Much Ado About Nothing

a comedy by William Shakespeare, produced in 1597-1598, and printed first in 1600. This is regarded as one of the best of Shakespeare's creations. There is a perfect blending of the tragic and comic elements. The main plot is malicious, and comes near ending in tragedy; but the catastrophe is averted by a stupid blunder. There are several secondary plots, all of an amusing character. Three striking characters appear; Beatrice and Benedick, whose "conversation sparkles with wit to this day undimmed," and Dogberry whose "arrant stupidity has never been equaled in literature." But not one of these three prominent characters is the main agent of the plot. He upon whom the action hinges is of little interest in himself. "Take out Beatrice, Benedick, and Dogberry, and there remains just enough to show how little was the nothing which the much ado was about."

Perhaps the middle point of comedy was never more nicely hit than in Much Ado About Nothing, in which the ludicrous blends with the tender, and our follies, turning round against themselves, in support of our affections, retain nothing but their humanity.--Hazlitt.