Comment on the theme of noting in Much Ado About Nothing.

Actually, noting is incredibly important, especially since
apparently in Shakespeare's time, the "nothing" of the title would have been pronounced
as "noting." This helps highlights the way in which noting, or spying and eavesdropping,
play a massively important role in the play. This play is one in which the plot and its
complications (and resolution) are driven by various things that are noted, sometimes
mistakenly, and some times correctly, by various
characters.

Consider Borachio who "notes" the conversation
of Don Pedro and Claudio and the way that Don Pedro and Claudio "note" the liaison of
Margaret and Borachio, being made to think that they are Hero and a lover. Likewise, the
stratagem of Don Pedro to bring Benedick and Beatrice together depends on both of them
eavesdropping on a conversation that is being deliberately staged for
them.

Remember too that during the ball scene of Act II,
scene 1 Hero is wooed by Don Pedro from behind a mask, and whilst he is doing this, both
Claudio and Don John and Borachio are "noting" what is going on, and all it takes is a
few words from Don John to deceive Claudio into believing that Don Pedro's attentions
are not what they seem.

Lastly you might want to think
about how the transformation in Beatrice and Benedick is noted by their friends as they
begin to fall in love, but how both rigorously try to pass off their symptoms as being
an illness. Noting is something that is a constant theme throughout the play and is used
to engineer and generate the main conflicts and humour in the
play.