Much Ado About Nothing - A little background

A Synopsis - this was created by a friend of mine.  Please respect her work and DO NOT share with anyone outside this class.

Written: 1598/99

Genre: Comedy

Setting:  City of Messina on Sicily, Italy. (located right where the tip of the boot and the island of Sicily appear to connect on the map below)  Messina would have reached the "peak of its splenour in the early 17th century, under Spanish domination", and was known as one of Europe's ten greatest cities at that time.  It has a very mild, climate being right on the Mediterranean Sea. Written to be a contemporary play (action takes place within the same historical time period as the author was writing).

Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon
Benedick, of Padua; companion of Don Pedro
Claudio, of Florence; a count, companion of Don Pedro, friend to Benedick
Balthasar, attendant on Don Pedro, a singer
Don John, "the Bastard Prince," brother of Don Pedro
Borachio and Conrade, followers of Don John
Leonato, governor of Messina; Hero's father
Hero, Leonato's daughter
Beatrice, niece of Leonato
Antonio, an old man, brother of Leonato
Margaret, waiting-gentlewoman attendant on Hero
Ursula, waiting-gentlewoman attendant on Hero
Friar Francis, a priest
Dogberry, the constable in charge of Messina's night watch
Verges, the Headborough, Dogberry’s partner
A Sexton, the judge of the trial of Borachio
The Watch, watchmen of Messina
A Boy, serving Benedick