Summary

In Act One, the first scene depicts Don Pedro, Claudio, and Benedick returning from the war. Leonato, an Italian aristocrat, awaits them with his daughter, Hero, and his niece, Beatrice. Beatrice has a romantic history with Benedick. When they meet up, much verbal sparring takes place as they tease each other. Meanwhile, Claudio, seeing Hero for the first time, falls in love with her gentle nature and beauty. After Leonato's party departs, Claudio despairs of seducing Hero, but Don Pedro offers to help him by taking Claudio's place at the upcoming masked ball. In effect, this is seducing Hero for Claudio. However, a twist comes in the second scene when Antonio talks to his brother Leonato, warning him that one of his servants overheard the conversation between Claudio and Don Pedro. But, the servant had misunderstood; the same is true for Antonio, The servant...