The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare

 Book Review of The Comedy of Errors - by William Shakespeare

The Comedy of Errors is one of the most famous comedies of William Shakespeare. William Shakespeare is the most prominent figure in the History of English literature. He wasn’t a university graduate but his works of Classic literature are famous and loved even today. He is the master of 37 novels that include comedies and tragedies and 154 sonnets.

Comedy of Errors was written in the years 1589- 1584 but was published in the year 1623. This play has its setting in the cities Syracuse and majorly in Ephesus. The Characters include Antipholus of Ephesus, Antipholus of Syracuse, Dromio of Ephesus, Dromio of Syracuse, Adriana, Luciana, Solinus, Egeon, Abbess, Balthasar, Angelo, /merchant, Luce, Merchant and Courtesan. 

The Duke of Ephesus has a law that does not allow any person from Syracuse into his city. The story begins with Aegeon. He is Merchant from Syracuse who was travelling to Ephesus and has been caught. He has no money to pay the fine for his mistake. Aegeon and his wife Amelia had twin sons. A poor couple also had twin boys whom they decided to sell to Aegeon and Amelia as they had no money. Aegeon and Amelia accept these twin boys as their servants. While on their way to Ephesus, their ship started to sink, the husband and wife were separated along with each of the two twins’ pair. Aegeon tells this story to the Duke which makes him emotional and the duke grants him one more day to collect the fine and save his life.

Aegeon names his son as Antipholus and his servants name is Dromio, Similarly the pair that was left with his wife was named as Antipholus and his servants name was Dromio. Throughout the story, we know the son that was left with the father as Antipholus of Syracuse and his servant as Dromio of Syracuse. And the son that was left with his mother as Antipholus of Ephesus and his servant as Dromio of Ephesus. Antipholus of Syracuse comes with his servant in search of his mother and elder brother. This is when the whole confusion game starts. We see various instances in the story where Antipholus of Syracuse gives money to Dromio of Syracuse and Antipholus of Syracuse asks about the same money to Dromio of Ephesus. Luce mistakes’ Dromio of Syracuse as her lover. Adriana mistakes Antipholus of Syracuse as her husband Antipholus of Ephesus and so on the confusion goes on increasing.

The confusion comes to a conclusion in the last act of the book when Antipholus of Syracuse and Dromio of Syracuse are planning to leave the city, they go to Abbess. At this time Aegeon was about to be punished by the Duke when Adriana reached the court and urged the Duke to take up her case first. At this time all the characters of the play are present in the Dukes court and the whole family puzzle gets solved as everything falls into place.

‘Comedy of Errors’ follows the comic genre where the confusion is the source of humour. This is one of the very few plays of Shakespeare that follows the unity of time. The story begins with Aegeon being caught and given one day and ends when he was about to be finished. Hence this story revolves around one day in the life of these characters. The themes of the play include family relationships, coincidence, identity problem, humour, persistence etc. The reader surely laughs looking at the confusion caused by the characters. Antipholus faces difficulties but is so determined to meet his brother and mother. ‘Coincidence’ is no doubt a major theme in this play as we see the twin boys have twin servants only. Their names and appearances are also exactly the same which creates confusion between them as well. Separated Family and mistaken identity are the moulds that shape the whole play. At the end of the play a dialogue by Dromio says that, “We came into the world like brothers and now let’s go hand in hand, not one before other” which depicts their good relationship and togetherness that they would carry as a family.

The reader would require at most attention and concentration to get the characters in a clear manner as the names are repeated. But the one who gets it straight gets the humour correctly. It is a very book that I would rate an 8/10.

Reviewer: 11 Simentha Dmello.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

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