A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

Lysander loves Hermia, and Hermia loves Lysander. Helena loves Demetrius;
Demetrius used to love Helena but now loves Hermia. Egeus, Hermia's father, prefers
Demetrius as a suitor, and enlists the aid of Theseus, the Duke of Athens, to enforce his
wishes upon his daughter. According to Athenian law, Hermia is given four days to
choose between Demetrius, life in a nunnery, or a death sentence. Hermia, ever defiant,
chooses to escape with Lysander into the surrounding forest.

Complications arise in the forest. Oberon and Titania, King and Queen of Fairies, are
locked in a dispute over a boy whom Titania has adopted. Oberon instructs his servant
Puck to bring him magic love drops, which Oberon will sprinkle on the Queen's eyelids
as she sleeps, whereupon Titania will fall in love with the first creature she sees upon
awakening. Meanwhile, Helena and Demetrius have also fled into the woods after
Lysander and Hermia. Oberon, overhearing Demetrius's denouncement of Helena,
takes pity upon her and tells Puck to place the magic drops upon the eyelids of
Demetrius as well, so that Demetrius may fall in love with Helena. Puck, however,
makes the mistake of putting the drops on the eyelids of Lysander instead. Helena
stumbles over Lysander in the forest, and the spell is cast; Lysander now desires
Helena and renounces a stunned Hermia.

In the midst of this chaos, a group of craftsmen are rehearsing for a production of
"Pyramus and Thisbe," to be played for the Duke at his wedding. Puck impishly casts a
spell on Bottom to give him the head of a donkey. Bottom, as luck would have it, is the
first thing Titania sees when she awakens; hence, Bottom ends up being lavishly kept
by the Queen. Oberon enjoys this sport, but is less amused when it becomes apparent
that Puck has botched up the attempt to unite Demetrius and Helena. Oberon himself
anoints Demetrius with the love potion and ensures that Helena is the first person he
sees; however, Helena understandably feels that she is now being mocked by both
Demetrius and Lysander (who is still magically enamored of her).

Finally, Oberon decides that all good sports must come to an end. He puts the four
lovers to sleep and gives Lysander the antidote for the love potion so that he will love
Hermia again when they all wake up. Next, Oberon gives Titania the antidote, and the
King and Queen reconcile. Theseus and Hippolyta then discover Lysander, Hermia,
Helena, and Demetrius asleep in the forest. All return to Athens to make sense of what
they think is a strange dream. Likewise, Bottom returns to his players, and they perform
"Pyramus and Thisbe" at the wedding feast (which has since become a wedding of
three couples). As everyone retires, fairies perform their blessings and Puck delivers a
tender epilogue soliloquy.
 SUMMARY OF MERCHANT OF VENICE
A fortuneless nobleman, Bassanio, asks for a loan from the merchant Antonio so
that he can pursue Portia, a wealthy heiress, in order to restore his fortune. Since
the merchant has all his assets tied up with ships that at sea, he tells Bassanio
he will use his credit to obtain a loan from the Jew Shylock. Because Shylock
fiercely hates Antonio, he latches on to the opportunity to get revenge; he agrees
to loan Antonio the money. But, if Antonio does not repay this loan, Shylock will
get a pound of flesh as payment from him.

With the money he needs, Bassanio pursues Portia, and he selects the casket
(small box) that allows him to marry her. But, in the meantime, Shylock's
daughter runs off with a Christian, converts, and steals her late mothers jewels.
The avaricious and offended Shylock is enraged by this; he vows to exact the
flesh from Antonio, who is unable to pay the loan because his ships are lost at
sea. When Portia learns from Bassanio of Antonio's plight, she disguises herself
as a doctor of law and, with her servant Nerissa dressed as a law clerk, Portia
appears at court on Antonio's behalf where Shylock demands of the Duke,

I have possessed your grace of what I purpose

And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn
To have the due and forfeit of my bond" (4.1.34-36).

Portia's speech before the court is clearly a statement of theme for this drama:

The quality of mercy is not strain'd;

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest; it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown. (4.1.186-192)

While it seems that Portia goes along with the sentencing, when Shylock takes
steps to cut off his pound of flesh, Portia/the doctor of law points out that there
was no provision in the conditions for Antonio's blood, so Shylock can only have
flesh--no blood. Defeated, Shylock is further humiliated as he is made to convert
to Christianity. Antonio's ships finally arrive and the lovers, Bassanio and Portia,
are married.
 SUMMARY OF MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

Leonato, a kindly, respectable nobleman, lives in the idyllic Italian town of

Messina. Leonato shares his house with his lovely young daughter, Hero, his
playful, clever niece, Beatrice, and his elderly brother, Antonio (who is Beatrice's
father). As the play begins, Leonato prepares to welcome some friends home
from a war. The friends include Don Pedro, a prince who is a close friend of
Leonato, and two fellow soldiers: Claudio, a well-respected young nobleman, and
Benedick, a clever man who constantly makes witty jokes, often at the expense
of his friends. Don John, Don Pedros illegitimate brother, is part of the crowd as
well. Don John is sullen and bitter, and makes trouble for the others. When the
soldiers arrive at Leonatos home, Claudio quickly falls in love with Hero.
Meanwhile, Benedick and Beatrice resume the war of witty insults that they have
carried on with each other in the past. Claudio and Hero pledge their love to one
another and decide to be married. To pass the time in the week before the
wedding, the lovers and their friends decide to play a game. They want to get
Beatrice and Benedick, who are clearly meant for each other, to stop arguing and
fall in love. Their tricks prove successful, and Beatrice and Benedick soon fall
secretly in love with each other.

But Don John has decided to disrupt everyones happiness. He has his
companion Borachio make love to Margaret, Heros serving woman, at Heros
window in the darkness of the night, and he brings Don Pedro and Claudio to
watch. Believing that he has seen Hero being unfaithful to him, the enraged
Claudio humiliates Hero by suddenly accusing her of lechery on the day of their
wedding and abandoning her at the altar. Heros stricken family members decide
to pretend that she died suddenly of shock and grief and to hide her away while
they wait for the truth about her innocence to come to light. In the aftermath of
the rejection, Benedick and Beatrice finally confess their love to one another.
Fortunately, the night watchmen overhear Borachio bragging about his crime.
Dogberry and Verges, the heads of the local police, ultimately arrest both
Borachio and Conrad, another of Don Johns followers. Everyone learns that
Hero is really innocent, and Claudio, who believes she is dead, grieves for her.

Leonato tells Claudio that, as punishment, he wants Claudio to tell everybody in

the city how innocent Hero was. He also wants Claudio to marry Leonatos
niecea girl who, he says, looks much like the dead Hero. Claudio goes to
church with the others, preparing to marry the mysterious, masked woman he
thinks is Heros cousin. When Hero reveals herself as the masked woman,
Claudio is overwhelmed with joy. Benedick then asks Beatrice if she will marry
him, and after some arguing they agree. The joyful lovers all have a merry dance
before they celebrate their double wedding.
TWELFTH NIGHT; OR, WHAT YOU WILL
Viola has been shipwrecked in a violent storm off the coast of Illyria; in the process she
has lost her twin brother, Sebastian. She disguises herself as a boy and assumes the
name Cesario for protection. Thus disguised, Viola becomes a page in the service of
Orsino, the Duke. It seems that Orsino is having little luck courting Olivia, who is in
mourning for the deaths of her father and brother. As Orsino's proxy, Viola is sent to
Olivia with love letters. Viola refuses to budge until she is let in to see Olivia; Olivia,
intrigued by the impudent young "boy," contrives to get "Cesario" to return by sending
her steward, Malvolio, after her with one of Olivia's rings. Viola realizes to her dismay
that Olivia has fallen for her Cesario rather than Duke Orsinofurther complicated by
the fact that Viola has had stirrings herself for Orsino.

In the two major subplots of the play, Sebastian (Viola's twin, presumed dead) comes
ashore in Illyria thinking that Viola has drowned in the shipwreck. A man named Antonio
rescued him from the surf, and continues to aid himat some risk to himself, as Antonio
fought against the Duke at one time. Meanwhile, in Olivia's house, Sir Toby Belch (her
uncle) has hoodwinked a foppish Sir Andrew Aguecheek into supporting him by
convincing him that he could be a suitor to Olivia. There is a running feud between
Malvolio and Belch; with the help of Maria, Olivia's maid, and Feste, a clown, Belch
plots to make a buffoon of the steward. Maria writes a love letter to Malvolio that will
make him think Olivia has fallen for him.

Malvolio falls entirely for the sport, which eventually leads to his confinement as a
madman. All the while, Belch is egging Sir Andrew into a duel with Viola's "Cesario"
character as she departs from Olivia; Olivia is now entirely smitten with Cesario, even
though Viola continues to press Orsino's cause. As Viola and Sir Andrew prepare for a
duel that neither one wants, Antonio happens upon the scene. Believing Viola to be
Sebastian, he intervenes and is arrested. Viola, of course, does not recognize Antonio.
Later, Belch and Sir Andrew encounter Sebastian, who doesn't back down from
Aguecheek when challenged and resoundingly beats him. Olivia intervenes in the
matter, andmistaking Sebastian for Viola/Cesariopresses her suit for him. A
bemused Sebastian agrees to marry her.

Antonio is brought before the Duke for questioning, and Viola relates the events of the
duel. Antonio tells everyone how he dragged "this man" from the surf, saving his life.
Then Olivia enters, searching for her new husbandwhich she thinks is Viola (as
Cesario). Adding to this confusion, Belch and Aguecheek enter claiming that
Viola/Cesario has violently assaulted them. In the midst of Viola's denials, Sebastian
appears. The brother and sister recognize one another and are reunited; Sebastian
helps to clear the confusion as to who fought and married who. At the end, Orsino and
Viola pledge their love, Olivia and Sebastian will remain satisfactorily wed, and Olivia
rebukes Belch and Maria for their abuse of Malvolio, who vows his revenge upon the
whole lot. Belch agrees to wed Maria to make up for getting her in trouble, and all
except the disgruntled Malvoliowill apparently live happily ever after
 SUMMARY OF HAMLET
Prince Hamlets student friend, Horatio, goes to the battlements of Denmarks Elsinore
castle late at night to meet the guards. They tell him about a ghost they have seen that
resembles the late king, Hamlet. It reappears and they decide to tell the prince.
Hamlets uncle, Claudius, having become king, has now married Hamlets widowed
mother, Gertrude.

In the court, after envoys are sent to Norway, the prince is dissuaded from returning to
university. Hamlet still mourns his fathers death and hearing of the ghost from Horatio
he determines to see it for himself. Laertes, son of the courtier, Polonius, departs for
France, warning his sister, Ophelia, against thinking too much of Hamlets attentions.

The ghost appears to Hamlet and tells him that he was murdered by Claudius. The
prince swears vengeance and his friends are sworn to secrecy as Hamlet decides to
feign madness while he tests the truth of the ghosts allegations. He rejects Ophelia, as
Claudius and Polonius spy on him seeking to find a reason for his sudden strange
behaviour. Guildenstern and Rosencrantz, former student friends of Hamlet, are
summoned by Claudius and their arrival coincides with that of a group of travelling
actors. The prince knows these players well and they rehearse together before
arranging to present Hamlets choice of play before the king and queen, which will
include scenes close to the circumstances of the old kings death. At the performance
Hamlet watches closely as Claudius is provoked into interrupting the play
and storming out, resolving to send the prince away to England. Hamlet is summoned
by his distressed mother and, on the way he spares Claudius whom he sees kneeling,
attempting to pray. To kill him while he is praying would send his soul to heaven rather
than to the hell he deserves.

Polonius hides in Gertrudes room to listen to the conversation, but Hamlet detects
movement as he upbraids his mother. He stabs the concealing tapestry and so kills the
old man. The ghost reappears, warning his son not to delay revenge, nor to upset his
mother.
As the army of Norways King Fortinbras crosses Denmark to attack Poland, Hamlet is
sent to England, ostensibly as an ambassador, but he discovers Claudiuss plan to have
him killed. Outwitting this plot Hamlet returns alone, sending Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern to their deaths in his stead. During Hamlets absence Ophelia goes mad
as a result of her fathers death and she is drowned.

Hamlet returns and meets Horatio in the graveyard. With the arrival of Ophelias funeral
Hamlet confronts Laertes who, after attempting a revolt against Claudius, has taken his
fathers place at the court. A duel is arranged between Hamlet and Laertes at which
Claudius has plotted for Hamlet to die either on a poisoned rapier, or from poisoned
wine. The plans go wrong and both Laertes and Hamlet are wounded, while Gertrude
unwittingly drinks from the poisoned cup. Hamlet, in his death throes, kills Claudius, and
Horatio is left to explain the truth to the new king, Fortinbras, who returns, victorious,
from the Polish wars.
 King Lear: Plot Summary
The story opens in ancient Britain, where the elderly King Lear is deciding to give up his power
and divide his realm amongst his three daughters, Cordelia, Regan, and Goneril. Lear's plan is
to give the largest piece of his kingdom to the child who professes to love him the most, certain
that his favorite daughter, Cordelia, will win the challenge. Goneril and Regan, corrupt and
deceitful, lie to their father with sappy and excessive declarations of affection. Cordelia,
however, refuses to engage in Lear's game, and replies simply that she loves him as a daughter
should. Her lackluster retort, despite its sincerity, enrages Lear, and he disowns Cordelia
completely. When Lear's dear friend, the Earl of Kent, tries to speak on Cordelia's behalf, Lear
banishes him from the kingdom.

Meanwhile, the King of France, present at court and overwhelmed by Cordelia's honesty and
virtue, asks for her hand in marriage, despite her loss of a sizable dowry. Cordelia accepts the
King of France's proposal, and reluctantly leaves Lear with her two cunning sisters. Kent,
although banished by Lear, remains to try to protect the unwitting King from the evils of his two
remaining children. He disguises himself and takes a job as Lear's servant. Now that Lear has
turned over all his wealth and land to Regan and Goneril, their true natures surface at once.
Lear and his few companions, including some knights, a fool, and the disguised Kent, go to live
with Goneril, but she reveals that she plans to treat him like the old man he is while he is under
her roof. So Lear decides to stay instead with his other daughter, and he sends Kent ahead to
deliver a letter to Regan, preparing her for his arrival. However, when Lear arrives at Regan's
castle, he is horrified to see that Kent has been placed in stocks. Kent is soon set free, but
before Lear can uncover who placed his servant in the stocks, Goneril arrives, and Lear realizes
that Regan is conspiring with her sister against him.

Gloucester arrives back at Regan's castle in time to hear that the two sisters are planning to
murder the King. He rushes away immediately to warn Kent to send Lear to Dover, where they
will find protection. Kent, Lear, and the Fool leave at once, while Edgar remains behind in the
shadows. Sadly, Regan and Goneril discover Gloucester has warned Lear of their plot, and
Cornwall, Regan's husband, gouges out Gloucester's eyes. A servant tries to help Gloucester
and attacks Cornwall with a sword a blow later to prove fatal.

News arrives that Cordelia has raised an army of French troops that have landed at Dover.
Regan and Goneril ready their troops to fight and they head to Dover. Meanwhile, Kent has
heard the news of Cordelia's return, and sets off with Lear hoping that father and daughter can
be reunited. Gloucester too tries to make his way to Dover, and on the way, finds his own lost
son, Edgar.

Tired from his ordeal, Lear sleeps through the battle between Cordelia and her sisters. When
Lear awakes he is told that Cordelia has been defeated. Lear takes the news well, thinking that
he will be jailed with his beloved Cordelia away from his evil offspring. However, the orders
have come, not for Cordelia's imprisonment, but for her death.

Despite their victory, the evil natures of Goneril and Regan soon destroy them. Both in love with
Gloucester's conniving son, Edmund (who gave the order for Cordelia to be executed), Goneril
poisons Regan. But when Goneril discovers that Edmund has been fatally wounded by Edgar,
Goneril kills herself as well.
As Edmund takes his last breath he repents and the order to execute Cordelia is reversed. But
the reversal comes too late and Cordelia is hanged. Lear appears, carrying the body of Cordelia
in his arms. Mad with grief, Lear bends over Cordelia's body, looking for a sign of life. The strain
overcomes Lear and he falls dead on top of his daughter. Kent declares that he will follow his
master into the afterlife and the noble Edgar becomes the ruler of Britain.

SUMMARY OF OTHELLO
In the opening scene, Iago complains to Roderigo that Othello, his Commander, has
passed him over to promote the handsome young Cassio to be his Lieutenant. He vows
to get revenge. Iago first asks Roderigo to tell Desdemonas father, Brabantio, that his
daughter has left to marry Othello, a marriage Brabantio opposes because Othello is a
Moor. Brabantio confronts Othello, and they take their argument to the Duke, who has
summoned Othello to ask him to sail to Cyprus to stop a Turkish invasion. Convinced
by Othello and Desdemona that they love each other deeply despite their differences,
the Duke gives Desdemona permission to travel with Othello. By the time they reach
Cyprus the foreign threat has gone.

Iago manipulates Cassio to make him drunk and gets Roderigo to draw him into a street
fight. Iago has his revenge on Cassio when Othello strips Cassio of his rank for
misbehavior. Then Iago decides to make Othello believe his wife is unfaithful. He
encourages Cassio to ask Desdemona to plead with Othello to be reinstated. Iago
suggests to Othello that Desdemona is Cassios lover. Trusting Iago, and mad with
jealousy, Othello promotes Iago and asks Iago to help him kill Cassio and Desdemona.

Iago plants Desdemonas handkerchief in Cassios room. Cassio gives it to his mistress,
Bianca. Othello believes Biancas possession of the handkerchief is proof that
Desdemona and Cassio are lovers. He verbally abuses his wife in front of others, who
are shocked at the change in the noble and powerful man.

Iago has manipulated Roderigo into trying to kill Cassio. The attempt goes wrong, and
Cassio wounds Roderigo; Iago stabs Cassio in the leg. Othello hears Cassio cry out
and thinks Iago has killed him. He returns home, ready to kill Desdemona. Meanwhile,
Iago finds the wounded Cassio and accuses Bianca of causing Cassios injury. Iago
quietly kills Roderigo and sends Emilia (Iagos wife) to Desdemona with news of what
has happened.

Othello reaches the sleeping Desdemona first. He kisses her, wakes her, and accuses
her again. Over her protests that she loves him and is innocent, he smothers her. Emilia
enters and Desdemona revives for a moment, declaring herself guiltless but saying, as
she dies, that Othello is innocent of her death. Iago and others enter, and Emilia
defends Desdemonas innocence, recognizing that Iago is behind the
tragedy.Othello sees the truth and tries to kill Iago. Iago kills Emilia and
flees; Othellocondemns himself and commits suicide. Iago is seized and taken away.
 SUMMARY OF MACBETH
King Duncans generals, Macbeth and Banquo, encounter three strange women on a
bleak Scottish moorland on their way home from quelling a rebellion. The women
prophesy that Macbeth will be given the title of Thane of Cawdor and then become King
of Scotland, while Banquos heirs shall be kings. The generals want to hear more but
the weird sisters disappear. Duncan creates Macbeth Thane of Cawdor in thanks for his
success in the recent battles and then proposes to make a brief visit to Macbeths
castle.

Lady Macbeth receives news from her husband of the prophecy and his new title and
she vows to help him become king by any means she can. Macbeths return is followed
almost at once by Duncans arrival. The Macbeths plot together and later that night,
while all are sleeping and after his wife has given the guards drugged wine, Macbeth
kills the King and his guards. Lady Macbeth leaves the bloody daggers beside the dead
king. Macduff arrives and when the murder is discovered Duncans sons, Malcolm and
Donalbain flee, fearing for their lives, but they are nevertheless blamed for the murder.

Macbeth is elected King of Scotland, but is plagued by feelings of guilt and insecurity.
He arranges for Banquo and his son, Fleance to be killed, but the boy escapes the
murderers. At a celebratory banquet Macbeth sees the ghost of Banquo and disconcerts
the courtiers with his strange manner. Lady Macbeth tries to calm him but is rejected.

Macbeth seeks out the witches and learns from them that he will be safe until Birnam
Wood comes to his castle, Dunsinane. They tell him that he need fear no-one born of
woman, but also that the Scottish succession will come from Banquos son. Macbeth
embarks on a reign of terror and many, including Macduffs family are murdered, while
Macduff himself has gone to join Malcolm at the court of the English king, Edward.
Malcolm and Macduff decide to lead an army against Macbeth.

Macbeth feels safe in his remote castle at Dunsinane until he is told that Birnam Wood
is moving towards him. The situation is that Malcolms army is carrying branches from
the forest as camouflage for their assault on the castle. Meanwhile Lady Macbeth,
paralysed with guilt, walks in her sleep and gives away her secrets to a listening doctor.
She kills herself as the final battle commences.

Macduff challenges Macbeth who, on learning his adversary is

the child of a Ceasarian birth, realises he is doomed. Macduff triumphs and brings the
head of the traitor to Malcolm who declares peace and is crowned king
KING LEAR

King Lear prepares to divide his kingdom among his three daughters, with the largest
portion going to the daughter who best expresses her devotion to him.Cordelias honest
speech results in her banishment. The impressed King of France marries her. Deceitful
daughters Goneril and Regan inherit Lears kingdom.Goneril and Regan treat Lear
cruelly. The Earl of Gloucesters bastard son Edmund conspires against his legitimate
brother Edgar and turns his father against Edgar.Gloucester and faithful adviser Kent try
to help Lear, for which Gloucester is blinded by Regans husband, who dies as a result.
Cordelia arrives with the French army to help her father.The French are defeated.
Gloucester, Edmund, Cordelia, Lear, Goneril, and Regan die. Albany or Edgar will
become king.

MACBETH

Macbeth is a play of contradiction and ambition. Driven to becoming King, Macbeth will
kill all and any that get in his way. He puts his faith in the words and prophesies of three
witches, after their first one (that he will become Thane of Cawdor) comes through.
Macbeth's wife, Lady Macbeth, is instrumental is Macbeth's ambition, egging him on
when he fears he has gone to far, and scheming of greatness.Mcduff kills Mcbeth

OTHELLO

Othello promotes the Michael Cassio to the position of personal lieutenant and Iago is
deadly jealous. Iago begins an evil and malicious campaign against the hero. Othello
elopes with Desdemona but Iago starts to plot against them. Othello becomes jealous
and suspicious of Desdemona. He confides in Iago that he plans to poison Desdemona.
Plots and murders ensue and Othello returns to the castle to kill his innocent wife. He
eventually smothers her to death.
Emilia tells Othello the truth about the scheming Iago. Othello wounds Iago, then kills
himself. Iago kills Emilia.

HAMLET

Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, is visited by the ghost of his father and told that his uncle
Claudius, who is now King, was responsible for his murder. Hamlet is torn about trying
to avenge him, and ends up pretending to be insane. He hires actors to do a play about
a man who kills his brother to become king to see Claudius' reaction. Hamlet confirms
that Claudius was responsible, ends up being abusive to his mother Gertrude for
shacking up with the murderer of his father, and murders his girlfriend Ophelia's dad
thinking that it's Claudius. Ophelia goes insane from having her boyfriend kill her dad
and dies. Her brother Laertes is pissed and is convinced by Claudius to kill Hamlet. The
two duel, and both are fatally injured. Gertrude accidentally drinks the poison that
Claudius had prepared for Hamlet and dies. Hamlet manages to kill Claudius before
finally dying.
TWELFTH NIGHT

Orsino, the Duke of Illyria, attempts to woo the Countess Olivia. The shipwrecked Viola
disguises herself as a man, takes on the name Cesario, and enters the Dukes service.
Cesario falls in love with the Duke and Olivia falls in love with Cesario.

Maria, Olivias servant, plays a trick on Malvolio, Olivias steward, by leaving him love
letters purportedly written by Olivia. Malvolio makes a fool of himself as he is led to believe
that Olivia loves him.

The Duke asks Cesario to woo Olivia for him, but Olivia confesses her love for Cesario. Sir
Andrew, another of Olivias suitors, challenges Cesario to a fight but Cesario declines the
invitation.

Sebastian, Violas twin brother, is also shipwrecked. Olivia mistakes Sebastian for Cesario
and leads him to marriage.

Cesario is revealed to be Viola. The Duke asks Viola to marry him and Sir Toby marries
Maria.

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING

To help Claudio woo the lovely Hero, Don Pedro disguises himself as Claudio and wins
Heros hand in marriage.

Benedick and Beatrice are opposed to marriage. They engage in intellectual sparring. Don
Pedro tries to bring them together in matrimony by convincing both of them that the other
suffers from unrequited love.

Don John attempts to cause disharmony, first by arousing Claudios suspicion that Don
Pedro will keep Hero for himself and then by creating an elaborate plan to demonstrate that
Hero is unfaithful.

When Claudio accuses Hero of infidelity, she swoons and appears dead. Claudio later
learns of his error and regrets accusing Hero. He reluctantly agrees to marry Leonatos
niece.

In the end, the confusion is cleared and Claudio marries Hero, and Benedick marries
Beatrice. Don John is captured and brought to justice