Much Ado about Nothing

With Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare advanced his art, rendering the romantic comedy with greater elegance of composition and expression. The vividly depicted Beatrice and Benedick make it a play of character rather than situation, as the threats to romance are eventually banished and obstacles are overcome. The characters experience a psychological shift, rather than a change in their circumstances, in order to arrive at the love and mutual respect awaiting them at the play's conclusion. The critical essays in this study guide will help those studying Shakespeare's work.