Much Ado About Nothing Characters

Leonato

A well-respected and elderly nobleman, Leonato is the governor of Messina, a city in Renaissance Italy. The play is set at his estate. He is the father of Hero, the uncle of Beatrice, and a friend of Don Pedro. He is a unifying figure, who is connected to most of the principal characters and serves the purpose of linking the play’s plotlines to one another from the first scene to the last.

Hero

She is the beautiful, young daughter of Leonato and the cousin of Beatrice. She is shown to be traditional and gentle, who falls in love with Claudio. However, when she becomes an unwitting victim of Don John’s scheme to create mischief and suffers public disgrace on the day of her wedding, she suffers terribly.

Beatrice

She is the niece of Leonato and is raised in his household. She is protective of her cousin, Hero. Though generous and loving, Beatrice is also strong-willed, opinionated, and outspoken. Similar to Benedick, she often mocks people with elaborate jokes and puns and wages a battle of wit against Benedick, who had offended her in the past. At the beginning of the play, she is shown to be determined not to marry.

Claudio

A young count from Florence, Claudio has won great acclaim fighting under Don Pedro during the recent wars. Having been charmed by Hero earlier, on his return, he immediately falls in love with her. However, his suspecting nature makes him quick to believe the evil rumors that intend to tarnish Hero’s reputation. His personal code prevents him from accepting a “tarnished” bride. His affections are shown to be mercurial—infatuation, then a sense of rejection, followed by quick anger, and the urge to avenge himself.

Benedick

A friend of Don Pedro and Claudio, he is an aristocratic soldier who has recently been fighting under Don Pedro. He is not a count like Claudio but is referred to respectfully as “signor.” Benedick is witty, always making jokes and puns. At some point preceding the story, he had enjoyed Beatrice’s company but had left without commitment, which is what leads to a “merry war” of wits with Beatrice in the play. At the onset, he swears he will never fall in love or marry.

Don Pedro

He is a prince of Aragon, a region of northeast Spain, and hence he is referred to with the Spanish title of Don. A friend of Leonato, he is quite fond of his soldiers Claudio and Benedick. Like Leonato, Don Pedro is a linking character, playing key roles first in the wooing of Hero for Claudio, then in the deceptions of both Beatrice and Benedick, and finally as an unwitting eyewitness to Hero’s alleged disloyalty. He is intelligent, generous, and is the most politically powerful person in the play.

Don John

He is the half-brother of Don Pedro. He was born out of wedlock and as a bastard has no claim over the family wealth. He wages a war against his brother and having lost, has now become a part of Don Pedro’s entourage. This generous offer grates on him, and he is constantly conniving to make mischief. He is the principal antagonist.

Margaret

She is Hero’s serving woman. She is unwittingly involved in the plot of Hero’s unfaithfulness by Borachio and Don John. A woman from the lower class, she frequently cracks bawdy jokes.

Ursula

Another serving woman of Hero.

Borachio

He is an associate of Don John and the lover of Margaret. He conspires with Don John to bring about Hero’s downfall in the infamous “window scene.”

Conrad

Another of Don John’s followers, entirely devoted to him.

Dogberry

The constable in charge of the Watch, or chief policeman, of Messina. Dogberry is sincere in his job but tends to use exactly the wrong word to convey his meaning. His speech, oddly formal for a man of his position, is an occasion for parody.

Verges

He is Dogberry’s deputy.

Antonio

The elder brother of Leonato and Beatrice’s father.

Balthasar

He is a musician who is also the waiting man at Leonato’s household. Balthasar flirts with Margaret at the masked party and helps Leonato, Claudio, and Don Pedro trick Benedick to fall in love with Beatrice.

Friar Francis

He is the friar who is supposed to officiate Hero and Claudio’s wedding. Friar Francis comes up with the idea to hide Hero after her denunciation, pretending she is dead.