Episode 180:

Much Ado About Nothing remains one of the more popular comedies where the characters of Benedick and Beatrice are usually thought of as the leading characters, but this play is much more of an ensemble piece than might be usually remembered.

The dating of the play

The print history of the play

Early performances of the play

The sources for the play

The significance of the title

A Synopsis of the play

The views of the male character, all soldiers, in the play

The pairings of Hero and Claudio and Beatrice and Benedick

Margaret and her views on marriage

Communication and miscommunication

The changes Shakespeare made to his sources

Public honour and public shaming

Pride and pridefulness

Dogberry and the watch

Why didn’t Shakespeare dramatize the fooling of Claudio?

Reality and imagination in the play

‘Much Ado About Nothing’s relationship with ‘The Taming of the Shrew’

The performance history of the play

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