# Scene II explained — Much Ado About Nothing

> Chapter companion for Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare.

## What happens

Don John and Borachio conspire to ruin Claudio and Hero's marriage by making Hero appear unfaithful, planning to use Borachio's relationship with Margaret to stage a false scene at Hero's chamber window.

## Themes in this chapter

### Deception and Mistaken Identity

Borachio plans to deceive Claudio and Don Pedro by making Margaret appear as Hero at the window.

### Honor and Shame

Don John exploits Claudio's honor and Hero's reputation to cause public shame.

## Character check-ins

### Don John

Plots to thwart Claudio's marriage out of spite and displeasure.

### Borachio

Devises the scheme to frame Hero using Margaret and a nighttime deception.

### Claudio

Target of Don John's plot; his intended marriage to Hero is to be sabotaged.

### Hero

Innocent victim of the conspiracy, to be falsely accused of disloyalty.

### Margaret

Borachio's romantic interest, unwittingly used in the plot to impersonate Hero.

## Key lines

> Any bar, any cross, any impediment will be medicinable to me: I am sick in displeasure to him, and whatsoever comes athwart his affection ranges evenly with mine.

Anything that obstructs Claudio's happiness will cure my own ill will toward him.

_Don John expresses his malicious intent to disrupt Claudio's marriage._

> Proof enough to misuse the prince, to vex Claudio, to undo Hero and kill Leonato.

We'll have enough evidence to deceive Don Pedro, anger Claudio, ruin Hero, and devastate Leonato.

_Borachio outlines the destructive consequences of their plot._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/much_ado_about_nothing_se/chapters/act-ii-scene-ii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/much_ado_about_nothing_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/much_ado_about_nothing_se/chapters