Benedick

A soldier and wit who swears he will never love — until he does.

Beatrice

Leonato's sharp-tongued niece, whose wit conceals a tender heart.

Claudio

Young soldier who falls for Hero and is deceived into publicly disgracing her.

Hero

Leonato's gentle daughter, falsely shamed and secretly redeemed.

Leonato

Governor of Messina and Hero's father.

Antonio

Leonato's loyal brother and Hero's staunch defender.

Don Pedro

The Prince of Aragon and architect of both the courtship and the gulling plots.

Balthasar

A gentleman musician in Don Pedro's company.

Don John

Don Pedro's bastard brother and the play's scheming villain.

Dogberry & Verges

The comic constable and deputy whose blundering accidentally saves the day.

Borachio & Conrade

Don John's henchmen — one enacts the slander of Hero, one witnesses it.

Margaret & Ursula

Hero's two gentlewomen, one an unwitting tool in the plot, one a willing ally.

Friar Francis

The friar who devises the plan to fake Hero's death and buy time for the truth.

Sexton

The town clerk who records the Watch's examination and brings the truth to Leonato.