Much Ado About Nothing Characters

Leonato

Governor of Messina. Tricked into thinking his daughter, Hero, is unfaithful to Claudio untl he realizes the truth and is reunited with her at the end of the play

Antonio

Leonato's older brother- a good hearted man

Claudio

Young lord of Florence- immature- matures by the end of the play when he is united with his beloved Hero

Don Pedro

Prince of Aragon- intelligent- happiest of all characters in the play when the deceptions by his villainous "bastard brother" Don John are revealed

Benedick

Young lord of Padua- witty, adament about nevery marrying despite the fact he is in love with Beatrice- at the ed they represent "the perfect match"

Don John

The "villain" - acknowledges his strain of evil and is obsessed with little else unless it involves making his brother, Don Pedro, unhappy

Balthasar

Attendant to Don Pedro

Borachio

Don John's accomplice

Conrade

Another of Don John's accomplices

Hero

Leonato's beautiful daughter, beloved of Claudio- scorned by him when he is tricked into thinking she is unfaithful- She wants to die and thus her "resurrection" when Claudio realizes she has be true to him all along

Beatrice

Vocal focus of the play- Wages a "merry war" with Benedick, sure that he loves her- she is right

Margaret

Hero's attendant- she is a flirt with Benedick, terrible gossip and makes love with Borachio- not a real villainess, just a simpleton

Ursula

Another attendant of Hero

Dogberry

Funny constable who fractures both logic and the English language- brings villains to justice, but by accident

Verges

Dogberry's bumbling assistant

Friar Francis

Quiet voice of goodness and sanity in the midst of all the romantic mix- up