Mitarai Digital Folio

Much Ado About Nothing, Act 1

384Lines 3Scenes 11Speakers 87% / 13%Male / Female Lines

Act 1 of Much Ado About Nothing runs 384 lines across 3 scenes, carrying about 14.9% of the play’s total dialogue with 11 named speakers. It’s shorter than the play’s average act (517 lines).

Act opens (Scene 1, Leonato): “I learn in this letter that Don Peter of Arragon”

Act closes (Scene 3, Borachio): “We'll wait upon your lordship.”

The 3 scenes of Act 1

Scene Lines Speakers Share of act
Scene 1 294 8 76.6%
Scene 2 24 2 6.3%
Scene 3 66 3 17.2%

Who speaks in Act 1

The leading voice is Benedick with 23% of Act 1’s dialogue (88 lines).

Character Lines in act Share
Benedick 88 22.9%
Don Pedro 61 15.9%
Beatrice 50 13.0%
Don John 41 10.7%
Leonato 41 10.7%
Claudio 36 9.4%
Messenger 26 6.8%

About Act 1 of Much Ado About Nothing

How many lines are in Act 1 of Much Ado About Nothing?

384 lines spread across 3 scenes.

Who dominates Act 1?

Benedick delivers 23% of the act’s dialogue (88 lines).