Lesson:

Characteristics of a Comedy Play

Shakespeare unit
 Shakespearean Comedy
● The classical definition of Shakespearean comedy differs from our general
understanding of what comedy is in our world today.

● The classical understanding of comedy is when a protagonist is able to overcome the

obstacles presented to achieve his/her objective and find a happy ending. This should
not mean however that all comedies are light and fun some have dark and serious tones.

● This definition is opposite from the classical definition of a tragedy where more often
than not the protagonist struggles and can’t overcome the obstacles and faults that are
inherent in the play resulting in tragedy, chaos, death and ultimately failure.
 At the Core of Comedy

At the core of Comedy we will often see the theme of love and courtship.

There are obstacles to finding true love but in the end of the play will end with a
wedding or multiple weddings and a celebration of sorts.

The intent of comedy plays is to transport the audience to a more agreeable

headspace and offer them an opportunity to think less about life’s challenges.
This is often achieved through settings, events, or even fantasy and dream-like
circumstances that could be seen as unbelievable or exotic.
Continued...

In comedy plays, characters often pursue their goals of love in the midst
of extremes or absurdities.

These extremes are often tied to changes in the settings. You may see
contrasts between country and city or daylight and moonlight, Characters
often have clarity or a sense of awakening and resolve in these settings
and then they transform, change and switch perspectives as they move
from one setting to another.
 What about Love?
Because comedies often focus on the theme of love let’s take a look at how this theme can present
itself.

True love: love at first sight, romantic in nature, often based on the quality of beauty. It takes over all
the senses.

Witty Love: more platonic in nature. Referred to as a marriage of the minds where characters
challenge & debate each other with quick wit.

Earthly/sexual love: often related primarily to the sexual aspect of desire and connected to lower
class characters or villians in the play. Identified by the use of “dirty “ jokes and sexual innuendos.

Mistaken love: inappropriate love such as love triangles, or desire for a married character, etc.
 Other Tricks of Comedy
In Comedy you can’t always trust what you
see and the lines between reality and illusion
become blurred. Shakespeare makes this
happen with:
The most used strategy in Comedy is DRAMATIC
IRONY. This means that oftentimes the audience
knows something that characters don’t. The
audience/reader is on the prank or trick.

● Twins Comedies use STOCK CHARACTERS. These are

● Mistaken identities common characters that may have different names
● Disguises but fill the same purpose and space in a play.
● Gender switches
● enchantment/ potions/magic/spells ● Leads - high social class or royalty
● Women - beautiful, strong, witty, intelligent, evil
● Sidekicks- servant, best friends, often assisting
or blocking events from happening.
● Tricksters- low social order intelligent? foolish?
 Final Word
Even though Comedy plays are playful, witty , action packed with characters and
disguises they are still valued in Literature as a commentary about the state of society
and humankind.

Comedies reveal and reflect like a mirror some of the truths of society. Truths we as
society do not always want to deconstruct and evaluate. Truths we do not always want
to admit are very real and at play in our everyday lives.
Comedy vs. Tragedy 4 Types of Love Stop Laughing this is
Serious Business

Types of At the core Final

Plays of Comedy thoughts

The Theme of Love Tricks Tools of

Comedy