Shakespeare’s Comedies

Shakespeare’s Comedies• Whereas Tragedy focuses on the nobility of man, comedy focuses on human limitations and weaknesses in order to poke fun. As Puck said in Midsummer’s Night’s Dream, “Lord, what fools these mortals be!”

Shakespeare’s Comic Devices

Women are equal to men.

Plays always end “happily ever after,” often with

weddings.

Physical Humor and slapstick

Mistaken identity

and disguises

What do you get when you cross . . .A dog with a cantaloupe? A melon-collie baby. A dove with a high chair? A stool pigeon. A policeman with a telegram? Copper wire. A vampire with a snowman? Frostbite.

Puns and Word Play

Stock Characters Fool / Jester: Ironically, he is the most intelligent person in the play. He is able to tell the truth because everyone thinks he is a simpleton.

Stuffy, pompous character:Malvolio is satirized as an arrogant Puritan.

What is Twelfth Night?January 5: Twelve days after ChristmasEpiphany: Magi visit the Christ ChildCombine pagan holiday, Winter’s Festival

celebrating the Roman god Saturn and Celtic gods, with Christian holiday.

Lord of Misrule: symbolized world turning upside down.

King and noblemen became peasantsPeasants treated like kings.

Twelfth Night, or What You WillMake of the play what you want it to be.

Audience has a responsibility.We become uncomfortable with some of the action of the play.

What is a motif?Motif: a reoccurring image, symbol that unifies a work.

Twelfth Night motif: Excess, too much of a good thing

Five Forms of Love1. Romantic love, almost “sick with

love” – often unattainable. 2. Mature, unselfish love3. Love between friends4. Love between family members5. Self-love or vanity