Don Pedro

Play

Much Ado About Nothing

Summary

Don Pedro, Prince of Aragon, is the genial military commander who arrives in Messina after a successful campaign, bringing with him his soldiers Benedick and Claudio and his illegitimate brother Don John. Charming, generous, and socially adept, he acts as the play's master of ceremonies and matchmaker — wooing Hero on Claudio's behalf and orchestrating the gulling of both Beatrice and Benedick. Though a sympathetic authority figure, he is too easily deceived by Don John's slander of Hero, and his credulity enables the play's near-tragedy.

Notable Quotations

"I will teach you how to humour your cousin, that she shall fall in love with Benedick; and I, with your two helps, will so practise on Benedick that, in despite of his quick wit and his queasy stomach, he shall fall in love with Beatrice." *(II.i)*

Cross-references

• Much Ado About Nothing — the play
• Comedies — genre
• character_benedick — his valued friend and soldier
• character_claudio_muchadov — the young soldier he sponsors in love
• character_beatrice — whom he orchestrates into love via the gulling plot
• character_leonato — his host in Messina