Introduction shakespearean comedies

4.ARTISTIC PECULIARITIES OF SHAKESPEARE’S COMEDIES.

Mistaken Identity is another important feature of Shakespearean comedy. Shakespeare employs the element of mistaken identity in his comedies to create fun and irony. It is one of the best tools for Shakespeare to give a twist to the story and achieve the purpose of giving entertainment to his readers. Mistaken identity is produced In Twelfth Night through the introduction of twins, i.e., Sebestian and Viola, who are mistaken for one another by other characters. For example, Sebastian is mistaken for Cesario by Olivia, while Viola is mistakenly thought to be a male. Though, she is a girl, yet she is considered to be a male as she disguises herself as a servant to Duke Orsino. Similarly, in The Merchant of Venice, Portia disguises herself as Balthazar to act as a lawyer to defend Antonio against Shylock, who is determined to cut a pound of flesh off his body for failing to pay him (Shylock) his debt. ⁸Thus, mistaken identity is the part and parcel of Shakespearean comedy. Pun is a figure of speech, wherein the sound of a word is used in such a way in a sentence that it may create a sort of confusion in terms of its meanings for the readers. Shakespeare is a great lover of puns and he uses them frequently in all of his comedies to create fun, laughter and confusion in the minds of his readers. He leaves the readers to derive the meaning for themselves from the puns employed by him. His puns may be funny, silly and lewd. Whatever may be the case, the reader gets astonished about Shakespeare’s mastery over the use of puns in his comedies. Look at the following lines taken From Twelfth Night, wherein Shakespeares plays with the word points: Clown: Not so, neither; but I am resolved on two points.

MARIA: That if one break, the other will hold; or, if both

break, your gaskins fall.

(Twelfth Night by Shakespeare)

Look at another example from the same comedy, wherein Shakespeare plays on the word color:

MARIA: Nay, either tell me where thou hast been, or I will not open my lips so wide as a bristle may enter in way of thy excuse. My lady will hang thee for thy absence.

Clown: Let her hang me. He that is well hanged in this world needs to fear no colors.

(Twelfth Night by Shakespeare)

Here, the word color means worldly deception, but on the other hand it also signifies nooses or halters.

Without humour, no play can be considered a comedy. Rather, it would be termed as a tragedy. That’s why; like other comedies, humour is an integral part of Shakespearean comedy. Shakespeare is the master of producing robust laughter and fun through various means in his comedies. He produces humour through puns, ironies, masquerade, bawdy jokes, mistaken identity and satire. It should be kept in mind that Shakespeare uses humour in such a way that we laugh at the follies of human beings instead of having hatred for them. Thus, he uses humour as a way of mild satire instead of lashing at the follies of human beings. Look at the following lines taken from Twelfth Night, which makes us laugh when read them: “No, sir, I live by the church.”

“Art thou a churchman?”

“No such matter, sir; I do live by the church; for I do live at my house and my house doth stand by the church.”

(Twelfth Night by Shakespeare)

In The Merchant of Venice, Shylock’s daughter elopes with a Christian man and marries him. Shylock’s reaction to the situation is, of course, very comic. Look at the following lines taken from The Merchant of Venice:

Shylock: “My daughter! O my Ducats!—O my Daughter!

Fled with a Christian!—O my Christian ducats!”

(The Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare)