Shakespearean Summaries: ‘Much Ado’ and ‘Midsummer Night’
Much Ado About Nothing: A Summary
Leonato, a respectable nobleman, lives in the idyllic Italian town of Messina. Leonato shares his house with his lovely young daughter, Hero, his niece, Beatrice, and his elderly brother, Antonio (Beatrice’s father). As the play begins, Leonato prepares to welcome some friends home from war. The friends include Don Pedro, a prince, and two fellow soldiers: Claudio and Benedick. Don Juan, Don Pedro’s illegitimate brother, is also present.
When the soldiers arrive at Leonato’s home, Claudio quickly falls in love with Hero. Meanwhile, Benedick and Beatrice resume their war of insults. Claudio and Hero pledge their love and decide to marry. To pass the time before the wedding, the lovers and their friends decide to play a game: to make Beatrice and Benedick fall in love. Beatrice and Benedick soon secretly fall in love with each other.
Don Juan decides to disrupt everyone’s happiness. He arranges for Borachio to make love to Margaret (Hero’s serving woman) at Hero’s window. He then brings Don Pedro and Claudio to witness it. Claudio believes the woman is Hero and accuses her of lechery on their wedding day, abandoning her at the altar. Hero’s family decides to pretend that she died of shock and grief and hide her. Benedick and Beatrice finally confess their love for one another.
The night watchmen overhear Borachio bragging about his crime. Dogberry and Verges, the heads of the local police, arrest Borachio and Conrad, another of Don John’s followers. Everyone learns that Hero is innocent, and Claudio, believing she is dead, grieves for her. Leonato, as punishment, tells Claudio to marry his niece, who is identical to Hero. When Claudio is ready to marry Hero’s mysterious cousin, Hero reveals herself. Claudio is overjoyed, and they marry. Benedick and Beatrice then decide to marry as well, and everyone lives happily.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream: A Summary
The story takes place in Ancient Greece, in Athens, at the palace of Theseus. Theseus and Hippolyta are discussing their upcoming wedding. Hippolyta is inviting the youth of the city when Kasandra appears, requesting that his daughter Hermia marry Demetrius (who is in love with Hermia). However, Hermia loves Lysander. Theseus insists Hermia marry Demetrius, saying that if she refuses, she will pay with her life or become a nun. Hermia and Lysander, pressured, decide to escape to the forest.
Helena, in love with Demetrius, appears. In the forest of Athens, fantastic events occur between the fairies, Oberon and Titania (King and Queen of the fairies). Helena follows Demetrius through the woods, having confessed Hermia’s escape with Lysander. Demetrius begins to develop feelings for Helena.
Oberon sends Puck, one of his best workers, to pour a liquid on people’s eyes, causing them to fall in love with the first person they see. Puck mistakenly pours the substance on Lysander, who falls in love with Helena and abandons Hermia. Puck also mistakenly pours the substance on Titania. In the end, Puck arranges everything so that both couples fall in love with their intended partners.