What makes a Shakespeare comedy identifiable if the
genre is not distinct from the Shakespeare tragedies and histories?
This is an ongoing area of debate, but many believe
that the comedies share certain characteristics, as described below:
Comedy
through language: Shakespeare communicated his
comedy through language and his comedy plays are peppered with clever
word play, metaphors and insults.
- Act 1- scene 1 Shipwreck
- Act 2- Conversation between Caliban and Prospero
Love: The
theme of love is prevalent in every Shakespeare comedy. Often, we are presented
with sets of lovers who, through the course of the play, overcome the obstacles
in their relationship and unite.
Complex
plots: The plot line of a Shakespeare comedy contains
more twists and turns than his tragedies and histories. Although the plots are
convoluted, they do follow similar patterns. For example, the climax of the
play always occurs in the third act and the final scene has a celebratory feel
when the lovers finally declare their love for each other.
Mistaken
identities: The plot is often driven by mistaken
identity. Sometimes this is an intentional part of a villain’s plot, as
in Much Ado About Nothing when Don John tricks Claudio into believing
that his fiancé has been unfaithful through mistaken identity.
Characters also play scenes in disguise and it is
not uncommon for female characters to disguise themselves as male characters.