Don Pedro, prince of Aragon, is visiting Messina after a victorious military engagement. With him are his friends and fellow soldiers, Claudio and Benedick, and his half-brother Don John, who betrayed the army but has recently been pardoned. The company of soldiers is greeted warmly by Leonato, governor of Messina, his charming daughter Hero, and witty niece Beatrice. Benedick and Beatrice immediately resume a long-standing “merry war” of words and Claudio and Hero move from “liking” each other to falling in love. Don Pedro promises Claudio he will bring the two young lovers together. Don John, not content to be subject to his brother’s command, resolves to cause mischief. His compatriot Borachio tells him of Don Pedro’s plan for Claudio and Hero, and Don John resolves to stop the match. At a masked ball, Don Pedro woos Hero for Claudio. His efforts are misinterpreted by Claudio, who is told by Don John that Don Pedro is interested in Hero himself. The confusion is cleared, Hero and Claudio are engaged, and the wedding is planned for the following week.
Not done matchmaking, Don Pedro, Leonato, Claudio, and Hero join forces to make Benedick and Beatrice fall in love with each other, despite their protestations against marriage. The three men stage a conversation about Beatrice’s passion for Benedick, which he overhears. Benedick is convinced and resolves to be “horribly in love” with Beatrice. A few days later, Hero and Ursula, Hero’s gentlewoman, pull a similar trick on Beatrice. They talk about Benedick’s love for Beatrice while she eavesdrops on their conversation. Beatrice, like Benedick, is chastened by the revelation and vows to return Benedick’s love.
Don John, still angry at his brother and jealous of Claudio, joins with Borachio to prevent the marriage of Claudio and Hero. Borachio has been in a relationship with Hero’s gentlewoman Margaret. The night before the wedding, they bring Claudio and Don Pedro to see a rendezvous between Borachio and Margaret, thinking Margaret is Hero. Claudio resolves to shame her before the congregation and not marry her. Later, a drunken Borachio cannot resist boasting of this adventure to Conrade. He is overheard by the members of the watch. The watchmen arrest him and Conrade, and turn them over to the constable, Dogberry, who decides to examine them before the Sexton.
The next day at the church, Claudio accuses Hero of being unchaste and refuses to marry her. She falls in a faint, and Don Pedro, Don John, and Claudio leave hastily. Beatrice and the friar who was to have performed the ceremony are certain of Hero’s innocence, while Leonato is enraged at his daughter. The friar calms Leonato and advises him to publicly report that Hero has died, a plan that is accepted. Benedick, seeing Beatrice’s distress, confesses his love for her. Beatrice asks Benedick to prove his love to her by killing Claudio, who has dishonored her cousin. Torn between loyalty to his friend and to his new love, Benedick agrees to challenge Claudio.
In the meantime, Dogberry, Verges, and the watchmen (somehow) successfully interrogate Borachio and Conrade and extract a confession. Knowing his plot has failed, Don John runs away. Dogberry and Verges report their findings to Don Pedro, Claudio, and Leonato. When Claudio learns of Don John’s treachery, he promises he will do anything to make amends. Leonato asks him to pronounce Hero’s innocence and mourn for her death. He also secures Claudio’s promise to marry his brother’s daughter.
The next morning, a disguised Hero is presented to Claudio as her cousin; but, when he takes her hand, she reveals herself and explains that she had only died while her name was dishonored. Claudio is delighted to learn his love still lives. Beatrice and Benedick are cajoled into publicly professing their love for one another and decide to get married as well. There is dancing and merriment at the double wedding.
