How the characters in Much Ado About Nothing learn to loveThe title of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing has sparked scholarly debate about its meaning for years centuries. Some say it is a play on the term “note,” revolving around the theme of all kinds of deception in all kinds of guises (Rossiter 163). Others claim it has more to do with everyone making a big deal about things that turn out to be false, hence nothing (Vaughn 102). Regardless of these speculations, there is something quite profound happening in the play that is worth talking about: four characters in the play learn about love and, ultimately, how to love. The four characters who learn the art of love are Beatrice, Benedick, Claudio and Hero. From the first viewing/reading of the play, Claudio and Hero seem to be the center of attention. However, looking deeper into the whole play, and/or if you read studies of Much Ado About Nothing, the real fascinating plot involves Beatrice and Benedick. The main difference between these two couples is how they learn the art of love. At the beginning of the play, Claudio is the first among all the lovers to express his affection for someone else; however, he seems to have the weakest understanding of the concept of love compared to everyone else. Claudio hints at his growing feelings for Hero when he asks Benedick what he thinks of her (Ii161). Benedick, who despises marriage, is of little help to Claudio. However, he manages to get the reason for his investigation out of Claudio: “In my eyes, she is the sweetest woman I have ever seen” (II188). This first glimpse of Claudio's heart reveals above all a superficiality. His first words...... middle of paper ......Identity and masculinity in Much Ado About Nothing » Upstart Crow 16, (1996): 31-47. Much Ado About Nothing. Directed by Kenneth Branagh. Samuel Goldwyn Company and Renaissance Films, 1993. Much Ado About Nothing. The Riverside Shakespeare, 2nd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1997. 366-398. Prouty, Charles A. The sources of much ado about nothing. New York: Books for Libraries Press/Yale University Press, 1950. Ranald, Margaret Loftus. ““As marriage binds and blood breaks”: English marriage and Shakespeare” Shakespeare Quarterly 30, (1979): 68-81.Rossiter, AP “Much ado about nothing”. Comedies and romances of William Shakespeare. Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1986. Vaughn, The Comedies of Jack A. Shakespeare. New York: Frederick Ungar Publishing Company, 1980