Much Ado About Nothing: Act 5, Scene 1 - Climax of the EndingsA particular section of Act 5, Scene 1, could be considered the denouement of the play Much Ado About Nothing. It is perhaps more accurate to speak of the climax of the endings: at its conclusion, all that remains for the play is a happy ending. It is here that the attacker is exposed before all interested male parties, and here that Leonato can be assured that his belief in Hero's innocence was justified - and perhaps more importantly, that she can be considered as justified: armed with Borachio's confession, and the half-acceptance of Claudio and Don Pedro's guilt, he tells them to "Have the people of Messina here, as she died innocent" (l. 282-283). This continues the play's concern with appearances and reality, the nature of truth and evidence: it seems that the revelation of Don John's deception, although accepted by all concerned, only counts if it is publicly displayed - even executed, as Claudio is told to ...