Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy by William Shakespeare thought to
have been written in 1598 and 1599, as Shakespeare was approaching the
middle of his career. The play was included in the First Folio,
published in 1623. By means of ""noting"" (which, in Shakespeare's day,
sounded similar to ""nothing"" as in the play's title, and which means
gossip, rumour, and overhearing), Benedick and Beatrice are tricked into
confessing their love for each other, and Claudio is tricked into
rejecting Hero at the altar on the erroneous belief that she has been
unfaithful. At the end, Benedick and Beatrice join forces to set things
right, and the others join in a dance celebrating the marriages of the
two couples.