simpl+ anno+ing but also "amaging&
Though <eatri!e repeats in this s!ene her intention ne$er to marr+, her
attitu"e seems a little !hange"& % !ertain wistfulness marks her wor"s
as she wat!hes the betrothal of *ero to Clau"ioG I1oo" .or", for
allian!eM There goes e$er+one to the worl" but ', an" ' am sunburnt& '
ma+ sit in a !orner an" !r+ U*eigh#ho for a husban"M8J 3''&i&)N(4)(-6&
<eatri!e Cests, as alwa+s, but it is har" to tell how seriousl+ she takes
this matter& Fon /e"ro8s su""en o@er of himself to her in marriage also
seems both lighthearte" an" serious, an" <eatri!e8s gentle reCe!tion of
him !ompels us to won"er whether she reall+ "oes want to get
marrie"&
%!t '', s!enes ii4iii

<+ m+ troth it is no a""ition to her wit=nor no great argument of her

foll+, for ' will be horribl+ in lo$e with her&
3See 'mportant Wuotations Explaine"6
Summar+G %!t '', s!ene ii
The bitter an" wi!ke" Fon 7ohn has learne" of the up!oming marriage
of Clau"io an" *ero, an" he wishes that he !oul" ;n" a wa+ to pre$ent
it& Fon 7ohn8s ser$ant <ora!hio "e$ises a plan& <ora!hio is !urrentl+ the
lo$er of one of *ero8s ser$ing women, :argaret& *e suggests that Fon
7ohn go to Clau"io an" Fon /e"ro an" tell them that *ero is not a $irgin
but a whore, a woman who has willingl+ !orrupte" her own inno!en!e
before her marriage an" at the same time !hosen to be unfaithful to
the man she lo$es& 'n or"er to pro$e this a!!usation, Fon 7ohn will
bring Fon /e"ro an" Clau"io below the win"ow of *ero8s room on the
night before the we""ing, where the+ shoul" hi"e an" wat!h& ?n the
bal!on+ outsi"e *ero8s room, <ora!hio will make lo$e to :argaret=
whom he will ha$e !on$in!e" to "ress up in *ero8s !lothing& The
wat!hers will then see a woman who resembles *ero making lo$e with
<ora!hio, an" will thus belie$e Fon 7ohn8s !laim that *ero has been
false to Clau"io& Her+ please" with the plan, Fon 7ohn promises
<ora!hio a large rewar" if he !an pull it o@ an" pre$ent the planne"
we""ing&
Summar+G %!t '', s!ene iii
:eanwhile, ignorant of the e$il that Fon 7ohn stealthil+ plots,
<ene"i!k8s frien"s ena!t their own benign tri!k to get <ene"i!k an"
<eatri!e to fall in lo$e& The+ know that <ene"i!k is !urrentl+ wan"ering
aroun" in the gar"en, won"ering alou" to himself how, although he
knows that lo$e makes men into i"iots, an+ intelligent man !an fall in
lo$e& *e pon"ers how Clau"io !an ha$e turne" from a plain#speaking,
pra!ti!al sol"ier into a moon+#e+e" lo$er& <ene"i!k thinks it unlikel+
that he himself will e$er be!ome a lo$er&
Su""enl+, <ene"i!k hears Fon /e"ro, Clau"io, an" .eonato
approa!hing, an" he "e!i"es to hi"e among the trees in the arbor an"
ea$es"rop& Fon /e"ro an" Clau"io, noti!ing him there, !onfer 0uietl+
with ea!h other an" "e!i"e it8s time to put their s!heme into e@e!t&
The+ begin to talk lou"l+, preten"ing that the+ ha$e Cust learne" that
<eatri!e has fallen in lo$e with <ene"i!k& <ene"i!k, hi""en in the
arbor, asks himself in sho!k whether this !an possibl+ be true& <ut Fon
/e"ro, .eonato, an" Clau"io embellish the stor+, talking about how
passionatel+ <eatri!e a"ores <ene"i!k, an" how the+ are afrai" that
her passion will "ri$e her insane or spur her to sui!i"e& She "ares not
tell <ene"i!k, the+ sa+, for fear that he woul" make fun of her for it=
sin!e e$er+one knows what his mo!king personalit+ woul" "o& The+ all
agree that <ene"i!k woul" be a fool to turn her awa+, for he !urrentl+
seems unworth+ of so ;ne a woman as <eatri!e&
The others go in to ha$e "inner, an" the ama2e" <ene"i!k, emerging
from the arbor, plunges himself into profoun" thought& Fon /e"ro8s
plan has worke"G <ene"i!k "e!i"es that he will Itake pit+J upon the
beautiful, witt+, an" $irtuous <eatri!e b+ lo$ing her in return& *e has
!hange" his min", an" far from wanting to remain an eternal ba!helor,
he now "esires to win an" marr+ <eatri!e& <eatri!e appears, ha$ing
been sent out to fet!h <ene"i!k in to "inner& She "eals as s!ornfull+ as
usual with him, but he treats her with unusual fatter+ an" !ourtes+&
Confuse" an" suspi!ious, <eatri!e mo!ks him again before "eparting,
but the infatuate" <ene"i!k interprets her wor"s as !ontaining hi""en
messages of lo$e, an" he happil+ runs o@ to ha$e a portrait ma"e of
her so that he !an !arr+ it aroun" with him&
%nal+sisG %!t '', s!enes ii4iii
Fon 7ohn8s mali!e resurfa!es in %!t '', s!ene ii, as we see him plotting
to split *ero an" Clau"io& ?n!e again, we must won"er about his
moti$es, as his "esire to hurt others so ba"l+ is in!onsistent with his
!laim to be a low#gra"e $illain& <ora!hio8s statement that his plan, if it
su!!ee"s, is sure Ito misuse the /rin!e, to $ex Clau"io, to un"o *ero,
an" kill .eonatoJ makes it !lear that Fon 7ohn8s s!hemes ha$e some
"arker purpose in min" 3''&ii&)4)56&
'n the Denaissan!e, the $irginit+ of an upper#!lass woman at the time
of her marriage !arrie" a great "eal of importan!e for not onl+ her own
reputation but also for that of her famil+ an" her prospe!ti$e husban"&
%"ulter+, un!haste beha$ior, or premarital sex in a noblewoman !oul"
be a ;ghting matter=one that !oul" spur a parent to "isown or e$en
kill a "aughter, a betra+e" husban" to mur"er his wife or ri$al, or a
"efen"er to !hallenge a woman8s a!!user to a "uel to the "eath in
or"er to !lear her name& 'f the entire !ommunit+ were to belie$e *ero
un!haste, then her honor, name, an" reputation woul" su@er
permanentl+K Clau"io woul" su@er !onsi"erabl+ more than simple
$exationK an" the stress might well IkillJ .eonato& This plot is far more
than a merel+ troublesome game&
:eanwhile, a "i@erent kin" of tri!k o!!urs in the gar"en, as .eonato,
Clau"io, an" Fon /e"ro work together to tr+ to !on$in!e <ene"i!k that
<eatri!e is in lo$e with him& <ene"i!k, of !ourse, unknowingl+ ;n"s
himself !aught in the position of being the one "e!ei$e"& *e belie$es
that he is ea$es"ropping upon his frien"s, but, be!ause the+ are aware
of his presen!e, the+ "eliberatel+ speak lou"er so that he will hear
them& 't is not "iQ!ult to imagine the speakers=.eonato, Fon /e"ro,
an" Clau"io=tr+ing har" to stife their laughter as the+ speak in
serious $oi!es of <eatri!e falling upon her knees, weeping, tearing her
hair, an" !r+ing, IU? sweet <ene"i!k, 1o" gi$e me patien!e8J 3''&iii&154
1556&
Fon /e"ro un"erstan"s <ene"i!k8s ps+!holog+ so pre!isel+ that his
tri!k works on his frien" Cust as he hope" it woul"=upon hearing that
<eatri!e is in lo$e with him an" that other people think he will be
foolish enough to turn her "own, <ene"i!k reali2es that it is not so
"iQ!ult for him to ;n" it in his heart to lo$e <eatri!e after all& 'n a
spee!h memorable for both its humor an" its emotional glimpse into
<ene"i!k8s genuinel+ generous an" !ompassionate heart, <ene"i!k
"e!i"es that there is no shame in !hanging his min" about marriage,
an" "e!lares, I' will be horribl+ in lo$e with her& & & & The worl" must be
people"& When ' sai" ' !oul" "ie a ba!helor, ' "i" not think ' shoul" li$e
till ' were marrie"J 3''&iii&)-N4)156&
<+ the time <eatri!e herself appears to or"er him in to "inner,
<ene"i!k is so far gone that he is able to reinterpret all her wor"s an"
a!tions as professions of her lo$e for him="oubtless a hilarious s!ene
for the au"ien!e, sin!e <eatri!e is hostile to <ene"i!k, an" the
au"ien!e knows that she is not at all in lo$e with him& <ut the buo+ant
<ene"i!k !an har"l+ wait to Igo get her pi!tureJ=that is, to go an" get
a miniature portrait of her 3''&iii&)5)6& .ater on, <ene"i!k e$en tries his
han" at writing a sonnet to <eatri!e& Sonnets an" miniature portraits
were the t+pi!al a!!outrements of the Denaissan!e lo$er, male or
female& <+ !arr+ing aroun" these obCe!ts, <ene"i!k be!omes a !li!hX
of Denaissan!e !ourtship&
%!t ''', s!enes i4ii

Summar+G %!t ''', s!ene i

'n .eonato8s gar"en, *ero prepares to tri!k <eatri!e into belie$ing that
<ene"i!k lo$es her& With the help of her two waiting women, :argaret
an" Lrsula, she plans to hol" a !on$ersation an" let <eatri!e o$erhear
it=Cust as Fon /e"ro, .eonato, an" Clau"io ha$e "one to tri!k <ene"i!k
in the pre$ious s!ene& :argaret lures <eatri!e into the gar"en, an"
when *ero an" Lrsula !at!h sight of where she is hi"ing, the+ begin to
talk in lou" $oi!es&
*ero tells Lrsula that Clau"io an" Fon /e"ro ha$e informe" her that
<ene"i!k is in lo$e with <eatri!e& Lrsula suggests that *ero tell
<eatri!e about it, but *ero answers that e$er+bo"+ knows that
<eatri!e is too full of mo!ker+ to listen to an+ man !ourting her=
<eatri!e woul" merel+ make fun of both *ero an" <ene"i!k an" break
<ene"i!k8s heart with her witti!isms& Therefore, she sa+s, it will be
better to let poor <ene"i!k waste awa+ silentl+ from lo$e than expose
him to <eatri!e8s s!orn& Lrsula replies b+ "isagreeing with *eroG *ero
must be mistaken, be!ause surel+ <eatri!e is too intelligent an"
sensiti$e a woman to reCe!t <ene"i!k& %fter all, e$er+bo"+ knows that
<ene"i!k is one of the !le$erest an" han"somest men in 'tal+& *ero
agrees, an" goes o@ with Lrsula to tr+ on her we""ing "ress&
%fter *ero an" Lrsula lea$e the gar"en, winking at ea!h other be!ause
the+ know the+ ha$e !aught <eatri!e, <eatri!e emerges from her
hi"ing pla!e among the trees& 7ust as <ene"i!k is sho!ke" earlier,
<eatri!e !annot belie$e what she has hear" at ;rst& %lso, like <ene"i!k,
she swiftl+ reali2es that it woul" not be so "iQ!ult to Itake pit+J on her
poor suitor an" return his lo$e& She knows how worth+ <ene"i!k reall+
is an" $ows to !ast o@ her s!orn an" pri"e in or"er to lo$e him ba!k&
Summar+G %!t ''', s!ene ii
Elsewhere, Fon /e"ro, Clau"io, an" .eonato begin to tease <ene"i!k
about his "e!ision ne$er to marr+& <ene"i!k announ!es that he has
!hange", an" the others agreeK the+ ha$e noti!e" that he is mu!h
0uieter& The+ sa+ that he must be in lo$e an" tease him about it& <ut
<ene"i!k is too sub"ue" e$en to answer their Cokes& *e takes .eonato
asi"e to speak with him&
%s soon as Clau"io an" Fon /e"ro are left alone, Fon 7ohn approa!hes
them& *e tells them that he is tr+ing to prote!t Fon /e"ro8s reputation
an" sa$e Clau"io from a ba" marriage& *ero is a whore, he sa+s, an"
Clau"io shoul" not marr+ her& The two are sho!ke", of !ourse, but Fon
7ohn imme"iatel+ o@ers them proofG he tells them to !ome with him
that night to wat!h outsi"e *ero8s win"ow where the+ will see her
making lo$e to somebo"+ else& Clau"io, alrea"+ suspi!ious an"
paranoi", resol$es that if what he sees tonight "oes in"ee" pro$e
*ero8s unfaithfulness, he will "isgra!e her publi!l+ "uring the we""ing
!eremon+ the next "a+, an" Fon /e"ro $ows to assist him& Confuse",
suspi!ious, an" full of "ark thoughts, Clau"io an" Fon /e"ro lea$e with
Fon 7ohn&
%nal+sisG %!t ''', s!enes i4ii
The tri!k that *ero an" Lrsula pla+ upon <eatri!e works Cust as well as
the one Fon /e"ro an" Clau"io pla+ upon <ene"i!k in the pre!e"ing
s!ene, as <eatri!e, Cust as <ene"i!k "oes, "e!i"es to stop resisting
marriage an" return her suppose" pursuer8s lo$e& Clearl+, the frien"s
of these two !hara!ters know them well& The !on$ersations that
<ene"i!k an" <eatri!e are allowe" to o$erhear are ps+!hologi!all+
!ompli!ate", appealing to both the !hara!ters8 !ompassion an" their
pri"e& <eatri!e, like <ene"i!k, !annot help but be fattere" to hear that
her suppose" enem+ is in fa!t "+ing for lo$e of her& <ut her sensiti$e
si"e has been targete"G she is "isturbe" to hear that he is in su!h
"istress, an" that she herself is the !ause& :oreo$er, it seems likel+
that her pri"e is woun"e" when she hears people sa+ that she has no
!ompassion an" that she woul" mo!k a man in lo$e instea" of pit+ing
him& 7ust as <ene"i!k is mo$e" to pro$e the talkers wrong, so <eatri!e
seems to be stirre" to show that she "oes ha$e !ompassion an" a
heart after all& When *ero sa+s, ITherefore let <ene"i!k, like !o$er8"
;re, R Consume awa+ in sighs, waste inwar"l+& R 't were a better "eath
than "ie with mo!ks,J <eatri!e is moti$ate" to Isa$eJ poor <ene"i!k
an" also to show that she is not heartless enough to be as !ruel as
*ero seems to think she is 3'''&i&NN4N,6&
?f !ourse, all of these !ompli!ate" moti$ations in the frien"s8 plans to
"upe <eatri!e an" <ene"i!k into falling in lo$e with one another relate
to the same essential !auseG their frien"s are tr+ing to make <eatri!e
an" <ene"i!k reali2e that ea!h, in his or her pri$ate heart, "oes ha$e
the potential to lo$e the other profoun"l+& The tri!ks !oul" har"l+ work
otherwise=<eatri!e an" <ene"i!k both seem too mature an"
intelligent to be "elu"e" into thinking that the+ are in lo$e& Their
frien"s are simpl+ tr+ing to make them reali2e that the+ alrea"+ lo$e
ea!h other&
<eatri!e8s spee!h at the en" of the s!ene is mu!h shorter than
<ene"i!k8s in the pre!e"ing one, but the gist of it is the same&
/rofoun"l+ a@e!te" b+ what she has hear", she "e!i"es to allow
herself to !hange her $iews about marriage in or"er to a!!ept
<ene"i!k& She has learne" how others per!ei$e her=JStan" '
!on"emne" for pri"e an" s!orn so mu!hOJ=an" has "e!i"e" to !hange
these per!eptionsG IContempt, farewellK an" mai"en pri"e, a"ieu& R Ao
glor+ li$es behin" the ba!k of su!hJ 3'''&i&1-,41116& Aow, she "e!i"es
she will a!!ept <ene"i!k if he !ourts her, IStTaming m+ wil" heart to
th+ lo$ing han"J 3'''&i&1156&
'n the next s!ene, howe$er, the atmosphere grows "ark& Fon /e"ro
an" Clau"io8s merr+ teasing of the sub"ue" <ene"i!k amuses, but Fon
7ohn8s sho!king a!!usation against *ero su""enl+ !hanges the moo"
from one of reCoi!ing to one of forebo"ing& We also see Fon /e"ro an"
Clau"io8s "isturbingl+ 0ui!k a!!eptan!e of Fon 7ohn8s wor" about
*ero8s unfaithfulness=Fon 7ohn has promise" to show them Iproof,J
but it still seems strange that the+ so 0ui!kl+ belie$e e$il about
Clau"io8s bri"e#to#be& Clau"io earlier re$eals his suspi!ious nature to
the au"ien!e when he belie$es Fon 7ohn8s lie in %!t '', s!ene i that Fon
/e"ro has betra+e" him& *is sus!eptibilit+ to suspi!ion now returns to
haunt him, this time with the support an" en!ouragement of Fon
/e"ro&
%!t ''', s!ene iii

Summar+
'n a street outsi"e .eonato8s house, the town poli!emen of :essina=
!olle!ti$el+ !alle" the Wat!h=gather together to "is!uss their "uties
for the night& Fogberr+, the hea" !onstable, an" Herges, his "eput+,
!omman" an" go$ern them& Fogberr+ an" Herges are well intentione"
an" take their Cobs $er+ seriousl+, but the+ are also ri"i!ulous&
Fogberr+ is a master of malapropisms, alwa+s getting his wor"s Cust
slightl+ wrong&
Ln"er Fogberr+, the Wat!h is $er+ polite but not $er+ e@e!ti$e at
"eterring !rime& %s Fogberr+ gi$es his or"ers to his men, it be!omes
!lear that the Wat!h is !harge" with "oing $er+ little& >or example,
when aske" how the men shoul" rea!t shoul" someone refuse to stan"
in Fon /e"ro8s name, Fogberr+ replies, IWh+ then take no note of him,
but let him go, an" presentl+ !all the rest of the wat!h together, an"
thank 1o" +ou are ri" of a kna$eJ 3'''&iii&)54)N6& >urthermore, the
Wat!h is suppose" to or"er "runkar"s to go home an" sleep their
"runkenness o@=unless the "runkar"s won8t listen, in whi!h !ase the
men are to ignore them& The men are not to make too mu!h noise in
the street=the+ ma+ sleep instea"& The+ shoul"n8t !at!h thie$es,
be!ause it isn8t goo" for honest men to ha$e too mu!h to "o with
"ishonest ones, an" the+ shoul" wake up the nurses of !r+ing !hil"ren
=unless the nurses ignore them, in whi!h !ase the+ shoul" let the
!hil" wake the nurse b+ !r+ing instea"& 'n short, the+ ma+ "o an+thing
the+ want an" "on8t ha$e to "o an+thing at all, as long as the+ are
!areful not to let the townspeople steal their spears&
Fogberr+ gi$es his men a ;nal or"erG a!t parti!ularl+ $igilant near the
house of .eonato, for .eonato8s "aughter, *ero, is to be marrie" the
next "a+, an" the house is ;lle" with !ommotion an" !haos& %fter
Fogberr+ an" Herges "epart, the men the+ ha$e left behin" sit "own
0uietl+ on a ben!h an" prepare to go to sleep&
Su""enl+, the wat!hmen are interrupte" b+ the entran!e of Fon 7ohn8s
asso!iates, <ora!hio an" Conra"& <ora!hio, who "oes not see the
wat!hmen, informs Conra" about what has happene" this night& %!ting
on the plan he "e$elope" with Fon 7ohn, <ora!hio ma"e lo$e to
:argaret, *ero8s waiting mai", at the win"ow of *ero8s room, with
:argaret "resse" in *ero8s !lothing& Fon /e"ro an" Clau"io, who were
hi"ing nearb+ with Fon 7ohn, saw the whole thing an" are now
!on$in!e" that *ero has been "islo+al to Clau"io& Clau"io, feeling
heartbroken an" betra+e", has $owe" to take re$enge upon *ero b+
publi!l+ humiliating her at the we""ing !eremon+ the next "a+& The
wat!hmen, who ha$e 0uietl+ listene" to this whole se!reti$e ex!hange,
now re$eal themsel$es an" arrest <ora!hio an" Conra"e for Ile!her+,J
b+ whi!h the+ mean trea!her+& The+ haul them awa+ to Fogberr+ an"
Herges for 0uestioning&
%nal+sis
Fogberr+ an" Herges pro$i"e wel!ome !omi! relief ami" Fon 7ohn8s
e$il plotting& Their bran" of humor is !ompletel+ "i@erent from that
pro$i"e" b+ <ene"i!k an" <eatri!eK while the two witt+ antagonists
spar with a brilliant "ispla+ of wit, Fogberr+ an" Herges get half their
wor"s wrong, pro$i"ing humor with their ignoran!e& Bet, like <ene"i!k
an" <eatri!e, the+ are in their own wa+ goo"#hearte" an" sin!ere, an"
the humor of both "uos, sophisti!ate" an" unsophisti!ate", hinges on
punning an" $erbal "ispla+&
<ora!hio8s a!!ount of the e$ents of that night inform us that Fon
7ohn8s plans ha$e been put into a!tion an" that e$er+thing is working
out as he inten"e"& ?n!e again, howe$er, we are fa!e" with a
"isturbing element in this a!tionG Clau"io an" Fon /e"ro both belie$e
Fon 7ohn8s !laims an" are willing to belie$e that the+ are wat!hing
*ero without in$estigating the matter more !losel+ or interrogating
*ero herself about it& When we see how rea"+ Clau"io is to belie$e that
the woman he suppose"l+ is in lo$e with is betra+ing him, we are likel+
to be "eepl+ trouble" about him, e$en though we know that the pla+=
being a !ome"+=has to en" happil+&
<ora!hio lists a few fa!tors that might make the "e!eption of Clau"io
an" Fon /e"ro more un"erstan"able& *e suggests that we shoul"
blame Fon 7ohn8s Ioaths,J whi!h ;rst ma"e Fon /e"ro an" Clau"io
suspi!ious of *ero8s guiltK the I"ark night, whi!h "i" "e!ei$e themJ
3'''&iii&156415N6K an" <ora!hio8s own fat#out lies when he testi;e" to
them that he ha" ma"e lo$e to *ero& Some !riti!s fo!us on the fa!t
that Clau"io is 0uite +oung an" that he "oes not reall+ know *ero $er+
well as mitigating his "istrust of her& 'n"ee", he seems har"l+ to ha$e
spoken an+ wor"s to her before the+ be!ome engage", although
presumabl+ the+ ha$e !on$erse" more in the week that has passe"
sin!e their betrothal& Ae$ertheless, Clau"io8s swift anger an" the
terrible re$enge he has $owe" to take=shaming *ero in publi! an"
aban"oning her at the altar=has remaine" troubling to generations of
!riti!s an" rea"ers, as has Fon /e"ro8s !ompli!it+ in this "esire"
re$enge& Fon /e"ro, after all, "oes not ha$e the ex!use of +outh an"
inexperien!e& The brutalit+ of the prin!ipal male !hara!ters remains a
problem with whi!h rea"ers of :u!h %"o %bout Aothing must grapple&
't is "iQ!ult to feel s+mpath+ for Clau"io an" Fon /e"ro after seeing
how 0ui!kl+ the+ belie$e e$il of *ero=an" after what the+ "o to her in
%!t 'H, s!ene i, on the "a+ of the we""ing itself&
%!t ''', s!enes i$4$

Summar+G %!t ''', s!ene i$

?n the morning of her we""ing to Clau"io, *ero wakes up earl+ an"
tells her ser$ant Lrsula to wake <eatri!e& :eanwhile, *ero8s mai"
:argaret argues a@e!tionatel+ with *ero about what she ought to wear
for her we""ing& *ero is ex!ite", but she is also uneas+ for reasons she
!annot nameK she has a strange forebo"ing of "isaster& <eatri!e
arri$es, an" :argaret, in high spirits, teases her about her !hange"
personalit+, sa+ing that now <eatri!e too "esires a husban"& <eatri!e
expresses anno+an!e, but :argaret is sure that she is right, an" so she
!ontinues to tease <eatri!e about <ene"i!k=but in a manner subtle
enough that <eatri!e !annot a!!use :argaret of knowing an+thing
!ompletel+& Soon enough, Clau"io arri$es with his frien"s,
a!!ompanie" b+ the large we""ing part+, apparentl+ rea"+ to take
*ero to the !hur!h& The+ all set o@ together&
Summar+G %!t ''', s!ene $
7ust as .eonato prepares to enter the !hur!h for his "aughter8s
we""ing, Fogberr+ an" Herges !at!h up with .eonato an" tr+ to talk to
him& The+ explain that the+ ha$e !aught two !riminals an" want to
interrogate them in front of him& *owe$er, their attempts to
!ommuni!ate their message are so long#win"e", foolish, an" generall+
mixe" up that the+ fail to !on$e+ how urgent the matter is=an", in
fa!t, the+ ma+ not un"erstan" its importan!e themsel$es& .eonato
"efers their business, explaining that he is bus+ this "a+, an" or"ers
Fogberr+ an" Herges to 0uestion the men themsel$es an" tell him
about it later& Fogberr+ an" Herges hea" o@ to 0uestion the prisoners
on their own, an" .eonato enters the !hur!h in or"er to parti!ipate in
the we""ing !eremon+ about to take pla!e&
%nal+sisG %!t ''', s!enes i$4$
The s!ene in *ero8s be"!hamber, as *ero prepares for her we""ing
"a+, pro$i"es an example of some of :u!h %"o %bout Aothing8s
strongest featuresG the s!ene !ombines nonstop Cokes with a sense of
a@e!tion& 't means a great "eal to *ero to ha$e her !ousin an" her
belo$e" mai"s with her on her we""ing morning, e$en ami" all the
raun!h+ Coking surroun"ing *ero8s impen"ing marriage=for instan!e,
:argaret8s statement that *ero8s heart will Ibe hea$ier soon b+ the
weight of a manJ 3'''&i$&)56& *ero8s unexpe!te" sense of forebo"ing sets
o@ warning bells in the min"s of the au"ien!e& *ero asks 1o" to Igi$e
me Co+ to wear Sm+ we""ing "ressT, for m+ heart is ex!ee"ing hea$+J
3'''&i$&)14))6& There is no !lear reason for her to feel this wa+, ex!ept
perhaps that she must sa"l+ bi" her inno!ent !hil"hoo" a"ieuK we
interpret her hea$iness of heart as a foresha"owing of something ba"
to !ome&
:argaret, in high spirits after a night with <ora!hio, shows remarkable
wit in this s!ene, Cesting about <eatri!e8s !on$ersion to the wa+s of
lo$e& When <eatri!e, far more sub"ue" then usual, sa+s that she feels
si!k, :argaret teasingl+ o@ers her a !ure="istillation of !ar"uus
bene"i!tus, or Ihol+ thistle,J a plant thought to ha$e me"i!inal powers
in the Denaissan!e& <eatri!e, of !ourse, 0uite rightl+ thinks that
:argaret is tr+ing to make a point=IWh+ <ene"i!tusOJ she !ries& IBou
ha$e some moral in this <ene"i!tusJ 3'''&i$&1-&6& :argaret gail+ a$oi"s
sa+ing !on!retel+ what she means, but the gist of the Coke is !learG
<eatri!e is si!k with lo$e, an" onl+ bene"i!tus=that is, <ene"i!k=!an
!ure her& This s!ene Cuxtaposes :argaret8s "irt+ punning an" o$ert
sexualit+ with *ero8s fearful inno!en!e an" utter ignoran!e of all things
!arnal& We thus learn how "i@erent *ero is from :argaret, an" how
wrong Clau"io is to "oubt *ero an" mistake :argaret for his untainte"
belo$e"&
%!t ''', s!ene $, in whi!h Fogberr+ an" Herges tr+ to speak with
.eonato outsi"e the !hur!h, heightens the tension an" our anti!ipation
of an approa!hing "isaster& The two !onstables entertain us with their
foibles as alwa+s& 'n this !on$ersation, Fogberr+ a!tuall+ starts pit+ing
Herges an" making ex!uses for his frien"8s suppose" foolishness,
although Fogberr+ himself, as usual, gets man+ of his wor"s wrong& *e
!alls Herges Ian ol" man,J an" sa+s, Ihis wits are not so blunt as, 1o"
help, ' woul" "esire the+ wereJK he means, of !ourse, IsharpJ instea"
of IbluntJ 3'''&$&,41-6& To Herges8s response, sa+ing he thinks that he is
honest, Fogberr+ makes the oft#0uote" repl+, IComparisons are
o"orousJ 3'''&$&16& *e means to 0uote the pro$erb I!omparisons are
o"ious&J The men that the two !onstables ha$e !aught, of !ourse, are
Conra" an" <ora!hio=an" <ora!hio is the one who has helpe" Fon
7ohn "e!ei$e Clau"io an" Fon /e"ro the night before& <ut be!ause
Fogberr+ an" Herges are su!h poor !ommuni!ators, the+ are unable to
!on$e+ to .eonato how important it is that he hear <ora!hio8s
testimon+Kbe!ause the+ are so foolish, the+ "o not seem to reali2e how
important it is themsel$es& Thus, .eonato enters the !hur!h, an"
Fogberr+ an" Herges go o@ without Fon 7ohn8s s!heme ha$ing been
expose"
%!t 'H, s!enes i4ii

? *eroM What a *ero ha"st thou been

'f half th+ outwar" gra!es ha" been pla!e"
%bout th+ thoughts an" !ounsels of th+ heartM
3See 'mportant Wuotations Explaine"6
Summar+G %!t 'H, s!ene i
E$er+one gathers insi"e the !hur!h to !elebrate the we""ing of
Clau"io an" *ero& <ut when >riar >ran!is asks Clau"io whether he
wishes to marr+ *ero, Clau"io breaks into an outrage" spee!h& *e tells
.eonato that he sen"s *ero ba!k to .eonato again, for though she
seems outwar"l+ pure an" blushes with inno!en!e, her outwar"
features belie her inwar" !orruption an" that she is, in fa!t, an
un!haste, unfaithful whore& The happ+ we""ing transforms itself into a
!haoti! uproar& .eonato an" the shaken *ero ask what Clau"io means&
Clau"io tells .eonato, in front of e$er+one in the !hur!h, that the night
before Clau"io, Fon /e"ro, an" Fon 7ohn wat!he" *ero ItalSkTJ with a
$ile man at her win"ow 3'H&i&()6& This man has also IS!Tonfesse"J to
ha$ing ha" sexual en!ounters with *ero man+ times before 3'H&i&,)6&
Fon /e"ro supports Clau"io8s a!!usations, an" the+, together with Fon
7ohn, a!!use *ero of sexual looseness& .eonato !ries out in "espair,
asking for a "agger with whi!h to !ommit sui!i"e& The o$erwhelme"
*ero sinks to the groun", un!ons!ious& <ene"i!k an" <eatri!e rush to
o@er her their assistan!e, while Clau"io, Fon /e"ro, an" Fon 7ohn
lea$e the !hur!h without looking ba!k& .eonato, weeping, tells
<ene"i!k an" <eatri!e to let *ero "ie, sin!e that woul" be better than
for her to li$e in shame& <eatri!e, howe$er, remains absolutel+
!on$in!e" that her !ousin has been slan"ere"&
Su""enl+ an" unexpe!te"l+, the friar steps in& % 0uiet obser$er to the
whole pro!ee"ing, he has wisel+ "etermine" from the expressions of
sho!k he has seen on *ero8s fa!e that she is not guilt+ of
unfaithfulness& *ero regains !ons!iousness an" insists that she is a
$irgin, that she has been entirel+ faithful to Clau"io, an" that she has
no i"ea what her a!!users are talking about& The intelligent <ene"i!k
reali2es that if the a!!usation is a lie, it must originate with the
troublemaking Fon 7ohn, who woul" happil+ tri!k these two to spoil
their happiness&
The friar !omes up with an unexpe!te" planG he suggests that *ero8s
existen!e be !on!eale", an" that .eonato tell e$er+one she has "ie" of
sho!k an" grief& When her a!!users hear that an inno!ent woman has
"ie", their anger will turn into regret, an" the+ will start to remember
what a $irtuous la"+ *ero was& 'f the a!!usation reall+ is a tri!k, then
perhaps the trea!her+ will expose itself, an" *ero !an return to the
worl"& 'n the worst#!ase s!enario, *ero !an later be taken o@ 0uietl+
an" pla!e" in a !on$ent to be!ome a nun& The grie$ing, !onfuse"
.eonato agrees to go along with the plan&
The others "epart with *ero, lea$ing <ene"i!k an" <eatri!e alone
together& <ene"i!k, tr+ing to !omfort <eatri!e, asks if there is an+ wa+
he !an show his frien"ship to her& *e su""enl+ !onfesses that he is in
lo$e with her, a!knowle"ging how strange it is for his a@e!tions to
re$erse so su""enl+, an" she, e0uall+ startle" an" !onfuse", replies in
similar terms& <ut when <ene"i!k sa+s that he will "o an+thing for
<eatri!e, she asks him to kill his frien" Clau"io& The sho!ke" <ene"i!k
refuses& %ngr+, <eatri!e "enoun!es Clau"io8s sa$ager+, sa+ing that if
she were a man she woul" kill him herself for his slan"er of her !ousin
an" the !ruelt+ of his tri!k& %fter listening to her, <ene"i!k !hanges his
min" an" soberl+ agrees to !hallenge Clau"io=for the wrong that he
has "one to *ero an" for <eatri!e8s sake&
Summar+G %!t 'H, s!ene ii
Elsewhere, Fogberr+, Herges, an" the Wat!h interrogate <ora!hio an"
Conra"& <ora!hio !onfesses that he re!ei$e" mone+ from Fon 7ohn for
preten"ing to make lo$e to *ero an" then l+ing about it to Clau"io an"
Fon /e"ro& When the+ hear about what has happene" at the we""ing,
the wat!hmen tie up the !apti$es an" take them to .eonato8s house&
Fost thou not suspe!t m+ pla!eO
Fost thou not suspe!t m+ +earsO
? that he were here to write me "own an assM
<ut masters, remember that ' am an ass&
3See 'mportant Wuotations Explaine"6
%nal+sis
With the we""ing s!ene=the !limax of the pla+=the tone takes an
abrupt turn, plunging from high !ome"+ into trage"+& Clau"io8s
reCe!tion of *ero is "esigne" to infi!t as mu!h pain as possible, an"
*ero8s an" .eonato8s rea!tions to it seem to make things e$en worse&
>ew a!!usations !oul" !ause a woman more harm in the Denaissan!e
than that of being un!haste, an" Clau"io uses "eliberatel+ theatri!al
language to hurt *ero publi!l+, in front of frien"s an" famil+& The
reCe!tion s!ene also throws other relationships in the pla+ into
0uestionG Clau"io an" Fon /e"ro both suggest that it refe!ts ba"l+ on
.eonato8s so!ial manners to ha$e trie" to foist o@ a woman like *ero
on Clau"io, an" Fon /e"ro implies that his own reputation has su@ere"
b+ wa+ of the apparent "is!o$er+ that he an" Clau"io ha$e ma"e
regar"ing *ero8s $irginit+& Clau"io assaults .eonato b+ "enigrating
*eroG I1i$e not this rotten orange to +our frien"& R She8s but the sign
an" semblan!e of her honourJ 3'H&i&5-4516&
%lthough the usuall+ 0uiet *ero speaks up in her own "efense, Clau"io
"oes not allow her e$en the possibilit+ of "efen"ing herself& When she
blushes in sho!k an" humiliation, he !riesG
& & & Woul" +ou not swear,
%ll +ou that see her, that she were a mai",
<+ these exterior showsO <ut she is none&
She knows the heat of a luxurious be"&
*er blush is guiltiness, not mo"est+&
3H&i&564-6
*ero8s rea!tions of horror be!ome, in Clau"io8s "es!ription of her fa!e,
e$i"en!e of her guilt, making it impossible for her to o@er an+ "efense&
Clau"io similarl+ "is!ar"s *ero8s "enial of the a!!usation when she
sa+s, I' talke" with no man at that hour, m+ lor"J 3'H&i&(56& Clau"io is
!on$in!e"=b+ his e+es, b+ his own suspi!ious nature, an" b+ his
!ertaint+ that he !annot ha$e been mistaken=that he knows the truth&
*e has alrea"+ trie" an" !on$i!te" *ero in his min", an" she is
a@or"e" no !han!e to pro$e her $irtue&
>ollowing imme"iatel+ upon these moments of betra+al an" pain,
howe$er, see"s are sown for resolution an" re"emption& The tri!k that
the friar plans is ingenious, an" it seems to be a goo" one& 't also pla+s
!unningl+ upon a simple fa!t of human natureG
That what we ha$e, we pri2e not to the worth
Whiles we enCo+ it, but, being la!ke" an" lost,
& & &
then we ;n"
The $irtue that possession woul" not show us
Whiles it was ours&
3'H&i&)1N4))16
%s soon as *ero8s a!!users think her "ea", the friar reali2es, mu!h of
the anger "ri$ing Clau"io an" the others will "issipate, an" the+ will
start to remember her goo" 0ualities an" regret their poor treatment of
her& The Igreater birthJ that the friar en$isions will transform *ero from
an obCe!t of s!orn an" slan"er into someone mourne" an" better
belo$e" than when she was ali$e 3'H&i&)1)6& 'n or"er to wash awa+ her
allege" sin, then, *ero will ha$e to "ie an" be s+mboli!all+ reborn&
The s!ene also marks a !riti!al turning point in the relationship
between <ene"i!k an" <eatri!e& <ene"i!k seems to make an important
"e!ision when he sta+s behin" in the !hur!h with <eatri!e an" her
famil+ instea" of lea$ing with Clau"io, Fon /e"ro, an" Fon 7ohn& *is
lo+alt+, whi!h lies with his sol"ier frien"s when he arri$es in :essina,
now "raws him to sta+ with <eatri!e& 'n their ellipti!al wa+s, <eatri!e
an" <ene"i!k !onfess their lo$e to one another after e$er+one else has
left the !hur!h& <eatri!e8s !onfuse" answer to <ene"i!k8s blurting out
that he lo$es her re$eals that she is hi"ing something& 'n"ee", when
<ene"i!k exultantl+ ex!laims that she lo$es him, she ;nall+ a"mits itG
I' lo$e +ou with so mu!h of m+ heart that none is left to protestJ
3'H&i&)(4)(56&
.ost in his newfoun" lo$e, <ene"i!k apparentl+ !on$erts himself to
<eatri!e8s wa+ of thinking& Soberl+ he asks her whether she trul+
belie$es that Clau"io has slan"ere" *ero& When <eatri!e answers +es,
<ene"i!k sa+s, IEnough, ' am engage", ' will !hallenge him& ' will kiss
+our han", an" so ' lea$e +ouJ 3'H&i&5)545)66& Spurre" b+ his own
!ons!ien!e, his lo$e for <eatri!e, an" his trust in <eatri!e8s Cu"gment,
<ene"i!k makes the ra"i!al "e!ision to !hallenge Clau"io to a "uel to
the "eath for what he has "one to *ero& The lines of lo+alt+ in the pla+
ha$e !hange" !onsi"erabl+&
%!t H, s!enes i4ii

Summar+G %!t H, s!ene i

.eonato, *ero8s father, falls into a state of "eep grief an" sho!k& Torn
b+ his worries about whether *ero is in"ee" !haste as she !laims an"
his 0uestions about what a!tuall+ o!!urre", he !annot fun!tion& *is
brother %ntonio tries to !heer him, telling him to ha$e patien!e& <ut
.eonato answers that although people !an easil+ gi$e a"$i!e when
the+ are themsel$es not unhapp+, people in great pain !annot follow
the a"$i!e so easil+& Fon /e"ro an" Clau"io enter, see .eonato an"
%ntonio, an" 0ui!kl+ tr+ to lea$e& <ut .eonato follows them an"
a!!uses Clau"io of ha$ing lie" about *ero an" ha$ing !ause" her
"eath& .eonato announ!es that, "espite his great age, he !hallenges
Clau"io to a "uel for the !rime Clau"io has !ommitte" against *ero b+
ruining her goo" nameK .eonato states that he is not too ol" to kill or
"ie for honor an" for the lo$e of his !hil"& The embarrasse" Clau"io
an" Fon /e"ro preten" to ignore their !hallengers& >inall+, .eonato an"
%ntonio lea$e, $owing that the+ will ha$e their re$enge&
%fter .eonato an" %ntonio "epart, <ene"i!k enters& Clau"io an" Fon
/e"ro wel!ome him, asking <ene"i!k to emplo+ his famous wit to !heer
them up& <ut <ene"i!k is in no moo" to be funn+& *e tells Clau"io that
he belie$es Clau"io has slan"ere" *ero, an" he 0uietl+ !hallenges him
to a "uel& When the other two keep on tr+ing to Coke with him,
<ene"i!k ;nall+ "is!loses that he !an no longer be their !ompanion
sin!e their slan"erous a!!usations ha$e mur"ere" an inno!ent woman&
<ene"i!k informs Fon /e"ro that Fon 7ohn has fe" the !it+ an" lea$es&
%t ;rst, Clau"io an" Fon /e"ro take in this !hange in <ene"i!k8s
beha$ior an" the information of Fon 7ohn8s fight with sho!k an"
!onfusion& Slowl+ the+ begin to reali2e <ene"i!k8s serious intent=an"
the+ rightl+ guess that his lo$e for <eatri!e must be the onl+ thing that
!oul" ha$e moti$ate" him to !hallenge his "earest frien" to a ;ght to
the "eath&
Fogberr+ an" Herges su""enl+ enter, a!!ompanie" b+ the other men
of the Wat!h, "ragging behin" them the !apture" $illains Conra" an"
<ora!hio& Fogberr+ tells Clau"io an" Fon /e"ro that <ora!hio has
!onfesse" to trea!her+ an" l+ing, an" <ora!hio a"mits his !rime again&
Sho!ke" an" horri;e", Clau"io an" Fon /e"ro reali2e that this
information supports *ero8s true inno!en!e an" that she has "ie" 3so
the+ think6 be!ause the+ ha$e wrongl+ a!!use" her, tarnishe" her
reputation fore$er, an" ruine" her famil+&
.eonato an" %ntonio return& Clau"io an" Fon /e"ro beg .eonato8s
forgi$eness, o@ering themsel$es up to an+ punishment .eonato thinks
;t for killing his "aughter with wrongful a!!usations& .eonato or"ers
Clau"io to !lear *ero8s name b+ telling the entire !it+ that she was
inno!ent an" to write her an epitaph=that is, a poem honoring her in
"eath=an" to rea" an" sing it at her tomb& *e also tells Clau"io that
%ntonio has a "aughter who is $er+ mu!h like *ero, an" he asks
Clau"io to marr+ his nie!e in *ero8s pla!e in or"er to make up for the
lost *ero& Clau"io, weeping at .eonato8s generosit+, a!!epts these
terms& .eonato or"ers that <ora!hio be !arte" awa+ for further
interrogation&
Summar+G %!t H, s!ene ii
:eanwhile, near .eonato8s estate, <ene"i!k asks :argaret to bring
<eatri!e to speak to him& %lone, he laments his inabilit+ to write poetr+&
*e has unsu!!essfull+ attempte" to write <eatri!e a lo$e sonnet
a!!or"ing to the fower+ an" ornamental !on$entions of Denaissan!e
lo$e poetr+& 'roni!all+, "espite his great skill at impro$ising in
!on$ersation, he is no goo" at all at writing& <eatri!e arri$es, an" the
two lo$ers firt an" tease ea!h other with gentle insults but also with
great a@e!tion=as the+ now seem alwa+s to ha$e "one& <ene"i!k tells
<eatri!e he has !hallenge" Clau"io to a "uel a!!or"ing to her wishes
an" that Clau"io must respon" to his !hallenge soon& Su""enl+, the
mai" Lrsula arri$es in great haste to tell them that the s!heme against
*ero has !ome to light& <ene"i!k ple"ges his lo$e to <eatri!e on!e
again, an" the two follow Lrsula to .eonato an" the rest of the house,
whi!h is in an uproar&
%nal+sisG %!t H, s!enes i4ii
<+ showing .eonato8s grief an" anger to the au"ien!e, Shakespeare
"ri$es home the intensit+ of the pain an" "istress that Clau"io8s
a!!usation against *ero has !ause" *ero an" her famil+& %lthough
*ero is not reall+ "ea", .eonato grie$es as if she were, be!ause she
has lost her reputation& *e has !ome to her si"e, belie$ing that Clau"io
must ha$e been wrong about her=I:+ soul "oth tell me *ero is
belie",J he !onfesses to %ntonio 3H&i&)6& <ut his !on!ern for her,
!ouple" with the sho!k of Clau"io8s publi! humiliation of her, is enough
to o$erwhelm him with grief& *e reCe!ts %ntonio8s attempts to make
him feel better, telling him that Imen R Can !ounsel an" speak !omfort
to that grief R Whi!h the+ themsel$es not feelJ 3H&i&)-4))6& *e suggests
that on!e a person a!tuall+ be!omes unhapp+, goo" a"$i!e "oes him
or her no goo"G I>or there was ne$er +et philosopher R That !oul"
en"ure the tootha!he patientl+J 3H&i&554566& *is anger at Clau"io for
ruining his "aughter is $er+ real, an" this s!ene pro$i"es the au"ien!e
with a fas!inating $iew of .eonato& *e is powerful here in his righteous
anger, Cust as mu!h as he is o$erwhelme" with "espair in %!t 'H, s!ene
i&
The re$elation of <ora!hio8s !rime to Clau"io an" the rest marks
another turning point in the pla+& Fon 7ohn8s "e!eption has le"
inexorabl+ to Clau"io8s reCe!tion of *ero, "arkening the pla+8s
atmosphere of lighthearte" !ome"+& Fogberr+ an" the Wat!h8s
a!!usation of <ora!hio an" Conra" seems to open the wa+ to
un"erstan"ing an" resolution& Clau"io8s rea!tion to the information
mirrors what the wise friar pre"i!ts in %!t 'H, s!ene iG he begins to
remember *ero8s goo" 0ualities& ISweet *ero, now th+ image "oth
appear R 'n the rare semblan!e that ' lo$e" it ;rst,J he sa+s to himself
3H&i&)554)566& The punishment that .eonato extra!ts from him might
seem light re$enge for the "eath of a "aughter, but, of !ourse, we
know=as he knows=that *ero isn8t reall+ "ea"& The punishment
ob$iousl+ establishes the groun"s for a happ+ en"ing& 'f all goes well, it
seems, Clau"io is being set up to marr+ *ero, in a sort of re"empti$e
mas0uera"e&
%!t H, s!ene ii, whi!h "e$elops the growing relationship between
<ene"i!k an" <eatri!e, is one of the funniest an" most tou!hing
!ourtship s!enes in Shakespeare8s works& 't gi$es the au"ien!e a
!han!e to laugh at <ene"i!k an" <eatri!e as the+ grapple with the
apparent foll+ of their lo$e for one another, an" also to see that their
relationship is "e$eloping into one that is both a@e!tionate an"
mature& :oreo$er, somehow the+ manage to speak sweetl+ to ea!h
other without losing their biting wit& <ene"i!k, in fa!t, laughs at himself
when he laments his inabilit+ to write lo$e poetr+& IAo,J <ene"i!k
!on!lu"es, I' was not born un"er a rh+ming planet, nor ' !annot woo in
festi$al termsJ 3H&ii&54556& <ene"i!k8s inabilit+ to write un"erlines the
"i@eren!e between the witt+ an" impro$isator+ !ourt rhetori! that he is
so goo" at an" the $er+ st+li2e" !on$entions of Denaissan!e lo$e
poetr+&
<eatri!e an" <ene"i!k interla!e their !on$ersation with news about
"e$elopments in the main plot of the pla+, but, throughout, the+ tease
one another with gentle a@e!tion=an", of !ourse, with ne$er#en"ing
insults& <ene"i!k sums up their situation b+ sa+ing, IThou an" ' are too
wise to woo pea!eabl+J 3H&ii&616& This assessment seems to be true in
se$eral respe!ts=the+ will ne$er ha$e pea!e, for both are too li$el+
an" in"epen"ent& <ut both are also wise, an" it looks as if their lo$e
will grow into a "eep, mature relationship in whi!h both will !ontinue to
sparkle in the other8s !ompan+& The two also express genuine
fon"ness& To <eatri!e8s assertion that she feels unwell ps+!hologi!all+,
<ene"i!k asks her to Iser$e 1o", lo$e me, an" men"J 3H&ii&N(6& When
she in$ites him to !ome with her to talk with .eonato, he answers, I'
will li$e in th+ heart, "ie in th+ lap, an" be burie" in th+ e+es& %n"
moreo$er, ' will go with thee to th+ un!le8sJ 3H&ii&(64(N6& *ere <ene"i!k
pla+s with a t+pi!al Denaissan!e sexual euphemism, the i"ea of "+ing
referring to a sexual orgasm&
%!t H, s!enes iii4i$

Summar+G %!t H, s!ene iii

Earl+ in the morning, at the tomb where *ero suppose"l+ lies burie",
Clau"io !arries out the ;rst part of the punishment that .eonato has
or"ere" him to perform& Clau"io has written an epitaph, or "eath
poem, !elebrating *ero8s inno!en!e an" grie$ing the slan"er that 3he
belie$es6 le" to her "eath& *e rea"s the epitaph out lou" an" hangs it
upon the tomb& *e solemnl+ promises that he will !ome an" rea" it
here at this time e$er+ +ear& E$er+one then goes o@ to prepare for
Clau"io8s we""ing to .eonato8s nie!e, the suppose" *ero look#alike,
whi!h is to o!!ur that $er+ "a+&
Summar+G %!t H, s!ene i$
:eanwhile, in the !hur!h, .eonato, %ntonio, <eatri!e, <ene"i!k, *ero,
:argaret, Lrsula, an" the friar prepare for the se!on" we""ing of
Clau"io an" *ero& We learn from their !on$ersation that :argaret has
been interrogate", an" that she is inno!ent of !onspiring with <ora!hio
an" Fon 7ohn=she ne$er reali2e" that she was taking part in Fon
7ohn8s trea!her+& <ene"i!k is also $er+ relie$e" that Fon 7ohn8s tri!k
has !ome to light, for now he "oes not nee" to ;ght his frien" Clau"io&
Wuietl+, <ene"i!k also takes .eonato asi"e an" asks him for his
permission to marr+ <eatri!e& Fon /e"ro an" Clau"io enter, an"
%ntonio goes o@ to fet!h the maske" women& While the+ are waiting,
Fon /e"ro an" Clau"io tease <ene"i!k about his lo$e for <eatri!e an"
about the fa!t that he will soon be marrie", although the+ "o not know
that he a!tuall+ "oes plan to be marrie" that $er+ "a+& *ero, <eatri!e,
an" the waiting women enter, all wearing masks& Clau"io $ows to
marr+ the maske" woman b+ his si"e, whom he belie$es to be
.eonato8s m+sterious nie!e& <ut when *ero takes o@ her mask, the
sho!ke" Clau"io reali2es that it reall+ is *ero& .eonato an" *ero tell
him that now that *ero8s name has been !leare", she !an ;gurati$el+
!ome ba!k to life an" be his wife, as she shoul" ha$e been before&
The part+ prepares to go to the !hapel to ;nish the !eremon+, but
<ene"i!k stops e$er+bo"+& *e asks <eatri!e, out lou" an" in publi!,
whether she lo$es him& <eatri!e "enies it, an" <ene"i!k, in turn,
"enies lo$ing her& The+ both agree that the+ are goo" frien"s, but not
in lo$e& <ut, laughingl+, Clau"io an" *ero tell them that the+ know that
isn8t the truth=an" both whip out s!ribble", half#;nishe" lo$e poems
that the+ ha$e foun" in their frien"s8 rooms an" po!kets, written from
<ene"i!k to <eatri!e an" from <eatri!e to <ene"i!k& <ene"i!k an"
<eatri!e reali2e that the+ ha$e been !aught re"#han"e" an", gi$ing in,
;nall+ agree to marr+& <ene"i!k silen!es <eatri!e, for the ;rst time, b+
kissing her& Clau"io an" Fon /e"ro begin to tease <ene"i!k again, but
<ene"i!k laughingl+ sa+s that he "oes not !are=he remains
"etermine" to be marrie", an" nothing he has e$er sai" against
marriage in the past makes an+ "i@eren!e to him now& *e an" Clau"io
assert their frien"ship again, an" <ene"i!k !alls for a "an!e before the
"ouble we""ing& Su""enl+, a messenger rushes in to inform the
!ompan+ that .eonato8s men ha$e arreste" Fon 7ohn in his fight from
:es#sina& The+ ha$e brought him ba!k to :essina a prisoner& <ene"i!k
instru!ts Fon /e"ro to put o@ thinking about the $illain until tomorrow,
when <ene"i!k will in$ent ;ne tortures for him& 'n the meantime,
<ene"i!k insists that all must "an!e Co+full+ in !elebrating the
marriages, an" he !omman"s the pipers to strike up the musi!&
%nal+sisG %!t H, s!enes iii4i$
This ;nal s!ene brings the pla+ to a Co+ous !on!lusion, "rawing it awa+
from the trage"+ towar" whi!h it ha" begun to mo$e an" letting
e$er+one win" up safe an" soun"& Clau"io an" *ero are about to be
happil+ marrie", as are <ene"i!k an" <eatri!e& The "e!eption has been
re$eale", an" Fon 7ohn has been !aught an" brought to Custi!e&
E$er+bo"+ has ma"e frien"s again, an" the ;nal "an!e s+mboli2es the
restoration of or"er an" happiness in a worl" that has been thrown into
!haos b+ Fon 7ohn8s a!!usation an" Fon /e"ro an" Clau"io8s rash
a!tion&
<ut in or"er for the pla+ to rea!h this point, *ero must go through a
s+mboli! "eath an" rebirth, washing awa+ the taint of the a!!usation
of her suppose" sin& Clau"io8s writing an" rea"ing of an epitaph at her
tomb seems to !reate a sense of !losure, in relation to his false
a!!usation of *ero an" her suppose" "eath& *e a!knowle"ges his error
in ha$ing a!!use" *eroG IFone to "eath b+ slan"erous tongues R Was
the *ero that here liesJ 3H&iii&546& The song similarl+ plea"s, I/ar"on,
go""ess of the night, R Those that slew th+ $irgin knightJ 3H&iii&1)4156&
When "awn arri$es at the en" of the s!ene, an" Fon /e"ro sa+s, I1oo"
morrow, masters, put +our tor!hes out,J we !an literall+ see the plot
emerging from "arkness 3H&iii&)6& 't is now time to atten" the we""ing
meant to release Clau"io from his guilt for *ero8s "eath& >rom "arkness
an" pain, the stor+ now returns to "a+light an" happiness&
The emotional "+nami!s of the maske" we""ing must be !ompli!ate",
an" man+ rea"ers won"er wh+ *ero still lo$es Clau"io after what he
has "one to her& The stor+ !an be rea" as one of real lo$e that has
been tainte" b+ misun"erstan"ing, paranoia, an" fear but that has
mira!ulousl+ en"e" happil+& *ero "oes seem to lo$e Clau"io still, an"
the+ are Co+ful at being reunite"& Clau"io8s ama2ement, awe, an"
won"er at ;n"ing *ero still ali$e ma+ ser$e to wipe out an+ last tra!es
of resentment or anger on either si"e&
<eatri!e an" <ene"i!k ;nall+ profess their lo$e in publi!=ami" the
laughter an" teasing of all their frien"s=an" are !learl+ happ+ to be
marr+ing one another& Lnlike *ero an" Clau"io, the+ are both $er+
!ommuni!ati$e people, an" there is little "oubt as to how the+ feel
about one another& <ene"i!k8s long struggle with his a$ersion to
marriage is also ;nall+ brought to an en"& 7ust as he pri$atel+ "e!lares
his "e!ision to !hange his min" after he !omes to belie$e, through
Clau"io an" Fon /e"ro8s tri!k, that <eatri!e lo$es him, he now
announ!es to the entire worl" that he is "etermine" to get marrie", in
spite of e$er+thing he has sai" against the institution&
<ene"i!k also renews his frien"ship with Clau"io, an" the two of them
note with !onsi"erable pleasure that the+ are now relati$es& .eonato
partakes in this sentiment as well, sin!e <ene"i!k will be .eonato8s
nephew#in#law& <ene"i!k is so full+ !hange" from a willful !a$alier into
a submissi$e lo$er that he e$en !omman"s Fon /e"ro, I/rin!e, thou
art sa", get thee a wife, get thee a wifeJ 3H&i$&11N6& This or"er ser$es
partl+ as a Coke, but it !ontains a "rop of melan!hol+& /erhaps Fon
/e"ro reall+ is sa"=an i"ea that seems e$en more probable when we
re!all his lighthearte", but perhaps not entirel+ Coking, proposal to
<eatri!e, in %!t '', s!ene i, an" her gentle reCe!tion of it& %s so often
happens in Shakespeare8s !ome"ies, it seems as if somebo"+ must be
left out of the !ir!le of happiness an" marriage&
%t the pla+8s en", Fon 7ohn is more alienate" from the happ+ !ompan+
of nobles than he is at the beginning of the pla+& <ut <ene"i!k "oes not
e$en permit us to think about Fon 7ohn& The $illain8s torture will take
pla!e o@stage, after the pla+8s en"& The pla+8s !losing wor"s are a !all
to musi!, an" the pla+8s ;nal a!tion is a Co+ful we""ing "an!e& With the
ex!eption of a sa" prin!e an" a $illain who remains to be punishe",
e$er+bo"+ has !ome to a happ+ en"ing
'mportant Wuotations Explaine"

1&
The sa$age bull ma+, but if e$er the sensible <ene"i!k bear it, plu!k
o@ the bull8s horns an" set them in m+ forehea", an" let me be $ilel+
painte", an" in su!h great letters as the+ write U*ere is goo" horse to
hire8 let them signif+ un"er m+ sign U*ere +ou ma+ see <ene"i!k, the
marrie" man&8
3'&i&)154)1,6
<ene"i!k "eli$ers this spee!h to Clau"io an" Fon /e"ro& Fon /e"ro has
Cust 0uote" an ol" a"age about e$en the wil"est of people e$entuall+
!alming "own enough to submit to lo$e an" marriage, suggesting that
in time e$en a sa$age bull will bear the +oke of a woman8s will&
<ene"i!k a"amantl+ refuses to belie$e this !ommonpla!e an" "e!i"es
to mo!k it& The IsensibleJ <ene"i!k means the rational <ene"i!k, a
person too intelligent to +iel" to the irrational wa+s of lo$e& <ene"i!k
imagines a fantasti!al s!ene here, with horns !lappe" on his hea" an"
writing pra!ti!all+ bran"e" into his forehea"& 't was tra"itional in the
Denaissan!e to imagine that !u!kol"s=men whose wi$es !ommitte"
a"ulter+=ha" horns on their hea"s& <ene"i!k8s e$o!ation of this image
suggests that an+ woman he marries is sure to !heat on him& Clau"io
an" Fon /e"ro !ontinue to tease <ene"i!k about the bull imager+
throughout the pla+&
)&
What shoul" ' "o with him="ress him in m+ apparel an" make him
m+ waiting gentlewomanO *e that hath a bear" is more than a +outh,
an" he that hath no bear" is less than a manK an" he that is more than
a +outh is not for me, an" he that is less than a man, ' am not for him&
3''&i&)(45)6
These lines !onstitute <eatri!e8s witt+ explanation for wh+ she must
remain an unmarrie" woman an" e$entuall+ an ol" mai"G there is no
man who woul" be a perfe!t mat!h for her& Those who possess no
fa!ial hair are not manl+ enough to satisf+ her "esires, whereas those
who "o possess bear"s are not +outhful enough for her& This
!onun"rum is not parti!ular to <eatri!e& 'n Denaissan!e literature an"
!ulture, parti!ularl+ in Shakespeare, +ouths on the !usp of manhoo"
are often the most !o$ete" obCe!ts of sexual "esire&
%lthough <eatri!e Cokes that she woul" "ress up a bear"less +outh as a
woman, there is a hi""en "ouble meaning hereG in Shakespeare8s time,
the a!tor pla+ing <eatri!e woul" ha$e been "oing exa!tl+ that, sin!e all
female roles were pla+e" b+ prepubes!ent bo+s until the late
se$enteenth !entur+& 'n"ee", the bear"less a"oles!ent ha" a spe!ial
allure that pro$oke" the "esires of both men an" woman on the
Eli2abethan stage& <eatri!e8s "esire for a man who is !aught between
+outh an" maturit+ was in fa!t the sexual i"eal at the time& The plot of
the pla+ e$entuall+ to+s with her para"oxi!al sentiments for a man
both with an" without a bear"G "uring the !ourse of the pla+, <ene"i!k
will sha$e his bear" on!e he falls in lo$e with her&
5&
The+ sa+ the la"+ is fair& UTis a truth, ' !an bear them witness& %n"
$irtuous=8tis so, ' !annot repro$e it& %n" wise, but for lo$ing me& <+
m+ troth, it is no a""ition to her wit=nor no great argument of her
foll+, for ' will be horribl+ in lo$e with her&
3''&iii&)-4)-(6
<ene"i!k has Cust o$erhear" Clau"io, .eonato, an" Fon /e"ro
"is!ussing <eatri!e8s fabri!ate" lo$e for him& %lone on the stage, he
pon"ers this news an" !on!lu"es that the best thing for him to "o is to
return this lo$eG Ifor ' will be horribl+ in lo$e with herJ 3''&iii&)-(6& This
line pro"u!es a !omi!al e@e!t, as it seems preposterous that someone
woul" fall Ihorribl+J in lo$e with another person after simpl+ weighing
that person8s $irtues& The !hoi!e of the wor" Ihorribl+J a!!entuates
the !omi! aspe!ts of <ene"i!k8s "e!ision& Aot onl+ "oes he return her
lo$e, but he "oes so to the point of o$erthrowing her, an" all others in
his mi"st, with lo$e& The !hoi!e of Ihorribl+J !oul" also e!ho a bit of
the merr+ war <eatri!e an" <ene"i!k ha$e been ;ghting with their
wits& There has alwa+s existe" an element of !ompetition between
them& 't is not enough for <ene"i!k to re!ipro!ate <eatri!e8s passionsK
he must out"o them, perhaps in or"er to unseat her an" win the
!ompetition& The a!tor pla+ing <ene"i!k has a number of !hoi!es in
performing this solilo0u+G he !an re$eal that he has alwa+s been in
lo$e with <eatri!e but is in "enial about his true feelings an" therefore
must go through the motions of weighing the pros an" !ons of lo$ing
her in a rational manner& ?r he !an simpl+ treat this moment as one
more parr+ in the thrusts an" blows of their Imerr+ warJ an" !on!lu"e
that the onl+ wa+ to win is to surpass her, e$en in lo$e&
&
? *eroM What a *ero ha"st thou been
'f half th+ outwar" gra!es ha" been pla!e"
%bout th+ thoughts an" !ounsels of th+ heartM
<ut fare thee well, most foul, most fair, farewell
Thou pure impiet+ an" impious purit+&
>or thee '8ll lo!k up all the gates of lo$e,
%n" on m+ e+eli"s shall !onCe!ture hang
To turn all beaut+ into thoughts of harm,
%n" ne$er shall it more be gra!ious&
3'H&i&,(41-66
Clau"io has Cust openl+ rebuke" *ero at their we""ing !eremon+,
throwing her ba!k to .eonato, her father& *e belie$es that she has not
onl+ been unfaithful to him but has lost her $irginit+, an" therefore her
purit+ an" inno!en!e, to someone else before her marriage& Clau"io8s
belief is the result of Fon 7ohn8s e$il plot to "e!ei$e him an" make him
lose Fon /e"ro8s goo"will& These lines "emonstrate Shakespeare8s
abilit+ to ;ll a spee!h with "ouble meanings an" wor"pla+ through
repetition& >or instan!e, I*eroJ appears twi!e in the ;rst line, !hanging
meaning the se!on" time& The ;rst time, Clau"io a""resses his former
belo$e" "ire!tl+& The se!on" time, Clau"io !ompares I*eroJ to an i"eal
!on0ueror of his heart, as !lassi!al heroes !on0uere" an" won great
battles& Bet *ero has lost her heroi! 0ualities& I>are thee well most foul,
most fair, farewellJ pla+s with repetition an" oppositesG the soun" of
the wor" IfairJ is repeate" three times in the spa!e of one line,
un"ers!oring Clau"io8s "espair at "is!o$ering that *ero8s outwar"
beaut+ or fairness !on!eals a IfoulJ spirit, as he thinks&
There might also be some pla+ on the "ouble meanings of IfairJ=as
beautiful, an" as balan!e" an" true& 'n Clau"io8s e+es, *ero is not onl+
no longer Ifair,J meaning beautiful 3she is IfoulJ6, but she is also no
longer Ifair,J meaning truthful, but is its opposite, false or "issembling&
<oth the !ombination of IfairJ an" IfoulJ in the same line an" Ipure
impiet+ an" impious purit+J in the following line "emonstrate a
rhetori!al te!hni0ue Shakespeare is famous for using in his pla+sG
antithesis, or the !ombining of para"oxi!al opposites in one line for
emphasis& :oments in whi!h !hara!ters spout antitheses usuall+ o!!ur
at the height of passion& >or Clau"io to use these parti!ular opposites
to "es!ribe his frustration with *ero8s seemingl+ fair exterior an" false
an" foul interior re$eals that he is li$i" with rage an" "ri$en to "espair&
5&
Fost thou not suspe!t m+ pla!eO Fost thou not suspe!t m+ +earsO ?
that he were here to write me "own an assM <ut masters, remember
that ' am an ass& Though it be not written "own, +et forget not that '
am an ass& Ao, thou $illain, thou art full of piet+, as shall be pro$e"
upon thee b+ goo" witness& ' am a wise fellow, an" whi!h is more, an
oQ!er, an" whi!h is more, a househol"er, an" whi!h is more, as prett+
a pie!e of fesh as an+ is in :essina, an" one that knows the law, go
to & & & an" one that hath two gowns, an" e$er+thing han"some about
him& <ring him awa+& ? that ' ha" been writ "own an assM
3'H&ii&6N4N(6
Fogberr+ is the !onstable an" lea"er of the town night wat!h in
:essina, the town where the a!tion of the pla+ takes pla!e& Fespite his
!ome"i! substitutions of in!orre!t wor"s for similar#soun"ing !orre!t
wor"s, Fogberr+ "oes su!!ee" in apprehen"ing Conra" an" <ora!hio
an" unra$eling Fon 7ohn8s plot to "e!ei$e Clau"io an" ruin *ero& %t
this moment, he has !aught <ora!hio an" brought him before the
sexton to re!or" the e$ents of the e$ening& <in"ing the $illains
together, Fogberr+ !alls Conra" a Inaught+ $arletJ 3'H&ii&656& Conra"
has angril+ respon"e" to Fogberr+ with I%wa+, +ou are an ass, +ou are
an assJ 3'H&ii&666& Fogberr+, infuriate" that an+one shoul" insult him,
"eli$ers this in"ignant !omi! spee!h ;lle" with $erbal misuse, sa+ing
Isuspe!tJ instea" of Irespe!tJ an" Ipiet+J instea" of Iimpiet+&J
Fogberr+8s "etermine" insisten!e that he be Iwrit "own an assJ is
!omi!al, be!ause instea" of asking that the sexton note that Conra"
has insulte" Fogberr+, Fogberr+ !ontributes to his own slan"er b+
insisting that the sexton put in writing that Fogberr+ is Ian ass&J
Fogberr+ is most o@en"e" b+ Conra"8s a!!usation be!ause the
!onstable interprets Conra"8s ru"eness as a !lass !riti!ism, whi!h it
most likel+ is& Fogberr+ ma+ not be a nobleman, but he is a goo", law#
abi"ing !iti2en, he owns his own house, an" he possesses two !ostl+
pie!es of apparel 3two gowns6, whi!h signi;es that though he "oes not
belong to the !ourt, he is part of the emergent bourgeoisie& *e is right
to feel insulte" b+ the ill#beha$e" noble Conra"8s in$e!ti$e& Though
Fogberr+8s poor !omman" of the English language results in hilarit+,
there is nothing poor or e$il about him&
9e+ >a!ts

full title Y :u!h %"o %bout Aothing

author Y William Shakespeare
t+pe of work Y Frama
genre Y Come"+
language Y English
time an" pla!e written Y 15,(, Englan"
"ate of ;rst publi!ation Y 16--
publisher Y Halentine Simmes for %n"rew Wise an" William %sple+
tone Y Shakespeare8s attitu"e towar" !ourtship an" roman!e !ombines
mature !+ni!ism with an awareness that the so!ial realities
surroun"ing !ourtship ma+ "etra!t from the fun of roman!e& The nee"
to marr+ for so!ial betterment an" to ensure inheritan!e, !ouple" with
the importan!e of $irginal !hastit+, !ompli!ates romanti! relationships&
%lthough this pla+ is a !ome"+ en"ing in multiple marriages an" is full
of witt+ "ialogue making for man+ !omi! moments, it also a""resses
more serious e$ents, in!lu"ing some that bor"er on trage"+&
setting 3time6 Y The sixteenth !entur+
setting 3pla!e6 Y :essina, Si!il+, on an" aroun" 1o$ernor .eonato8s
estate
protagonists Y Clau"io, *ero, <eatri!e, an" <ene"i!k
maCor !onfi!t Y Fon 7ohn !reates the appearan!e that *ero is
unfaithful to Clau"io, an" Clau"io an" Fon /e"ro !ome to belie$e this
lie& The real !onfi!t that un"erlies all of this Ia"o about nothingJ ma+
be that Clau"io, Fon /e"ro, an" <ene"i!k share a suspi!ion of
marriage as a trap in whi!h husban"s are boun" to be !ontrolle" an"
"e!ei$e", but the+ also "eepl+ "esire to be marrie"&
rising a!tion Y Clau"io falls in lo$e with *eroK <ene"i!k, Fon /e"ro, an"
Clau"io express their anxieties about marriage in Cokes an" witt+
banterK Fon /e"ro woos *ero on Clau"io8s behalfK the $illainous Fon
7ohn !reates the illusion that *ero is a whore&
!limax Y Clau"io reCe!ts *ero at the altar, insulting her an" a!!using
her of un!haste beha$iorK Fon /e"ro supports Clau"ioK <ene"i!k, who
was most oppose" to women an" lo$e at the beginning of the pla+,
si"es with *ero an" his future wife <eatri!e&
falling a!tion Y <ene"i!k !hallenges Clau"io to a "uel for slan"ering
*eroK .eonato pro!laims publi!all+ that *ero "ie" of grief at being
falsel+ a!!use"K *ero8s inno!en!e is brought to light b+ Fogberr+K
Clau"io an" Fon /e"ro repent&
resolution Y <+ blin"l+ marr+ing a maske" woman whom he belie$es he
has ne$er met, Clau"io shows that he has aban"one" Cealous
suspi!ions an" fears of being !ontrolle", an" that he is rea"+ to marr+&
*e is rewar"e" b+ "is!o$ering that his bri"e is a!tuall+ *ero&
themes Y The i"eal of so!ial gra!eK "e!eption as a means to an en"K
loss of honorK publi! shaming
motifs Y AotingK entertainmentK !ounterfeiting
s+mbols Y The taming of wil" animalsK warK *ero8s "eath
foresha"owing Y Fon 7ohn8s plan to !ross Clau"io out of Cealous+ in %!t
'K <ene"i!k an" <eatri!e8s witt+ insults foresha"ow their falling in lo$e&
Stu"+ Wuestions P Essa+ Topi!s

Stu"+ Wuestions
1&
Wh+ might it be har" to belie$e that *ero an" Clau"io reall+ lo$e ea!h
otherO
:an+ rea"ers ha$e "iQ!ult+ a!!epting the romanti! relationship
between *ero an" Clau"io& %fter all, the+ ha$e barel+ met before the+
fall in lo$e an" "e!i"e to get marrie", an" then Clau"io betra+s *ero
$i!iousl+& <ut the i"ea of lo$e at ;rst sight was popular in
Shakespeare8s "a+& Domeo an" 7uliet, for instan!e, fall in lo$e at ;rst
sight& :oreo$er, Clau"io8s metho"s of !ourting *ero through other
people woul" ha$e been an a!!epte" ta!ti! among Eli2abethan nobilit+&
Clau"io8s belief that Fon 7ohn8s tri!k is realit+ is a mu!h bigger
problem& Some rea"ers feel that it is impossible to s+mpathi2e with
Clau"io after he reCe!ts *ero in the !hur!h& ?ne fa!t that "efen"s
Clau"io is that he is +oung an" inexperien!e"& %lso, Fon 7ohn is $er+
!le$er=e$en the ol"er, more experien!e" Fon /e"ro is "e!ei$e" b+ his
ruse& *ero8s willingness to forgi$e Clau"io is Cust as "isturbing as
Clau"io8s reCe!tion of *ero& She "oes not !hallenge his beha$ior towar"
her but instea" marries him willingl+& 'n the en", though, Clau"io is
awestru!k an" "elighte" b+ *ero8s unexpe!te" reappearan!e&
)&
Spee!h an" !on$ersation are important in the pla+, an" man+ of the
!hara!ters ha$e "istin!ti$e wa+s of speaking& *ow "o the !hara!ters8
spee!h patterns "i@erO
The spee!h patterns of the pla+8s !hara!ters $ar+ wi"el+& Some speak
with elegan!e an" passion& Two examples of parti!ular elo0uen!e are
.eonato8s spee!h after *ero is betra+e" an" <eatri!e8s expression of
her anger at Clau"io& <ut <ene"i!k an" <eatri!e also share a spe!ial
wa+ of speaking all their own, in whi!h the+ are !onstantl+ making
Cokes an" punsK this $erbal sparring highlights their spe!ial gift of wit&
?ther !hara!ters ha$e no su!h skill with wor"s& Fogberr+ is alwa+s
getting his wor"s wrong to $er+ humorous e@e!t& *owe$er, his
mistakes hin"er !ommuni!ation, as in %!t ''', s!ene $, when Fogberr+
an" the Wat!h tr+ to tell .eonato that the+ ha$e !aught <ora!hio but
!annot make themsel$es un"erstoo"& >inall+, some !hara!ters sel"om
speak at all, like the sullen an" bitter Fon 7ohn or the gentle but
usuall+ sh+ *ero an" Clau"io&
5&
*ow "o gossip, !on$ersation, an" o$erhearing fun!tion in the pla+O
:u!h of the plot is mo$e" along b+ !hara!ters ea$es"ropping on a
!on$ersation an" either misun"erstan"ing what the+ o$erhear or being
"e!ei$e" b+ gossip or b+ a tri!k& *ero, Clau"io, an" the rest tri!k
<ene"i!k an" <eatri!e b+ setting them up to o$erhear !on$ersations in
whi!h their frien"s "eliberatel+ mislea" them& Fon 7ohn8s spiteful
gossip makes Clau"io an" Fon /e"ro suspi!ious that *ero is "islo+al&
The win"ow tri!k, in whi!h <ora!hio an" the "isguise" :argaret make
lo$e at *ero8s win"ow, is itself a sort of o$erhearing& 'n this !ase, two
people sp+ing on the s!ene, Clau"io an" Fon /e"ro, misun"erstan"
what the+ see, be!ause Fon 7ohn has set it up to "e!ei$e them& The
win"ow s!ene restages the tri!k pla+e" upon <eatri!e an" <ene"i!k,
but with the opposite e@e!t& 'nstea" of !ausing two people to fall in
lo$e, it !auses Clau"io to aban"on *ero& >inall+, at the en" of the pla+,
o$erhearing restores or"er& The men of the Wat!h, hearing <ora!hio
brag about his !rime to Conra", arrest him an" bring him to Custi!e
3'''&iii6&
& What "oes the pla+ sa+ about relationships between women an"
menO
:u!h %"o %bout Aothing features one of Shakespeare8s most a"mire"
an" well#lo$e" heroines, <eatri!e& *er strength of spirit, sense of
in"epen"en!e, an" ;er!e wit pla!e her among the most powerful
female !hara!ters Shakespeare e$er !reate"& <ut her self#suQ!ien!+
"oes not pre$ent her from a!!epting lo$e& %lthough both she an"
<ene"i!k ha$e $owe" that the+ will ne$er marr+, the+ !hange their
min"s 0ui!kl+, an" both "e!i"e that marriage is better than being
single& *owe$er, Clau"io an" *ero "o not enCo+ the strong an"
egalitarian relationship that <ene"i!k an" <eatri!e "o& *ero8s plight
remin"s us that a woman in the Denaissan!e was $ulnerable to the
a!!usations or ba" treatment of men=in!lu"ing her own male
relati$es& .eonato, in his grief, gi$es or"ers to let his "aughter "ie after
Clau"io aban"ons her in %!t 'H, s!ene i& 'f not for the inter$ention of
<eatri!e an" the friar, it is not !lear what might ha$e happene" to
*ero&
Suggeste" Essa+ Topi!s
1& :u!h %"o %bout Aothing is suppose"l+ a !ome"+G <eatri!e an"
<ene"i!k tra"e insults for professions of lo$e, an" Clau"io an" *ero fall
in lo$e, out of lo$e, an" ba!k in lo$e again& <ut the pla+ !ontains man+
"arker, more tragi! elements than a t+pi!al !ome"+& 'n what wa+s is
this pla+ tragi!O
)& % !entral theme in the pla+ is tri!ker+ or "e!eit, whether for goo" or
e$il purposes& Counterfeiting, or !on!ealing one8s true feelings, is part
of this theme& 1oo" !hara!ters as well as e$il ones engage in "e!eit as
the+ attempt to !on!eal their feelingsG <eatri!e an" <ene"i!k mask
their feelings for one another with bitter insults, Fon 7ohn spies on
Clau"io an" *ero& Who hi"es an" what is hi""enO *ow "oes "e!eit
fun!tion in the worl" of the pla+, an" how "oes it help the pla+
!omment on theater in generalO
5& .anguage in :u!h %"o %bout Aothing often takes the form of
brutalit+ an" $iolen!e& IShe speaks poniar"s, an" e$er+ wor" stabs,J
!omplains <ene"i!k of <eatri!e 3''&i&)166& >in" examples of spee!h an"
wor"s representing woun"s an" battles in the pla+& What "o
Shakespeare an" his !ast of !hara!ters a!!omplish b+ metaphori!all+
turning wor"s into weaponsO What "oes the proliferation of all this
$iolent language signif+ in the pla+ an" the worl" outsi"e itO
& 'n some wa+s, Fon /e"ro is the most elusi$e !hara!ter in the pla+&
*e ne$er explains his moti$ations=for wooing *ero for Clau"io, for
belie$ing Fon 7ohn8s lie, e$en for setting up <eatri!e an" <ene"i!k& *e
also seems to ha$e no romanti! interest of his own, though, at the en"
of the pla+, without a future wife, he is melan!hol+& 'n$estigate Fon
/e"ro8s !hara!ter, imagine the "i@erent wa+s in whi!h he !oul" be
portra+e", an" as!ribe to him the moti$ations that +ou belie$e make
him a!t as he "oes& Wh+ is he so melan!hol+O Wh+ "oes he woo *ero
for Clau"ioO 's he Coking when he proposes to <eatri!e, or is he
sin!ereO Wh+ woul" Shakespeare !reate a !hara!ter like Fon /e"ro for
his !ome"+ about romanti! misun"erstan"ingsO
5& 'n this pla+, a!!usations of un!haste an" untrustworth+ beha$ior !an
be Cust as "amaging to a woman8s honor as su!h beha$ior itself& 's the
same true for the males in the pla+O *ow is a man8s honor a@e!te" b+
a!!usations of untrustworthiness or unfaithfulnessO Fo sexual ;"elit+
an" inno!en!e ;t into the pi!ture in the same wa+ for men as it "oes
for womenO Examine the 0uestion of honor an" ;"elit+ as it relates to
four male !hara!ters in the pla+G <ene"i!k, .eonato, Clau"io, an" Fon
/e"ro& What !oul" Shakespeare be sa+ing about the "i@eren!e
between male an" female honorO