Much Ado About Nothing - Act One

Within the first few lines of the play, we are given an idea of the story leading up to this point as if it is written 'In Media Res'.  We are told about how the men are returning from war, giving a happy, uplifted mood. At this point we are also given a strong indication of Benedick and Beatrice's ever growing conflicts through the things that Beatrice is saying behind his back.  For example, she implies that he isn't at all brave by saying 'But how many hath he killed? For I promised to eat all of his killing', she has promised to eat anyone he has killed, assuming that he won't kill anyone.

The first part of Act One also contains some other humorous elements, for example half way through scene one, when Benedick and Beatrice argue, some of the insults they they use are quite comical.  'You are a rare parrot teacher' (Benedick is accusing Beatrice of copying everything he is saying) is a good example of this.

However in Scene 3, the mood begins to turn sour due to the entrance of Don John. He and his companion (Conrad) begin to talk about the fact that Don John is a bastard child, and phrases like 'Therefore I have decreed not to sing in my cage' give the impression that Don John is resigning to this fact.  Once Borachio has entered with news of Hero and Claudio's marriage, we see that Don John is planning to cause trouble before their wedding, and that he has enlisted Conrad and Borachio to help him.  This is a large difference to the cheerful, comical mood of earlier in the act.