Shakespeare’s comedies

Elina Netšajeva 11a

The plays of William Shakespeare were grouped into:

• Comedies • Histories • Tragedies

Comedy:

• Is set in an imaginary country (Illyria) • Is similar to a fairy-tale • Characters are true to life

• In Shakespeare’s comedies female heroines are usually more important than male heroes • But in Shakespearian time men played all the roles even female ones • In characters we can see many mistakes and faults

The two most important motives in comedy: 1. Right of an individual to free choice of love 2. Contrast between the appearance and reality

• Shakespeare’s comedies are accompanied by music and sometimes actors play music instruments by themselves • Songs are often sung by a jester or a fool; parallel the events of the plot.

The main theme in Shakespeare’s comedies is:

• Romantic love • Friendship

Themes

• A struggle of old haters to overcome difficulty, often presented by young people • Separation and re-unification • Mistaken identities • A clever servant • Heightened tensions, often within a couple • One, intertwining plot • Frequent punning

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

All's Well That Ends Well As You Like It The Comedy of Errors

(is believed to be Shakespeare’s earliest comedy, written around 1592)

Cymbeline Love's Labour's Lost Measure for Measure The Merchant of Venice The Merry Wives of Windsor A Midsummer Night's Dream Much Ado About Nothing Pericles Prince of Tyre Taming of the Shrew The Tempest Twelfth Night The Two Gentlemen of Verona The Winter's Tale

Twelfth Night

• Twelfth Night is a wonderful romantic comedy which was named after the Twelfth Night Christmas holiday.

• First performed between 1599 and 1601 • Contains basic themes like: divided twins, mistaken identity, true love conquering, gender-crossing and love madness.

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Orsino

is a strong nobleman who lives in the country of Illyria. He is madly in love with the gorgeous lady Olivia.

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Viola

is a young upper-class woman and the main character of the play. She represents herself as a man ‘Cesario’ and goes to work for Orsino and falls in love.

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Olivia

is a good looking, wealthy and noble woman who lived in Illyria . Orsino was in love with her.

HAPPY END

Thank you for your attention!

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