Before the play begins, Don Pedro and his troops have re-supplied with Leonato of Messina on their way to engage Don Pedro’s rebellious brother Don John in battle. In Act 1, Scene 1, we learn they have been victorious with very few losses, and are once again invited by Leonato to stay with him before returning home. The sharp-witted Beatrice and Benedick renew their prickly relationship, while Leonato’s daughter Hero and the much decorated Claudio fall in love. With Don Pedro’s assistance, and despite Don John’s meddling, a marriage date for Claudio and Hero is set. Don Pedro then plans that the week before the marriage is to be spent tricking Beatrice and Benedick into falling in love.
The nasty and disenchanted Don John hates Claudio and wants to ruin the intended marriage. With the help of Borachio, Claudio is led to believe that Hero has been unfaithful to him.
Deeply hurt, he denounces her at the altar. Friar Francis hatches a plan that might restore Hero’s virtue by pretending that she has died. Beatrice then persuades Benedick to challenge Claudio to a duel.
