Part of: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (The Oxford Shakespeare) Much Ado About Nothing

Much Ado About Nothing’s battling lovers have inspired endless tributes in romantic comedies in every decade. Some see them as the seeds of Austen’s inspiration for Elizabeth and Darcy in Pride and Prejudice.

The Royal Shakespeare Company provides an interesting discussion of the scene-stealing Beatrice and Benedick whose witty banter is a highlight of Much Ado About Nothing..

The Hero and Claudio plot is an old and often retold story. Before Shakespeare, however, it was probably best known as a part of the long narrative poem Orlando Furioso.

Shakespeare’s Othello revisits the plot of false accusations against a woman’s chastity. But rather than closing with a happy, comic resolution, Othello ends in tragedy for all concerned.

Shakespeare’s comedies are known for their use of the “fool.” His fools are sometimes truly foolish, and sometimes foolish in a way that reveals a deep and important wisdom. Inspiration for the wise fool can be traced to Erasmus’s Praise of Folly.

Claudio’s accusation that Hero has been unchaste drives the action of the play. You can watch the scene where Beatrice and Benedick react to his accusations here.